In medicine, trauma is embedded in the work that we do.

From unexpected patient outcomes, witnessing people’s struggles, to Covid and the small, sneaky, cumulative ways our jobs can start to weigh on us.

In this line of work, we’re conditioned to be stoic, to tell ourselves that we’re okay even though a lot of trauma is heaped on us.

We pour a lot of ourselves into our patients and our loved ones, but we can’t pour from a cracked cup, let alone an empty one.

Why is the spectrum for what we view as trauma much wider than we think?

How do we uncover and identify the traumas we’ve been accumulating on the job?

In this episode, I’m joined by nationally recognized speaker, coach, writer, and founder of Thrive Physician, Dr. Stacia Dearmin.

We discuss trauma, a very important subject that’s affecting many lives in medicine, and the steps we can take to heal it.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• What constitutes a trauma...

Even for the most quick-on-their-feet person, winging it in a negotiation isn’t the most effective approach.

The contract that could make or break your job satisfaction is just too important for you not to prepare in advance.

Just like our oral board exams, we can’t be equipped with the most deliberate answers if we haven’t planned ahead and anticipated the questions we’re going to get.

How does coming up with a plan set you up for success? Why does it lead us closer to the contract we really want?

In this episode, our 1 year anniversary episode, I talk about why winging it is never an option in negotiation.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• How to avoid settling on a contract that doesn’t truly reflect our value
  Is it possible to set clear expectations when we go into a negotiation with a wing-it mentality?
  
  
• Why we can’t truly advocate for ourselves without preparation
  When we’re unprepared, we are more likely to respond...

Contrary to what new grads are told constantly, it’s never too early in your career to want a contract that reflects your value and actually advocate for it.

You don’t have to be an attending to make a list of must-haves, evaluate employers on a deeper level and start having these conversations early.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by a doctor who has done a beautiful job of setting herself up to success while she was a third-year resident.

How do we overcome the limiting belief that residents can’t advocate for a great contract that ticks as many boxes as possible for them?

In this episode, Ob-Gyn Resident, author, speaker and mentor, Dr. Tawana Coates shares how she approached her contract negotiations, and we talk about how she’s paving the way for fellow residents to get the package they want.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• The one prevailing mindset that holds residents back
  How do we overcome the limiting belief that...

Mentorship is one of the biggest drivers of job satisfaction for female physicians.

What can we do if there aren’t any formal mentorship opportunities with our employers, or if their programs are more lip service than reality?

The good news is, powerhouse physicians are around us, and many of them are readily available to start mentoring us.

Where can we find them and how do we make the ask?

In this episode, I talk about finding mentors in our immediate and extended networks.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• How to tap into a wider network to find your mentor
  What are some of the places you can run into potential mentors both in real life and virtually?
  
  
• Why more prominent people might not have the capacity for mentorship
  How do we find a mentor who actually has the time, energy and desire to be part of our career trajectory?
  
  
• The best environments to talk to a potential mentor
  Once we’ve identified the right mentor, how do we actually approach them...

The beginning of a new year always brings up resolutions and goals we want to accomplish, but what happens when the same resolution keeps rearing its head every single January?

Well in my case, that persistent resolution is not overworking - something that should be easy with the contract I negotiated for myself, but it’s not. I still find myself feeling overwhelmed and overworked. The truth is: there’s a lot more to my overworking than my circumstances, it has a lot to do with my brain and the beliefs it’s clinging onto.

So how do we uncover why we struggle to accomplish what we want? Why are our thoughts so vital to what our results end up becoming?

In this episode, I’m going to share how to finally overcome a persistent New Year’s resolution through the lens of the mental model I’m personally working through.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• The root of all our unchanged behaviors
  Why do we cling onto beliefs that lead to us...

In the last episode, we established that the conversations we have can either create connection or completely shut it down. That difference ultimately comes down to the words we use, and the kinds of chemicals they shoot off in our brains.

Some words and conversations can trigger our fight or flight response, while others trigger happy neurochemical space where transformation is possible.

How do we learn to choose our words more wisely in negotiations?

In today’s episode, Ali Novitsky and I continue our discussion on conversations and how we can improve them.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• How to take the cortisol out of our conversations
  What are the limiting beliefs we have about ourselves and the judgmental beliefs we harbor about others that hamper positive, transformational conversations?
  
  
• Why it’s okay to change our minds
  What we wanted yesterday doesn’t have to be what we want today. How do we create a space for open-mindedness for...

Human beings have conversations all day long, but there’s a big difference between conversations that move relationships forward and conversations that go poorly.

In order to take our interactions to the next level, and truly advocate for ourselves, we have to be aware of the different levels of conversations that exist - starting with how we talk to ourselves.

How do we create conversations that usher in connection and curiosity?

In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend, physician, life and fitness coach, Ali Novitsky. In the first of a two-part series, we’re going to talk about how to have more amazing conversations, even with ourselves!

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• Why some conversations make an impact and others don’t
  What are the different types of conversations we can have, and what purpose does each level serve?
  
  
• How to create a safe space in our conversations
  The best conversations come from being on the same level as other...

At the negotiation table, good communication skills are an absolute must. We have to find ways to align with the other side, understand their perspective and create a high-trust environment.

What if I told you that these skills are just as necessary at the family gatherings we’re going to be having over the next few weeks?

Holidays can be joyful and fun, but being around family can also be stressful. We still need to communicate intelligently, and avoid adding fuel to the fire in highly charged conversations.

What are 3 communication skills that will serve us in every area of our lives? How do we set aside our own agenda, and break down barriers through the conversations we have?

In this episode, I talk about the communication skills we all need to nurture, and why the holidays are a great time to practice them!

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• The power of intelligent communication
  How do we listen on a deeper level so we can pick up on useful cues and...

Many people believe that clinical medicine is a straight and narrow road with no wiggle room or options - once you pick a model, you’re stuck with it forever.

The path of patient care isn’t rigid at all...there are a few ways for us to treat patients without being pigeonholed into one way to practice.

What are the different models for working and earning money? If we crave a little more freedom and flexibility, what’s the best path?

In today’s episode, I talk about the different models clinical physicians can choose, and why knowing all the options gives you an advantage at the negotiating table.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• The pros and cons of practicing medicine under a corporate employer
  Is autonomy possible in the corporate medicine model, or do we give up flexibility for stability?
  
  
• Why private practice can be a great fit
  There’s a lot less red tape when you’re running your own practice, but what are the risks of running...

Change is a natural progression of our lives and careers - even as physicians. We won’t remain the same people we were when we started practicing medicine, and that’s a good thing!

Shifting our jobs to something that aligns with who we truly are should be celebrated, and we should always be able to advocate for the changes we want. Whether we’re taking on a new role, changing practices, or modifying our schedules, pursuing something different is a sign of growth, not a setback.

How do we advocate for ourselves at these transition moments? Why do we need to celebrate career shifts instead of judging them?

In this episode, we’re going to talk about inevitable career transitions and how to negotiate when they come up.

Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode 

• Why we need to embrace alternative paths
  In medicine, it’s so easy to celebrate one path over another. How can we learn to embrace people choosing what aligns with them, even if it’s...