Resilience Redefined : From Battlefield ICU to Physician Coach

How can military-honed resilience and positive psychology supercharge physician leadership?

In this episode of Bootstrap MD, host Dr. Mike Woo-Ming interviews Dr. Christopher Colombo, as he shares his path from elementary school dreams of medicine to active-duty training, and his post-retirement "Lego break" before embracing part-time ICU night shifts and executive coaching. Inspired by a fellow physician's transition, he pursued training in executive and positive psychology coaching to address the personal-professional overlaps that frustrated him—like compartmentalizing life domains without recognizing the "you" as the common denominator.

The discussion dives into military lessons on resilience (e.g., Army-adopted programs from UPenn's Barbara Fredrickson), the pitfalls of large-organization training, and why authenticity matters in leadership. Dr. Colombo offers mindset shifts for new leaders: acknowledge emotions and relationships, control primitive responses via storytelling, and use techniques like drafting "flame emails" to yourself. He emphasizes building trust through personal "why" alignment and avoiding cognitive traps like "should" or "must." A vital listen for physicians eyeing leadership or coaching, blending clinical credibility with life-changing insights.

Three Actionable Takeaways:
(1) Acknowledge Emotions in Leadership – Suppress less, embrace more: Build relationships by understanding your team's personal "why" and framing missions accordingly. Control reactions by pausing to re-story stimuli (e.g., "That driver isn't plotting against me") before responding.

(2) Draft 'Flame Emails' to Yourself – When rage hits from an email, reply to your own address, vent fully, then step away. Return calmer to craft (or delegate) a measured response—preventing regrettable sends and honing emotional regulation.

(3) Pursue Authentic Alignment – Identify your core values (e.g., excellence over winning) to bridge personal and professional life. Seek a "cognitive sparring" partner for breakthroughs, ensuring you're effective, not just right.

About the Show:
Bootstrap MD is the ultimate podcast for physician entrepreneurs looking to escape traditional healthcare and control their financial futures. Hosted by Dr. Mike Woo-Ming, a successful physician, entrepreneur, and investor, the show delivers actionable insights on starting businesses, creating passive income, and navigating healthcare entrepreneurship. Featuring interviews with industry leaders, physicians, and experts in telemedicine and digital health, it’s your guide to building a profitable, fulfilling career.

Tune in weekly at http://bootstrapmd.com

About the Guest:
Dr. Christopher Colombo is a retired Army critical care physician with 24 years of service, including deployments, is co-founder and president of Functional Mentoring (functionalmentoring.com). A former department chief and program director, he blends executive and positive psychology coaching to mentor physicians, focusing on resilience, emotional control, and aligning personal-professional values.

Email: [email protected]
Website: https://functionalmentoring.com

Book a free 45-minute cognitive sparring session via the website.

About the Host:
Dr. Mike Woo-Ming has over 20 years of experience as a physician entrepreneur. He’s built and sold multiple seven-figure companies and now leads Executive Medical, a group of clinics specializing in age management and aesthetics. Through BootstrapMD, he mentors physicians in business, content creation, and autonomy.

Let’s Connect: www.https://www.bootstrapmd.com
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