The Patient Physician Podcast
We’re excited to introduce you to The Patient Physician,” a podcast providing space for doctors to explore their physical, mental, and financial wellness.
We’re excited to introduce you to The Patient Physician,” a podcast providing space for doctors to explore their physical, mental, and financial wellness.
Welcome to The Patient Physician, a space for doctors to explore their physical, mental, and financial wellness. Your peers and industry leaders will destigmatize institutional perceptions while redefining success, money, and personal care. Get ready to pull back the curtain – because here you are both patient and physician.
In this enriching episode of The Patient Physician, meet Dr. Amy Matecki, a doctor and expert in both Chinese and Western Medicine. Dr. Matecki delves into her inspiring journey from China to the US, highlighting her dual training and the challenges of merging different medical philosophies. She discusses integrating Eastern practices like acupuncture into Western Medicine and how this fusion can transform healthcare from a sick care model to wellness care. This conversation addresses various issues, including physician burnout, the financial pressures of medical practice, and time management, as well as the importance of physician wellness programs. Dr. Matecki shares touching patient stories, the acceptance of integrative medicine, and the promising future of collaborative medical practices. The episode underscores the need for meaningful physician-patient relationships, a crucial aspect that Dr. Matecki believes is at the heart of effective healthcare, and the continuing education for future healthcare providers.
MEET OUR GUEST: DR. AMY MATECKI
Dr. Amy (Ying Li) Matecki graduated from Qingdao Medical College in 1989 and moved to California from China in 1994. She has been licensed to practice Medicine in California since 2002 and completed her Internal Medicine Residency as Chief Resident at Highland Hospital, Alameda Health System, a UCSF affiliate, in 2004.
In addition to serving in the public hospital, Dr. Matecki joined Alta Bates Summit Medical Center (ABSMC) Comprehensive Cancer Center in 2004, where she started a community hospital-based acupuncture program to bridge Eastern and Western Medicine. She has been the Medical Director of Integrative Medicine at ABSMC since 2008. She received her degree in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from ACCHS in 2009. Integrating Chinese Medicine into conventional oncology practice, Dr. Matecki and her team of medical oncologists and doctors of Chinese Medicine not only provide clinical care but also present and publish their findings on safety from using acupuncture and integrative medicine to reduce pain, nausea, and anxiety that frequently accompanies conventional cancer treatments. In many case-level observations, Dr. Matecki and her team note that integrating Chinese Medicine may enhance cancer patients’ quality of life.
Dr. Matecki was a Faculty Attending Physician in the Department of Medicine Residency at Highland Hospital from 2004 to 2019 and Chief of the Integrative Medicine Division from 2014 to 2019. She and her colleagues from Western Medicine and Chinese Medicine created a ‘hospital privilege’ policy for licensed acupuncturists in 2011. They designed policies, procedures, and training methods for acupuncturists to join the medical staff in providing inpatient acupuncture services at the hospital. The program ran from 2011-2019.
Dr. Matecki’s pioneering spirit led her to co-found the nonprofit International Center for Integrative Medicine (ICIM) in 2010. Under the umbrella of ICIM, she played a key role in creating the first Chinese Medicine Residency in a US academic public teaching hospital from 2016 to 2019. Graduates from this residency program are now able to work in mainstream academic teaching hospitals’ inpatient care and outpatient medical centers, a testament to Dr. Matecki’s innovative approach to integrative medicine.
Dr. Matecki was the principal investigator (PI) for acupuncture research for chronic post-chemotherapy fatigue in collaboration with Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She presented her study on the safety of acupuncture for patients with lymphedema at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Symposium in October 2009. Dr. Matecki was a co-investigator on the first Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved acupuncture study in a public hospital that studied acupuncture feasibility for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients; the study appeared in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM) in 2017. She is the current PI for a Chinese herbal medicine research project at ABSMC.
Dr. Matecki and her team pioneered the first Sutter Bay Hospital Integrative Medicine Traditional Chinese Medicine Residency training program at ABSMC in 2023. Dr. Matecki is an Adjunct Clinical Faculty at Stanford Health Care, an American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) member, and a House delegate for the California Medical Association (CMA). Dr Matecki currently serves on the California Acupuncture Board, first appointed by Governor Brown in 2016, reappointed by Brown in 2017 and Governor Gavin Newsom in 2021. She served as the California Acupuncture Board President from 2017-2021. She continues working on policy and safety guidelines for hospital-based Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine practice with a team of physicians, nursing staff, acupuncturists, multidisciplinary health care providers, and hospital administrators.
