Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine

Let’s face it: for many physicians taking time away from work to recharge is challenging and stressful in its own right. Concerns about coverage, the onslaught of work when you return, the financial implications make taking PTO less than optimal. Join me and my guest, Dr. Jill Jin, as we delve into ways to make time fully off duty a reality. 

Jill O. Jin, MD,  is a clinical associate professor of Internal Medicine at Northwestern M...

Research has shown that women in academic medicine, who are often in junior positions, receive less administrative support. For this reason, they may spend time doing these tasks themselves, leaving less time for professional advancement. If this sounds familiar, listen to my conversation with Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni as she shares her insights and suggestions for getting the support you need. Hint: her recommendations also apply to wo...

If there is one thing that is certain about our world today, including our work in healthcare, it is uncertainty. How do we manage? How can we navigate uncertain times with more groundedness and well-being? Join me and my guest, Dr. Kerri Palamara, as we explore these questions. Don’t miss out on her very sage advice!

Kerri Palamara, MD,  is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for...

Are you leading your career or is it leading you? In this episode, my collaborator, Gretchen Rickards, MD, and I share our inspiration for our transformational retreat coming this Fall. 

Too often women in medicine feel stretched thin, wonder if their path in medicine is sustainable, and want to grow professionally but feel pulled in different directions. If this resonates, listen in to hear why our retreat is meant for you!

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We receive messages in our medical training about what it is to be a physician. One message many of us receive is that we must be superhuman, hiding our feelings and needs. Join me and my guest, Charu Gupta, MD, as we talk about being vulnerable. What are the potential benefits? What does being vulnerable as a physician look like?

Dr. Charu Gupta is a clinical assistant professor of cardiology in Chicago. She has a special interest...

Overfunctioning. In training it is often rewarded, leading many of us to continue this way of being until we hit a wall or become stuck. Join me and my guest, Sarah Webber, MD, as we look at the costs of overworking and potential solutions, including owning our choices, values, and preferences from an inner authority. 

Dr. Sarah Webber is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin and a Physician Developmen...

Many physicians today report feeling they aren’t valued by their organizations. New research by Dr. Amy Young and others shows a direct connection between leadership behavior, specifically communication, physicians feeling valued, and increased risk of burnout. 

Dr. Amy Young is a professor of Business Communication at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her expertise is leadership communication, positive org...

How many hours per week are you charting outside the clinic day? How often do you feel caught in clinic visits that go on too long or portal message volleys that sap both time and energy? If you’re looking for an alternative, listen in as my guest, Dr. Sarah Smith, shares her expertise on how to improve your clinic day and leave work at work. 

Sarah Smith, MBBS, is a rural family doctor and clinical day advisor. Her passion is crea...

Being the only one like you in a room can be an added challenges to whatever your work entails. How about being the only one in the building? Dr. Florence Ene experienced bias and a pressure to outperform as she progressed through her education and professional career. Listen in as she shares about life-changing benefits of having a mentor and the strategies she’s used to thrive and achieve her professional goals. 

Florence Ene, MB...

Women physicians continue to be paid less than their male colleagues. If you’re looking to negotiate fair pay in your current or future job, what can you do? Join me and my guest, Dr. Janice Werbinski as we consider underlying factors and key steps to take. We’ll also dip into the importance of crafting a job in medicine around your passion.. Janice Werbinski, MD, FACOG, is an Associate Clinical Professor Emerita at Western Michiga...

Physician moms often experience a double whammy of the message that giving of yourself entirely is required. Without intention and support, this can lead to overwhelm, burnout, and cutting back or leaving clinical practice. Join me and my guest Dr. La Toya Luces-Sampson, MD, MPH-C, as we explore strategies physician moms can use to thrive more and strive less. 

Dr. Luces-Sampson, known as Dr. Toya, is a board-certified Obstetrician...

Many physicians today report feeling they aren’t valued by their organizations. New research by Dr. Amy Young and others shows a direct connection between leadership behavior, specifically communication, physicians feeling valued, and increased risk of burnout. 

Dr. Amy Young is a professor of Business Communication at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her expertise is leadership communication, positive org...

The “hidden curriculum” in medicine is powerful. You won’t find it in a textbook yet it teaches all of us in the profession how to behave, what to prioritize, what’s okay to do, and what’s not. Some aspects of the culture in medicine are positive; some are not. Join me and my guest, researcher Emilie Banse, as we explore the detrimental effects of the culture in medicine–and what we can do to minimize the damage. 

Emilie Banse is a...

Women are socialized to have certain strengths. Caregiving and relationship-building are two important ones. Issues arise, however, when the value of these strengths is not fully recognized in clinical care. As my friend and colleague, Dr. Laura Garelick put it, “You can’t code for chatting.” Join us as we dig into the strength of women’s relationships and how we could more fully realize their power in clinical practice and in our ...

Funding your work through grants. Competing deadlines for grant applications. Existing bias that shows up as the “motherhood penalty.” In this episode, we focus on the specific challenges that scientist mothers face. My guest, Amery Treble-Barna, PhD, PC, is an executive coach and founder of MasterMind Executive Leadership. She’s also an NIH-funded Principal Investigator at the University of Pittsburgh and the mother of two young d...

In past generations women were largely shut out of professional life. Then we were told that we could have it all–a full, vibrant career and a super full family life, all at the same time. Too often, this has led women physicians to feel overwhelmed and to blame themselves. What’s the alternative? Listen in to my conversation with Dr. Laura Zimmerman to find out! Laura Zimmerman, MD, MS is a primary care internist, board-certified ...

Parenting is challenging, especially for busy physicians returning to work after adding a child to their lives. Dr. Josephine Li and Dr. Laura Dichtel, both endocrinologists at MGH and assistant professors at Harvard Medical School, lead the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Parental Wellness Program, which provides faculty navigating new parenthood with mentorship, financial support for lactation, and centralized resources. Listen in to ...

Maybe you’ve heard of the Glass Ceiling? How about the Glass Cliff or the Broken Rung? While women make up more than half of medical school matriculants, they are not advancing through their careers at the same rate as their male colleagues. Join me and my guest Dr. Helen Burstin as we dig into why–and what individuals and organizations can do about it. Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, is CEO of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. 

Do you tend to see potential growth opportunities then find yourself leaning away? Join me and my guest Dr. Lida Turner as we dive into how to take advantage of those fortuitous openings when they occur. She did–and it led to a professional side gig that she loves. Lida Turner, MD, is a psychiatrist in Seattle, currently in transition from medical director at a large medical system to a private practice of her own. Her passions inc...