The relationship between physicians and the larger healthcare system is incredibly complex, raising difficult questions about patient care, advocacy, and the role of doctors in shaping public policy. In this episode, we explore these critical issues and the realities faced by healthcare providers today.

Our guest is Bruce Scott, MD, an otolaryngologist and 2024 – 2025 President of the American Medical Association (AMA). Motivated by a serious childhood injury and the life changing care he received, Dr. Scott subsequently pursued a career dedicated to surgery and health care advocacy. In this conversation, he shares his experiences as a surgeon, dealing with intricate procedures and urgent decisions, and discusses the importance of physician involvement in healthcare policy amid today's deeply polarized environment.

Dr. Scott reflects on his own path to leadership within the AMA and underscores the impact that organized medicine can have on public health, health care access, and physician well-being. He provides insights into how the AMA navigates complex political challenges, addresses physician burnout, and promotes practical solutions to administrative burdens. We also discuss emerging issues such as the responsible integration of artificial intelligence in clinical settings, rebuilding patient trust in medical expertise, and the broader implications of physician burnout and mental health.

In this episode, you’ll learn about:

2:48 - The life-changing injury that led Dr. Scott to a career as an a surgeon

14:34 - How Dr. Scott became involved with advocacy at the American Medical Association

21:27 - How the AMA’s work has been altered by the high levels of politicization around medicine

28:27 - The challenges that physicians struggle with today

32:47 - How the AMA works to maintain the public’s trust in doctors and the medical establishment

37:33 - The AMA’s plan for navigating AI integration in a way that benefits doctors, not healthcare and insurance companies

42:33 - How the AMA approaches the epidemic of physician burnout

49:14 - Dr. Scott‘s recommendations for how to get involved in policy and advocacy.

Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.

Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2025

A Collective Voice for All Physicians | Bruce Scott, MD

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