The Pathway

This week on The Pathway, Taylor, Sarang, and Joey Namou get real about one of the quietest struggles of young fatherhood: the guilt of being ambitious and present at the same time. Taylor opens up about phone habits and father's guilt, Sarang talks about his son crying at the door as they pulled away, and together they land on a simple but powerful idea: be intentional. Create the memories on purpose, because kids remember the experiences, not the routine.  Timestamps00:00 Father’s Guilt and Time Sacrifice04:24 Intentional Memories Over Routine08:00 Balancing Work and Family Experiences
Guest Links:Website: https://woodwardsports.com/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

It's a casual, conversational episode with Taylor, Sarang, and guest Joey Namou (of Woodward Sports). No single clinical topic. Instead, it flows organically across several connected themes: Pure Psychiatry Group updates and expansion, stress vs. mental health conditions, social media's psychological impact (especially on kids and athletes), work-life balance and parenting, and the importance of your inner circle.
Timestamps00:00 Welcome Joey Namou to The Pathway01:18 Pure Psychiatry Group Expansion03:59 Work-Life Balance and Podcast Challenges05:22 Normal Stress vs. Mental Health09:50 Social Media’s Impact and Materialism16:21 Social Media, Comparison, and Mentorship21:11 Achieving Work-Life Balance24:52 The Importance of a Motivating Circle
Guest Links:Website: https://woodwardsports.com/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

This week on The Pathway, Taylor and Sarang invite back Dr. Paul Fu, Chief Clinical Officer at Bronson Medical Group, for an honest look at stress and self-care in healthcare. The conversation explores how providers manage high patient loads, demanding leadership roles, and constant decision-making while maintaining balance and compassion.Taylor shares how connection and communication help him decompress, Sarang talks about the gym as a no-distraction zone, and Dr. Fu describes how variety, teamwork, and family life help him stay grounded. Together, they reflect on the value of trust in leadership, the power of team culture, and creative ways to celebrate providers at Bronson, such as “signing day” events and evenings of recognition.The episode also deals with practical advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed. All three emphasize that stress is normal, it passes, and the best approach is to breathe, reflect, and give yourself grace.
Timestamps00:00 Introduction to De-stressing01:31 Personal Stress Relief Strategies04:33 Dr. Fu’s Approach to Stress07:27 Team Support and Trust10:59 Bronson’s Provider Recognition14:02 Company Culture and Fun
Guest Links:Website: https://www.bronsonhealth.com/bronson-medical-group/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-fu-md-mba-fache-b778b1158/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

This week on The Pathway, Taylor and Sarang welcome back Dr. Paul Fu, Chief Clinical Officer at Bronson Medical Group, to discuss the financial and systemic shifts shaping modern healthcare. Together they unpack how Medicaid changes, reimbursement challenges, and workforce costs affect patient access, especially in pediatrics, women’s health, and behavioral care. Dr. Fu explains how hospitals navigate the EMTALA mandate, the widening gap between costs and compensation, and the strain that puts on providers.The conversation expands into healthcare’s next frontier with immigration policy, innovation, and artificial intelligence. Dr. Fu shares how Bronson uses AI to improve documentation and patient scheduling, while Taylor and Sarang explore its potential for communication and continuity of care. The episode closes on a hopeful note, emphasizing collaboration, smarter systems, and technology’s role in improving patient outcomes amid constant change.
 
Timestamps00:00 Challenges in Healthcare Industry03:54 EMTALA Rule & Service Line Cuts08:18 Reimbursement, Costs, and Consolidation12:36 H1 Visas and Research Talent16:55 AI in Healthcare Operations22:04 Improving Patient Outcomes and Communication
Guest Links:Website: https://www.bronsonhealth.com/bronson-medical-group/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-fu-md-mba-fache-b778b1158/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

On this episode of The Pathway, Taylor and Sarang sit down with Dr. Paul Fu, Chief Clinical Officer of Bronson Medical Group, to explore the intersections between neurology and psychiatry. Dr. Fu shares his path from Michigan to Yale and back again, blending neurology practice with leadership and system optimization. He highlights Bronson’s growth, recruitment strategies, and provider engagement efforts while underscoring the need for improved access to behavioral health and primary care.
The discussion dives into Dr. Fu’s re-launch of a headache clinic, the impact of migraines on quality of life, and how sleep, caffeine, and lifestyle patterns affect neurological health. The conversation emphasizes access, trust in leadership, and the parallels between neurology and psychiatry, showing how collaboration can expand care for underserved populations across Michigan and beyond.
 
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome Dr. Paul Fu
01:01 From Clinical Research to Healthcare Optimization
03:30 Improving Healthcare Delivery at Bronson
06:05 Challenges of Managing a Large Health System
09:54 Ensuring Uniformity and Culture in Healthcare
12:01 Headache Clinic and Neurology Specialization
14:47 Rising Headache Prevalence and Causes
17:44 Intersections of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Access
Guest Links:Website: https://www.bronsonhealth.com/bronson-medical-group/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-fu-md-mba-fache-b778b1158/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, suicidal ideation, and related mental health topics. Please listen with care and take breaks if needed.
Taylor Henrick, Sarang Patel, and special guest Michael Hunter open a heartfelt conversation around suicide prevention in recognition of Suicide Awareness Month. With unflinching honesty and clinical insight, the team explores the depth of this topic from both personal and professional angles. They discuss how telehealth has improved access to care, the importance of asking direct questions, and the quiet power of small check-ins. The team explores the long-lasting ripple effect of suicide, the stigma that still surrounds it, and the need to lead with empathy rather than routine. This episode is a reminder that even short moments of care can have a deep impact. Whether you are a provider, a loved one, or someone who is struggling, help is out there and you are not alone.
 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Suicide Awareness Month00:50 Personal Experiences with Loss02:15 Breaking the Silence on Suicide04:11 Telemedicine and Increased Access to Care05:57 Utilizing Resources for Crisis Situations07:12 The Importance of Regular Follow-ups08:57 Listening and Valuing Lives10:35 Raising Awareness and Education13:01 The Ripple Effect of Suicide16:01 Breaking Down Stigma and Seeking Help19:02 Personal Reflections on Impact23:01 The Role of Communication in Prevention25:13 Empathy and Training in Mental Health
Guest Links:Team Wellness Center: https://teamwellnesscenter.com/MI Healthy Mind: https://mihealthymind.com/watch-the-show/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

