Difficult Conversations Podcast

Lessons I Learned as an ICU Physician

Episode 106 | August 25, 2020

Difficult Conversations in Pediatric Oncology

Michelle Neier, MD

Founder Olive Tree Integrative Health

Michelle Neier

Welcome to the Difficult Conversations with Dr. Anthony Orsini. Today, we have special guest, Dr. Michelle Neier, a board-certified Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and Integrative Medicine Physician. She has a strong interest in the medical humanities and narrative medicine. She is passionate about teaching and is a Breaking Bad News instructor at The Orsini Way. In April 2020, she started Olive Tree Integrative Health, where they understand that disease is multi-faceted, and healing includes support of her patients and the caregivers. She is passionate about her goal to help children and young adults who are dealing with chronic or life-threatening medical illnesses, as well as those children who have multiple symptoms but do not yet have a diagnosis. Dr. Orsini keeps his promise about two things, that you will be inspired, and you will learn something about communication that you can go and take home with you.

Dr. Neier shares with us why she chose Hematology-Oncology, which started early in her childhood. She shares a touching story when she started her pediatric residency, meeting a young girl with a tumor, the pin she wore that said, “Cancer sucks,” and the impact this girl made in her life. She tells us about two amazing mentors she had, and she credits them with the way she deals with and communicates with patients. The key word to be learned here today is presence. Dr. Neier gives us advice on how to speak to children about cancer. You may be surprised at what she has to say. Dr. Orsini shares a touching story about his niece, who was a premature baby, had lymphoma at 17 years old, and the words she remembers the most about what her oncologist said to her. Find out why Dr. Neier stresses to parents that, “Being a kid comes first.” She tells us a beautiful story about crossing boundaries and a heartfelt message about when you let people into your lives, they let you into theirs. Dr. Orsini talks about his “Five Principles of Patient Experience” from his book. Dr. Neier had a very successful practice but decided she wanted to be better and go back to school, so find out why she went back for Integrative Medicine. We also learn about her new business called Olive Tree. If you liked this episode, please hit the subscribe button to find out more about we do and how we teach communication. Go ahead and download this episode now!

Share This Episode

Listen & Subscribe

If you enjoyed this podcast, please go ahead and hit subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.

Previous Episodes

Steven Wolt

Substance Abuse and Healthcare Workers with Steven Wolt and Dr. Michel Sucher

Ep. 136 – March 22, 2021

Bradley Block

Conversations About Doctoring with Bradley Block, MD

Ep. 135 – March 16, 2021

Linda Kaplan Thaler

The Power Of Nice with Linda Kaplan Thaler

Ep. 134 – March 9, 2021

Vita Boyar

Difficult Conversations In The NICU with Dr. Vita Boyar

Ep. 133 – March 2, 2021

Anthony Devincenzo

Conversations About Child Advocacy with Anthony DeVincenzo

Ep. 132 – February 23, 2021

Siobhan Mchale

Positive Culture In The Workplace with Siobhan McHale

Ep. 131 – February 16, 2021

Susan Wilson

Second Victim Syndrome with Dr. Susan Wilson

Ep. 130 – February 9, 2021

Kevin Pho

Connect And Be Heard with Dr. Kevin Pho

Ep. 129 – February 2, 2021

Karen Knops

Conversations about End of Life with Karen Knops, MD

Ep. 128 – January 26, 2021

Mike Abrashoff

Leading Your Ship To Success with Capt. Mike Abrashoff

Ep. 127 – January 19, 2021

Jonathan Fisher

Healing The Heart Of Medicine with Dr. Jonathan Fisher

Ep. 126 – January 12, 2021

Michelle Atwell

My Journey Into Medicine with Michelle Atwell

Ep. 125 – January 5, 2021

Anthony Viceroy

Healthcare Leadership During COVID With Anthony Viceroy

Ep. 124 – December 28, 2020

Dr. Anthony Orsini

2020 – We Are In This Together with Dr. Anthony Orsini

Ep. 123 – December 22, 2020

Quint Studer

Achieving Excellence In Healthcare With Quint Studer

Ep. 122 – December 15, 2020

Anne Bahr Thompson

Brand Citizenship With Anne Bahr Thompson

Ep. 121 – December 8, 2020

Jason A .Wolf

Elevating The Patient Experience With Jason A. Wolf

Ep. 120 – December 1, 2020

Josh Wayne

Difficult Conversations with Your Teenager with Joshua Wayne

Ep. 119 – November 24, 2020

Holly O'Driscoll

Human Centered Approach to Leadership with Holly O’Driscoll

Ep. 118 – November 17, 2020

Debbie Haine

My Journey with Stillbirth with Debbie Haine

Ep. 117 – November 10, 2020

Stephen M.R. Covey

The SPEED of Trust with Stephen M.R. Covey

Ep. 116 – November 3, 2020

Beth Weissenberger

Conversations with your Inner.U with Beth Weissenberger

Ep. 115 – October 27, 2020

Diane Rogers

The Patient Experience – Discovering the Best in Others with Diane Rogers

Ep. 114 – October 20, 2020

James Orsini

Difficult Conversations in Leadership with James Orsini

Ep. 113 – October 13, 2020

David Shulkin

Caring for Our Veterans with David Shulkin, MD

Ep. 112 – October 6, 2020

Lauren Heaslip

Giving Back – When the Patient Becomes the Provider with Lauren Heaslip, RN

Ep. 111 – September 29, 2020

Dike Drummund

Avoiding Burnout with Dike Drummond, MD

Ep. 110 – September 22, 2020

Helen Riess

The Power of Empathy with Helen Riess, MD

Ep. 109 – September 15, 2020

Elizabeth Poret-Christ

Learning to Get on the Same Page As Your Doctor with Elizabeth Poret-Christ

Ep. 108 – September 8, 2020

Claude Sliver

Leading with the HEART with Claude Silver

Ep. 107 – September 1, 2020

Larry Barton

Difficult Conversations and Workplace Violence with Larry Barton

Ep. 105 – August 18, 2020

Nicolle Moore

Surviving Infant Loss with Noelle Moore

Ep. 104 – August 11, 2020

Kathy Caprino

Communicating to Be the Most Powerful You with Kathy Caprino

Ep. 103 – August 4, 2020

Marcus Engel

I’m Here – Communication and the Patient Experience with Marcus Engle

Ep. 102 – August 4, 2020

Dr. Orsini

Sharing My Journey with Dr. Anthony Orsini

Ep. 101 – August 4, 2020