Medical Education, Student Loans & Work-Life Integration

In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, host Peter Crane sits down with Suzanne Allen, Vice Dean for Academic, Rural & Regional Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine, to explore academic medicine, work-life integration, and major changes to student loan policy impacting future physicians.

This conversation spans Dr. Allen’s career path through military service and public health, the realities of teaching medicine today, and a clear breakdown of recent federal student loan reforms—including the elimination of Grad PLUS loans.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & welcome
01:30 – Dr. Suzanne Allen’s role at UW School of Medicine & the WWAMI region
03:00 – Career journey: military service, public health, and education
06:00 – Discovering a passion for teaching & mentoring
09:00 – Academic medicine and work-life integration vs balance
12:00 – The role of supportive teams in preventing burnout
15:00 – Personal stories: access to education & rural medicine
18:00 – History of federal student loans (GI Bill → modern system)
21:00 – Subsidized vs unsubsidized loans & the role of Grad PLUS
24:00 – Loan consolidation & repayment structures
27:00 – HR1 changes: elimination of Grad PLUS & new caps
30:00 – Repayment options: Standard vs RAP (Repayment Assistance Program)
33:00 – How RAP impacts residents during training
36:00 – Public Service Loan Forgiveness & qualifying employers
39:00 – Private loans, advocacy, and protecting access to medicine
41:00 – Final thoughts & how to connect with Dr. Allen

About the Guest

Dr. Suzanne Allen is a family physician and Vice Dean for Academic, Rural and Regional Affairs at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She oversees medical education across the five-state WWAMI region (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho) and continues to practice clinically in Boise, Idaho.

About the Show

Doctors Making a Difference highlights the deeply human side of medicine—sharing stories of physicians who are shaping the future of healthcare through leadership, service, and connection.