Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Dr. David Stiasny, Chairman of Pediatrics at Swedish Hospital – Endeavor Health

Release Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Scott Becker
Guest: Dr. David Stiasny, MD, FAAP

Episode Overview

This episode features Dr. David Stiasny, pioneering pediatrician, Chair of Pediatrics at Swedish Hospital (Endeavor Health), recent children's book author, and former Jeopardy! contestant. The discussion centers around Dr. Stiasny’s career journey, his philosophy on balancing medicine with lifelong learning, strategies for avoiding physician burnout, navigating pediatrics amid systemic challenges, and the critical role of vaccines in public health.

Key Discussion Points

Dr. Stiasny’s Professional Journey

• Background & Roles
  • Chair of Pediatrics, Swedish Hospital
  • Outpatient pediatrician & former pediatric hospitalist
  • Recent children’s book author (“The Trivial Pursuit of Happiness and Lifelong Learning”)
  • Jeopardy! contestant and advisor (00:46–02:08)
• Quote:

  “I was previously on Jeopardy! About three years ago... it took me six auditions over a period of 21 years and finally got on the show.”
  — Dr. Stiasny (01:33)

• Jeopardy! Coaching
  • Helps aspiring contestants, including a recent Jeopardy! Masters champion

The Children's Book: Promoting Lifelong Learning

• Title & Availability:
  • The Trivial Pursuit of Happiness and Lifelong Learning
  • Available online (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Google) (02:31)
• Inspiration & Message:
  • Sharing a passion for lifelong learning, encouraging children and parents to continue expanding interests and skills.
  • Quote:

    “You want to also maintain like other old hobbies and new hobbies... I think that was part of the reason why I wrote the book for both the kids and the parents.”
    — Dr. Stiasny (03:29)

Physician Burnout & The Importance of Well-Roundedness

• Host’s Observation:
  • Physicians with outside interests are less prone to burnout (03:54)
• Dr. Stiasny’s Approach:
  • Pursuing writing, learning Spanish, and maintaining diverse interests as a strategy to keep his mind fresh and stave off burnout (05:03)
  • Advocates for “working to live, not living to work.”
• Quote:

  “We don’t want to make sure that all of our life goes into our job. We want to make sure that the job is a part of our life that doesn’t fully define us.”
  — Dr. Stiasny (06:12)

• Patient-Centric Practice:
  • Balancing accessibility with manageable workloads; prioritizing meaningful patient connections over volume.
  • Quote:

    "The patients, they come to see me, it’s not for me to see them, it’s for them to see me... every day at work should be fun.”
    — Dr. Stiasny (07:49)

Navigating Financial Pressures & Early Career Advice

• Student Debt & Managing Practice:
  • Encourages new pediatricians to explore loan repayment programs by practicing in underserved areas or not-for-profit organizations (09:18)
  • Utilized the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to pay off loans
  • Recommends finding a sustainable patient load (18–20 patients/day)
  • Advocates for rich, communicative relationships with families
• Quote:

  “It should be a conversation, it should not be an interview... you’re going to deal with them for 18 to 21 years and you better get to know them well.”
  — Dr. Stiasny (10:42)

Primary Care Physician Shortages & Systemic Solutions

• Filling the Gaps:
  • Supports use of experienced nurse practitioners and PAs (12:44)
• Systemic Problems:
  • Current reimbursement and policy undervalue prevention and primary care
  • Severe shortages in pediatric specialties (developmental, neurology, endocrinology, nephrology, pulmonology), exacerbated by underfunding and fewer residency positions
  • Advocacy for increased federal investment in residency spots (16:37)
  • Quote:

    “They have not changed the amount of residency spots that are sponsored by CMS in 30 years... We have more medical students graduating... yet we haven’t changed the number of residency spots. And that’s just a crime.”
    — Dr. Stiasny (16:42)

• Political Underrepresentation:
  • Physicians, especially pediatricians, are underrepresented in Congress, making it harder to influence policy (14:55)

The Current Threats to Childhood Vaccination

• Pediatrician Unity & Vaccine Advocacy:
  • Increasing mobilization of pediatricians to protect vaccine policies, responding to rising misinformation and declining vaccination rates (17:52)
  • Worries about resurgence of preventable diseases due to policy changes and vaccine hesitancy
• Quote:

  “If you change any of these mandates... you’re going to see older diseases in newer presentations pop back up. And that’s going to be scary, but it’s going to teach the general public what life was like 100 years ago very quickly.”
  — Dr. Stiasny (18:55)

Memorable Quotes & Timestamps

• Jeopardy! Journey:
  “It took me six auditions over a period of 21 years and finally got on the show.” (01:33)
• On Lifelong Learning:
  “You want to keep your brain fresh... you have to challenge your brain in different ways.” (05:05)
• Preventing Burnout:
  “We don’t want to make sure that all of our life goes into our job. We want to make sure that the job is a part of our life that doesn’t fully define us.” (06:12)
• Patient Relationships:
  “It should be a conversation, it should not be an interview.” (10:42)
• Residency Crisis:
  “We haven’t changed the number of residency spots. And that’s just a crime.” (16:42)
• Vaccine Advocacy:
  “If you change any of these mandates... you’re going to see older diseases in newer presentations pop back up.” (18:55)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Introduction & Dr. Stiasny’s Background: 00:00–01:45
• Children’s Book & Motivation: 02:08–03:54
• Burnout & Physician Well-being: 03:54–07:49
• Addressing Debt, Career Advice: 08:41–11:39
• Workforce Shortages & Policy: 11:39–17:25
• Primary Care Lobbying & Residency Issues: 16:37–17:25
• Current Vaccine Issues, Pediatric Advocacy: 17:52–19:41
• Closing & Book Details: 21:06–22:13

Closing Remarks

Dr. Stiasny encapsulates the spirit of lifelong learning and purposeful balance, blending his pediatric practice, personal passions, and advocacy work. Listeners are reminded of the crucial need for systemic support in pediatrics, strategies to sustain a meaningful medical career, and the collective effort required to protect child health on the vaccine front.

How to Find Dr. Stiasny’s Work:

• Book: The Trivial Pursuit of Happiness and Lifelong Learning (Amazon & other major retailers)
• Jeopardy! Appearance: Season 39, Episode 52 (Hulu, Peacock)

For more episodes with healthcare leaders and topics, continue with the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast.