#244: Coaching, Communication, and Clinician Growth: PA Laura Kirk on Leadership, Reflection, and Humanizing Healthcare, and Hear How a Major Healthcare System Implemented a Clinician Coaching Program

Hey y'all, this week, I’m so excited to introduce you to someone who’s doing truly innovative work at the intersection of clinical care and coaching.Laura Kirk is the Assistant Director of Advanced Practice Providers at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, and she also serves as Vice President of External Education for the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH). She’s a Physician Assistant, a certified life coach, a leader, and a total force for humanistic change in the healthcare space.In this episode, Laura shares her personal evolution—from practicing PA to coaching advocate to system-level change agent. At UT Southwestern, she’s part of a clinician coaching program designed to support well-being, enhance communication, and ultimately improve patient care.Laura talks about what it’s like to see coaching integrated into the heart of a massive academic health system, and why it’s worth investing in these skills—not just for personal growth, but for culture change in medicine.🌟 Key takeaways from our conversation:Self-reflection helps you recalibrate before you crash.Identify what you’re tolerating—and what your practice is tolerating.Coaching transforms not just people, but systems.You don’t have to wait for permission to want more.The antidote to burnout is often found in human connection.“Mentoring up” can reenergize your professional development.Asking humble, open-ended questions creates partnership, not pressure.Finding like-minded peers keeps you engaged and growing.The future of healthcare will require both AI and EQ.Your needs matter—and honoring them is part of being a good clinician.Laura brings depth, clarity, and a grounded sense of purpose to everything she does. If you’re a PA, NP, MD, or other healthcare professional who’s curious about coaching, leadership, or navigating burnout in a system that often feels dehumanizing—this episode will hit home.🎧 Listen now and share with a colleague who could use some encouragement—and a reminder that they’re not alone.CONNECT WITH LAURA: IG, FB, LinkedInHOPE'S BOOK:Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)CONNECT AND SIGN UP FOR COACHING:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope's IG @coachhopecook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope's FB @hopeallencook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email: [email protected] y'all, and remember: There's always hope!