STELLAR SUCCESS: Leveling Up For Medical Pros with Dr. Tudor Francu

In this powerful and inspiring episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Lally Pia—a child psychiatrist, author, and immigrant physician with a life story that could be its own Netflix series. Lally shares her incredible journey from Sri Lanka to Ghana, Wales, and finally the U.S., where she overcame overwhelming challenges, including family pressure, immigration setbacks, single motherhood, and even working in a morgue.
Driven by resilience and a quiet fire, Dr. Pia eventually fulfilled the prophecy of a fortune teller who once predicted she would be “a doctor of doctors.” She’s now a practicing child psychiatrist serving vulnerable populations and is the author of the award-winning memoir, The Fortune Teller’s Prophecy: A Memoir of an Unlikely Doctor.
Tune in to hear how she transformed trauma into triumph, navigated motherhood and medical school at 35, and found healing through both psychiatry and writing.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this insightful episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Stephanie Allard, a seasoned expert in medical coding, billing compliance, and legal defense. Together, they dive into the world of revenue cycle management—a critical topic for medical professionals who are often overworked and underpaid.
Stephanie shares real-world stories and advice on avoiding costly billing mistakes, how to vet billing companies, and why many practices unknowingly lose thousands of dollars every month. Whether you're outsourcing billing or managing it internally, this conversation is a must-listen to avoid audits, increase transparency, and protect your practice’s financial health.
Dr. Francu and Stephanie also explore the promises and pitfalls of AI in billing and the dangers of blindly following distributor/manufacturer recommendations. Stephanie opens up about her own journey from dental assistant to running her own successful firm, and why she’s passionate about helping practices avoid legal and financial disaster.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Michelle Pearlman, a board-certified gastroenterologist and certified menopause provider, to discuss the why and how behind her bold transition from academic medicine to launching a concierge practice with her twin sister. Dr. Pearlman opens up about the hard truths of GLP-1s, the failures of our current healthcare system, and how she’s helping patients transform their lives through deep education, individualized care, and technology innovation.
Dr. Pearlman shares the inspiration behind her Miami-based concierge weight management practice, her growing frustration with “quick fixes” like GLP-1s without education, and how she and her sister are reshaping men’s and women’s health from the inside out.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode of The Stellar Success Podcast, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Carl Knopke, a family medicine physician who now leads a successful practice in obesity medicine. With candor and insight, Dr. Knopke shares how he navigated early academic struggles, rejection from medical school, and a roundabout journey through IT before becoming a leader in his field.
You’ll hear how his athletic background, personal discipline, and unconventional path shaped his philosophy as a doctor and his passion for empowering patients through evidence-based, psychologically-informed weight management. This episode also explores obesity as a form of addiction, the limitations of GLP-1 treatments like Ozempic, and the urgent need for grassroots change in how we approach food and public health.
Whether you're a medical professional, a student, or someone interested in the psychology behind behavior change, this is a powerful listen.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this episode, Dr. Tudor Francu welcomes anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and leader Dr. Brian Schmutzler to share his dynamic path from private practice to running a successful multi-contract anesthesia business. With over a decade of experience and a passion for clinical innovation, Dr. Schmutzler discusses the highs, the pitfalls, and the real-life business lessons of medical entrepreneurship.
Listeners will learn:
How Brian transitioned from academic medicine to launching his own company
Why understanding the business side of anesthesia is key for long-term career growth
Common mistakes medical entrepreneurs make (and how to avoid them)
Strategies for financial freedom, including investment tips and long-term wealth planning
The importance of early morning routines, family, and faith in sustaining a high-performance lifestyle
Why relationships, reputation, and personal growth matter more than ever in modern medicine
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

What do you get when you mix dentistry, motherhood, and a sharp eye for prevention? You get Dr. Ashley Lerman.
In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Tudor Francu talks with Dr. Ashley Lerman, a board-certified pediatric dentist turned tech entrepreneur. After completing residency during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and seeing firsthand the gaps in pediatric oral health, Ashley launched FirstGrin, a preventive oral health tech company focused on new and expecting families.
Ashley shares her journey from the dental chair to the startup world, her vision to prevent cavities before they even start, and how she bootstrapped a now-profitable company—all while raising two young kids. You’ll hear her take on integrating dental and medical care, working with insurance companies, and staying grounded in her mission despite early missteps.
If you’re a medical or dental professional thinking about making a leap into entrepreneurship—or you're just curious how tech is changing oral health—this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

From the academic grind to a life by the Caribbean Sea, Dr. Kristine Goins' journey is anything but traditional. In this episode, she opens up about how she left a high-stress medical job, embraced location independence, and built a career centered around telemedicine and joy.
Dr. Goins candidly shares how severe burnout led her to reconsider everything—from her mental health to her professional choices. She walks us through her journey to Colombia, how she structured her finances for freedom, and how she now helps other doctors break out of traditional molds to live their dream lives.
We discuss the power of telemedicine, the future of psychiatry, the courage it takes to walk away from the expected, and the importance of designing a life with intention. If you're a physician—or any professional—craving change, Dr. Goins offers a blueprint to make it happen.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Greg Gasbarro to unpack the personal and professional journey that led him to become a leading shoulder specialist in the Baltimore area.
From his roots in Cleveland and collegiate soccer days to his pivot from biomedical engineering to medicine, Dr. Gasbarro shares how mentorship and perseverance shaped every step of his career. He opens up about the grind of residency, the importance of financial literacy for new doctors, and his approach to building a focused orthopedic practice despite being told it “wasn’t possible.”
We also dive into his passion for education—both for patients and peers—through platforms like his YouTube channel and website, and how he’s using digital tools to grow a modern, patient-centered practice.
If you’re a medical professional navigating your own path, this is an episode full of valuable insight, inspiration, and actionable takeaways.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this compelling episode, Dr. Tudor Francu sits down with Dr. Muhamad Aly Rifai, a board-certified psychiatrist, internist, and trailblazer in telehealth medicine, to unpack his gripping journey from national acclaim to a criminal trial — and ultimately, full exoneration.
Dr. Rifai shares how he went from building a thriving multi-location psychiatry practice to facing four federal charges for healthcare fraud, simply for doing innovative telepsychiatry before it was mainstream. With heartfelt honesty and resilience, he talks about immigrating from Syria, founding his clinic, launching one of the country’s first emergency telehealth programs, and fighting to prove his integrity in court — and winning.
Listeners will hear how faith, preparation, and persistence shaped his survival and comeback, and how he’s now helping others through his book Doctor Not Guilty and legal support platform, SHIELD.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity

In this deeply human episode of The Stellar Success Podcast with Dr. Tudor Francu, we sit down with Dr. Maggie Kang to hear her powerful story of motherhood, loss of control, emotional resilience, and growth.
Dr. Kang walks us through her journey from practicing radiology to becoming a full-time caregiver and rare disease advocate after her daughter was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Through her TEDx talk and advocacy work, she now empowers others to respond—rather than react—to life’s most difficult events.
She introduces her simple but powerful mindset tool: PZQ – Pause, Zoom, Question, helping others build resilience through awareness and perspective. Dr. Kang also shares how coaching helped her emerge from depression and guilt, and how she supports others facing medical crises, from navigating insurance denials to regaining emotional stability.
Whether you're a medical professional, a parent, or someone in the middle of a difficult life transition—this episode is for you.
 
👉 Are you a medical professional with a powerful story, insight, or strategy to share? We’d love to feature you on our podcast! Apply here: https://stellarsuccesspodcast.com/guest #success #motivation #inspiration #health #wellness #mindset #business #leadership #career #growth #education #innovation #life #goals #positivity