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Hear Andrew Sauer, MD, discuss how he broke through mental health challenges to become one of the leading voices in transplant cardiology.
A physician's career path is rarely linear and the influences shaping it are seldom predictable. Few understand this better than Andrew Sauer, MD. In this episode of Moving the Needle in Medicine, host Alexander Hajduczok, MD, a cardiologist and heart failure specialist at Oklahoma Heart Institute, sits down with Sauer, director of the Haverty Family Cardiometabolic Center and co-director of the Cardiovascular Research & Clinical Scholars Program at Saint Luke’s Health System.
00:00:01 Intro
00:01:08 Sauer’s Backstory
00:07:58 Adjusting to the learning curve
00:14:36 Learning social media
00:18:34 Remote monitoring
00:24:22 Device company experience
00:27:36 Mentorship
00:32:12 Moving out of your comfort zone
00:38:54 Being open about mental health
00:43:57 The “green zone”
00:48:16 Finding motivation
The conversation begins with Sauer reflecting on the formative influences that shaped his path from a rural Midwestern upbringing to a career in advanced heart failure, transplant medicine, and clinical research. Sauer emphasizes the role of early-life adversity, including frequent relocation, blue-collar work, and exposure to hardship, in cultivating resilience and adaptability, traits he identifies as foundational to navigating the demands of medical training and leadership. The sudden cardiac death of his grandfather amid perceived gaps in care, a pivotal moment in his youth, served as a defining motivation to pursue medicine and improve outcomes for underserved patients with cardiometabolic disease.
Sauer traces his clinical development through key training experiences at the University of Rochester, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Northwestern University, where he ultimately shifted focus from electrophysiology to advanced heart failure and mechanical circulatory support. He highlights a uniquely challenging fellowship period marked by limited institutional resources, which accelerated his clinical independence and prepared him for early leadership roles. This culminated in a high-risk but transformative decision to cofound a heart failure, LVAD, and transplant program in Kansas, emphasizing the importance of strategic risk-taking, team-based trust, and addressing geographic disparities in access to advanced therapies.
The discussion then turns to Sauer’s role in pioneering remote hemodynamic monitoring in his region, particularly through early adoption of CardioMEMS technology and leadership in the GUIDE-HF trial. He underscores how identifying “blue ocean” opportunities - areas of unmet need with limited competition - enabled both clinical innovation and academic visibility. This experience catalyzed his transition toward a more research-focused career.
Sauer also offers an in-depth perspective on mentorship, advocating for a diversified, goal-aligned network of mentors rather than reliance on a single advisor. He stresses the importance of seeking guidance tailored to specific objectives and being receptive to critical, rather than affirming, feedback. Throughout the conversation, he reinforces a broader philosophy centered on intentional decision-making, habit formation, and aligning daily actions with long-term outcomes.
A significant portion of the discussion addresses physician wellness, where Sauer candidly reflects on personal experiences with burnout, depression, and maladaptive coping mechanisms. He critiques systemic barriers to acknowledging mental health struggles within medicine and calls for greater openness, structural reform, and proactive self-care. He emphasizes that wellness requires deliberate practices, such as physical activity, protected time for creativity, and boundary-setting, in addition to the recognition that resilience alone is insufficient in toxic environments.
The episode concludes with reflections on work-life integration, legacy, and personal growth. Sauer highlights a shift in priorities toward family and time autonomy, underscoring the irreplaceable role of personal relationships relative to professional achievements. He introduces practical strategies such as “green zone” scheduling to optimize productivity and creativity, while also advocating for self-compassion, vulnerability, and presence. Ultimately, Sauer encourages listeners to pursue bold, purpose-driven careers, grounded in impact and authenticity, while remaining attentive to personal well-being and meaningful connections.
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