Todd Ponsky, MD

24/10/2025

Claim your FREE prompt guides and AI tool library today: https://toddponsky.substack.com/

I recently started publishing on after realizing that many of the ideas we discuss deserve to be saved and easily accessible.

On my Substack, I’m curating insights, experiments, and reflections on AI, innovation, and the future of medical education — through a lens that’s both practical and human. It’s not just about technology; it’s about how we can use it to teach better, connect faster, and make knowledge available to everyone.

I’m building it as a living library — a free resource for clinicians, educators, and innovators to explore AI prompting guides, tools, and real-world examples of what’s working (and what’s not).

23/10/2025

🌍 What if one voice could speak to the world?

This video was created with Heygen, as you can see AI avatar "Todd" can speak English, Spanish, German, Chinese, and Arabic — seamlessly.

Imagine using this technology to share medical education globally, in every language, instantly.

The future of communication isn’t just translation — it’s connection.

Follow me on Substack to learn how you can create videos like this: https://toddponsky.substack.com

22/10/2025

📖 Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss completely changed how I think about communication, conflict, and connection.

It taught me that negotiation isn’t about winning it’s about listening so deeply that the other person feels truly understood.
That “tactical empathy” — seeing the world through their eyes, even when you disagree — is the most powerful persuasion skill there is.

It reframed how I handle tough conversations, too. Instead of pushing harder, I’ve learned to pause, mirror, and label emotions. Because when people feel heard, they open up. And that’s where real influence begins.

My favorite idea? “No deal is better than a bad deal.” It’s a reminder to protect your boundaries, trust your instincts, and never trade long-term respect for short-term relief.

And maybe the most personal part: it helped me navigate difficult decisions — not just at work, but in life. To approach disagreements with curiosity, not control.

💬 What’s a book that’s changed how you communicate or negotiate?

21/10/2025

Ever wish your phone could actually make life easier?
As a pediatric surgeon and dad, I use Apple Shortcuts to automate everything from fixing weird ChatGPT formatting to making sure my daughter’s bathroom light turns on when she oversleeps 😅.

It’s been a total game changer for saving time and mental space.
I share these kinds of simple, everyday AI and automation tricks each week on Substack, you can follow along here 👉 https://toddponsky.substack.com

20/10/2025

Cut hours of busy work with this trick that makes infographics in seconds🤯 Google

17/10/2025

ChatGPT just got a seriously useful upgrade — it’s called Branching!
If you’ve ever had a long chat and wondered why it started missing things, it’s because ChatGPT has a memory limit. Now, with Branching, you can start new chats from any message and explore totally different ideas without starting over.

In this video, I show exactly how it works and how you can use it to make your AI chats smarter and more organized.

Watch, try it out, and let me know if it changes how you use !

17/10/2025

Both in person or online!

Trauma care advances when industry and providers come together. On November 20-21, 2025, join trauma and acute care professionals from across the region for two days of expert-led education, networking, and skill building. Earn CME/CE credits while staying at the forefront of trauma care advancements.

📌 What to Know:
Virtual registration is single-user only — no password sharing.
Group registration is per facility (not entire networks).
All fees are non-refundable but transferable until Nov 5, 2025.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and grow in your profession.
🔗 Register today: https://gcmd.pulse.ly/omsx2pn644

🚨 Lace up for a cause! Join us at Kiwanis Park (or virtually) for the Tackle Trauma 5K—every step supports trauma education and prevention. 🏃‍♀️✨
Sign up here: https://gcmd.pulse.ly/apowsmx3nf

Put on by Arizona Trauma Association

16/10/2025

ChatGPT can make you PowerPoints… but ChatGPT with Agent Mode can make you amazing PowerPoints.

I asked it to create a professional, engaging deck for my workshop with spots for videos and images to show practical examples.

Then I clicked the little “+” and turned on Agent Mode. It thought for a few seconds, and suddenly a code box popped up. A moment later, it started building the entire PowerPoint from scratch through code.

Slide by slide, it made a clean, professional presentation that looked like something I could’ve spent hours on.

And all I wrote was one sentence.

The difference is incredible. Imagine what happens when we give it more.

16/10/2025

15/10/2025

Here’s a small but life-changing automation I set up using Apple Shortcuts.

My middle daughter, Josie, oversleeps almost every morning. Her alarm goes off, but she somehow keeps sleeping through it. So I made a shortcut that checks if her bathroom light turns on by a certain time.

If it doesn’t, I get an alert that says “Check on Josie,” and it automatically sends her another alarm on her phone.

Now I know when she’s really up — and mornings run a lot smoother.

It’s amazing how these little automations can make such a big difference.
What’s one thing at home you wish you could automate?

15/10/2025

TOMORROW!! Beyond ChatGPT: AI Tools You Aren’t Using (But Should) workshop!

This workshop won’t be a lecture—it’s more of a “show and tell”. Dr. Todd Ponsky will walk you through the AI tools he actually use day-to-day as a busy surgeon (like quick video editing, creating images and videos, smarter learning tools, even building apps without code). Then he would like to hear what tools you’re using.

Last chance to register: https://gcmd.pulse.ly/digg4qwyp8

15/10/2025