TIME STAMPS:
00:00 Introduction to The Patient Physician
00:53 Meet Dr. Amy Matecki
03:39 Dr. Matecki’s Journey and Achievements
09:32 Challenges and Cultural Differences in Medical Training
12:42 Integrating Eastern and Western Medicine
18:40 The Reality of Private Practice
27:07 Navigating the Healthcare System
35:46 Navigating Pain Medication Challenges
40:58 Integrative Medicine Success Stories
41:23 Overcoming Skepticism in Integrative Medicine
45:51 Building a Collaborative Healthcare Team
52:52 Future Directions and Challenges in Integrative Medicine
57:13 The Role of Physicians in Patient Care
59:39 Promoting Integrative Medicine and Physician Well-being
Please email questions or show ideas to info@physiciansrs.com.
Connect with Us on Social:
This podcast is a few years in the making; Paul Smith and Chris Fullbright are excited to kick off season one with dynamic conversations with guests like Dr. Thomas Blackwell, the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Professor of General Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and Glenda Mutinda, PhD, who serves as the Director of Interprofessional Well-Being at JPS Health Network.
Each episode is designed to challenge institutional perceptions while redefining success, money, and personal care. We hope you’ll listen and subscribe to The Patient Physician.
Rating and reviewing the podcast on iTunes or Apple Podcasts will help other doctors find these valuable discussions. And if you have a story to share or a physician to nominate to be featured on an upcoming episode, connect with our podcast producer here.
L to R: Chris Fullbright, Donna Lee, and Paul Smith at the Stand Up to Cancer Comedy Event
Donna Lee performing at the Stand Up to Cancer Comedy Event in Austin, TX. Donna is Director of Business Development & Marketing at NAU Urology Specialists and is featured on season one of The Patient Physician.
Subscribe and Listen to The Patient Physician Today
“You dedicate your life to helping patients with their physical health; Let us help you with your financial health.”
This site may contain links to articles or other information that may be on a third-party website. Advisory Services Network, LLC is not responsible for and does not control, adopt, or endorse any content contained on any third-party website.
Advisory services offered through PRS Investment Advisors, a Member of Advisory Services Network, LLC. Tax services and insurance products offered through Physician’s Resource Services. Advisory Services Network, LLC and Physician’s Resource Services are not affiliated.
Robin has owned a Commercial Leasing Company providing financing to doctors and other operators for their equipment beginning in 2007. After the global crash of 2008, she went to work for NYL and spent 3 years there working with other entrepreneurs securing their retirement future and safeguarding their personal asset risks. Robin opened her own agency in 2017 Legacy by Design and has run a national firm coast to coast with 50-70 agents. Today the agency is much smaller serving 5 agents who share the same vision and passion for our clients focusing on health insurance, Medicare, and annuities.
Robin is most connected to ethos of PRS mission to improve the lives of doctors and their families. Supporting those who run the leading infrastructure of our country.
Robin has been married for 22 years to her husband Steven. Together they have 3 girls and have built a family with strong values and commitment to each others successes. Robin’s family are home bodies by nature and enjoy their 3 dogs hanging in living room or kitchen.
Karli is a graduate of The Master’s University in Santa Clarita, CA, and has a business degree with emphases in accounting, finance, and management. Karli has been in the financial services industry since 2014 and joined the PRS team in 2018.
Karli oversees investment and financial planning operations and assists with the onboarding and service of the firm’s advisory clients. Karli was a key part of our firm’s custodial transition to Fidelity in 2019 as part of our decision to become an independent investment advisory firm. Before joining PRS, Karli worked in personal financial planning in Orange County, California. She also holds a FINRA Series 65 license. Karli is grateful to be a part of such an amazing team.
Outside of work, Karli enjoys traveling, playing golf, and spending time with her husband and their goldendoodle.
At Physicians Resource Service Gabby plays a pivotal role in Paul’s advisory team, staying in close contact with clients, driving business development, and lending a hand in daily operational tasks. Additionally, she collaborates with CPA Erin Anderson to prepare tax returns, conduct withholding reviews and undertake various tasks across the division.
Gabby is currently double-majoring in accounting and finance at the University of the Incarnate World in San Antonio, and she plans to sit for her Certified Financial Planning exam in the fall of 2022. Before transferring to UIW, she attended the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas. Gabby was born in Germany and is Mexican American. She loves to travel and has visited 11 different countries. She has a five-year-old pug named Penny.