Taylor and Sarang welcome back Michael Hunter, President of Team Wellness Center, for a conversation that unpacks the complex realities of prescribing psychiatric medications, especially in under-resourced communities. The trio discusses how medication classes like antidepressants and antipsychotics carry both therapeutic benefits and significant metabolic risks, and why proactive lab monitoring and collaborative care are essential to good outcomes.Michael shares firsthand insight from the Community Mental Health setting, where clients face layers of challenge: homelessness, untreated comorbidities, access barriers, and even shame around basic hygiene. The team explores systemic hurdles and bold solutions like Project Dignity, a pilot initiative aimed at restoring patient trust through small but meaningful gestures. At the heart of the episode is a clear call: effective care must be personalized, preventative, and unafraid to tackle the social determinants that influence mental and physical well-being.
 
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Psychiatric Medications00:43 Understanding Medication Classes01:39 Metabolic Changes and Side Effects03:51 Managing Comorbidities in Community Mental Health05:41 The Importance of Coordination of Care07:19 Challenges Faced by Underserved Populations09:18 Funding and Resource Allocation11:01 Barriers to Accessing Primary Care12:25 Project Dignity: Addressing Dignity in Care15:01 Food as Medicine19:06 The Cost of Healthy Eating22:00 Evaluating the Impact of Nutrition on Health25:01 Challenges in Implementing Health Programs
Guest Links:Team Wellness Center: https://teamwellnesscenter.com/MI Healthy Mind: https://mihealthymind.com/watch-the-show/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

This week on The Pathway, Taylor and Sarang welcome their very first guest: Michael Hunter, President of Team Wellness Center and a 20-year veteran in Community Mental Health. Together, they explore Michael’s extraordinary journey from HR Director to President, including how he wrote both the HR and EMR software that reshaped how community-based clinics operate.The conversation expands into a powerful, rarely heard history of community mental health, tracing its path from nun-run clinics and institutional asylums to modern outpatient care. Michael unpacks how policy, stigma, and systemic design have shaped services for under-resourced populations. He also emphasizes why dignity, decentralization, and human-centered care remain critical. This episode brings both historical insight and a framework for understanding the systems we navigate today.
Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Pathway00:39 Meet Michael Hunter02:01 The Evolution of Team Wellness Center04:12 Revolutionizing HR and EMR Systems10:04 The Shift to Electronic Records13:00 Understanding Community Health vs. Community Mental Health19:02 The Role of Asylums and Their Closure24:01 The Evolution of Mental Health Care27:55 Community-Based Care: A New Approach
Guest Links:Team Wellness Center: https://teamwellnesscenter.com/MI Healthy Mind: https://mihealthymind.com/watch-the-show/
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

This episode, Taylor Hennrick and Sarang Patel dive into a lesser-known mental health struggle: Summer Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). While most people link SAD to winter, many feel low even when the sun is shining, and that disconnect can be frustrating. They unpack why this happens and how to manage it, from light exercise and social connection to keeping up with therapy before symptoms spiral. Sarang explains when it's time to tweak medications, while Taylor shares creative tools like mood journaling or building a “sad box” with things that lift your spirits. They stress that mental health is not just about checklists or scores, it's about how you feel. With the right support and planning, even summer lows can get a little brighter.
Chapters00:00 Introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder00:51 The Summer Paradox02:41 Practical Strategies for Summer Wellness04:28 Therapeutic Approaches and Medication Adjustments06:40 Cognitive Reframing and Perspective09:40 Navigating Medication Changes12:01 Preparing for Seasonal Changes14:53 Mood Journals and Creative Tools
 
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.

In this episode, Taylor and Sarang walk through the evolving world of psychiatric treatment, starting with how oral medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, stimulants, and antipsychotics are used, and why tailored combinations often work better than rigid, step-by-step protocols. They also highlight the importance of off-label prescribing, especially for complex conditions like anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD.
They also dive into newer tools in the psychiatric toolkit: long-acting injectables, gamified digital therapies, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and esketamine (Spravato). Taylor and Sarang explore how these treatments can help patients who don’t respond to conventional meds, while also pointing out the barriers like insurance, logistics, and access. It’s a grounded, practical look at how psychiatry is expanding, and what it means for real-world care.
00:00 Introduction00:43 The Basics of Conventional Psychiatry02:05 Medication Classes Explained03:30 The Art of Medication Management06:29 Stimulants and Their Use10:04 Mood Stabilizers and Antipsychotics12:34 Exploring Hypnotic Sedatives16:30 Long-Acting Injectables: Pros and Cons19:40 Transitioning to Interventional Psychiatry22:00 Understanding TMS and Its Applications25:05 Esketamine: A New Frontier
==============================================================Show Notes:Whether you’re dealing with mental health issues yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply curious about the human mind, ”The Pathway” is here for you. Tune in for friendly conversations, expert advice, and a dose of empathy. Let’s walk this path together, towards better mental health and well-being.