# Relational Leadership in Healthcare with Dr. Sarah Smithson and Jane Cooper-Driver | Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving #35

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving-6711532/relational-leadership-in-healthcare-with-dr-sarah-smithson-and-jane-cooper-driver-flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving-35
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving-6711532/relational-leadership-in-healthcare-with-dr-sarah-smithson-and-jane-cooper-driver-flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving-35.md
Podcast: [Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving](https://stenobird.com/podcast/flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving-6711532)
Published: 2026-01-14T10:30:00+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving/2456250
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/240596/2456250/flourishing-in-medicine-from-surviving-to-thriving/2026_01_12_21_10_14_95574e79-18a4-4948-9039-acd5a51d62ac.mp3
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Duration seconds: 2674

## Resource

Today, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Smithson, MD, MPH, and Jane Cooper-Driver, co-founders and co-CEOs of Relational Leadership Partners. In the conversation, Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver explore relational leadership as a human-centered approach that cultivates connection, collaboration, and belonging while addressing how traditional hierarchical models in healthcare leave authenticity, innovation, and quality on the table. We also cover: How relational breakdowns contribute to burnout and why healthcare has become transactional rather than relationship-centered Practical, teachable relational practices that transform conflict into creativity and build psychological safety within teams Why these skills are not optional extras but foundational to patient care, team resilience, and organizational sustainability Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver conclude by envisioning a healthcare system where team members feel part of something greater, where resilience lives within the collective, and where both staff and patients experience genuine care and belonging. Links: Relational Leadership Partners: https://rlpconnect.com/ Dr. Sarah Smithson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smithson/ Jane Cooper-Driver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-cooper-driver-01000b6/ EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Relational Leadership (03:00) Sarah's Origin Story (06:00) The Cadaver Lab Experience (08:00) Jane's Cross-Cultural Journey to L…

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