Chris brings experience in financial services and the perspective of a successful entrepreneur who has launched several businesses. With over a decade in the industry, he has served as both an advisor and in a management role coaching new advisors. Chris attended the University of Georgia and Texas State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences.
He currently holds many financial services licenses and designations including FINRA Group One, Series 6, Series 63, Series 65, Series 7, ARPC, and Certification in Long Term Care (CLTC). In his free time he enjoys being involved in the local community through organizations such as Comfort Crew for Military Kids. Chris is also an active member of Austin Christian Fellowship Church, and enjoys spending time there as well as reading, fishing, and going to sporting events. He is happily married to Monique with two wonderful sons. In addition to serving physicians, Chris specializes in working with special needs families.
Kevin received his BA and MBA from Indiana University, earned the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation from the University of Georgia, and Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP) designation from the American College. Kevin is looking forward to helping physicians live their best life. Kevin enjoys spending time on the lake with his wife, playing golf, and watching Indiana University sports.
Michael attended Lake Michigan College and Siena Heights University, graduating magna cum lade with a Bachelor of Business Administration, with a major in Finance and minor in Marketing. Michael has been in the financial services industry since 2015 and has experience with multiple insurance verticals. Michael is excited to help physicians achieve their financial goals by providing insurance solutions. Michael is married to Erin and has 4 children. Michael also enjoys reading, golfing, playing poker, learning, and traveling.
Erin supports our advisors and clients during the insurance underwriting process in multiple ways. On a given day, she helps by processing applications, tracking and following up on open cases, and answering client questions. She appreciates the part she plays in helping clients prepare for the future, and she strives to make the process as simple and efficient as possible.
Erin has been in the insurance industry for two years and brings with her six and eight years of experience in accounting and quality control, respectively. She graduated from Ball State University and has her life & health and property & casualty insurance licenses. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on her two boys who play basketball, soccer, and baseball; traveling with her husband; and playing with their Yorkie, Mingo.
As a certified public accountant, Erin is a valuable part of our tax division at PRS. She enjoys working with our advisors to develop tax-efficient strategies, and she strives to provide clarity for every client she serves. Erin started her career as an accountant after graduating from Oklahoma State University in 2012 with a master’s degree. She earned her CPA license in 2018. Erin and her husband have two little boys, and they love spending time outdoors as a family and watching OSU football.
Alex oversees Business Development at Physician’s Resource Services. She works with each department to assist in continually improving PRS so we remain a leading competitor in the industry. Alex graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Energy Commerce. She is a Texas native who loves to spend her free time traveling and taking her pup, Teddi, to the dog park.
Jennifer is an Underwriting Specialist at Physician’s Resource Services, with an extensive background in customer service and administration. Jennifer grew up in Texas, graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a BFA in Theatre, and spent six years in Chicago performing sketch and improv. She is a graduate of the Conservatory Program at The Second City and iO Chicago. Jennifer and her husband, Qamar, moved to Texas with their dachshund mix, Dobby, to be closer to family, sunshine, and good BBQ.
Cheryl is the Business Manager for the firm and a licensed service assistant. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She has years of experience in the areas of process management, customer service, benefits, and insurance. Cheryl has three girls — Ashley, Hannah, & Olivia. She brings this experience to our firm where she manages the underwriting and service process. She also manages the business operations for the firm.
John is an agent from Austin, TX, a graduate of Westlake High School and The University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Minor in Business Administration. While at UT, John was a 2-Time Captain and 4-Time All-Conference performer for the men’s lacrosse team. While away from the office, John coaches with the Westlake Youth Lacrosse program and volunteers with Austin’s Young Men’s Business League, and Austin Sunshine Camps.
Paul has helped his clients in financial, business, and estate planning for over 10 years. Paul is a graduate of Texas State University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. He has also completed the extensive studies necessary to earn the Certified Financial Planners (CFP®) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) designations. Paul is actively involved in the community through his volunteer work and service on Community Action Board for the Helping Hand Home for Children. Paul is married to Heather and they have two children, Nyla and Hazel.
For 30 years, Richard has been helping clients reach their financial goals with sincerity and integrity. He works with GME program administrators, individual physicians and their families to help doctors achieve financial security. Richard is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics. He studied in Paris at the Sorbonne. Richard supports numerous charitable organizations, is actively involved in Austin Recovery, and he participates in the Leukemia Lymphoma Society as a survivor of CML. Richard is married to Adrienne with two children, Raven and Coates.