Building Resilient Physicians: Dr. Mamta Gautam on Well-being, Leadership, and Meaningful CPD

S02 E06:

In this episode of The Hat Rack, Dr. Bill McCauley is joined by internationally recognized psychiatrist and physician well-being expert Dr. Mamta Gautam. Together, they explore the powerful connection between continuing professional development (CPD) and physician resilience. Dr. Gautam shares her "Five Cs of Resilience" framework—control, commitment, connections, calming, and care—and discusses how CPD can be intentionally structured to nurture these essential elements of well-being. They also delve into the culture of medicine, the hidden costs of perfectionism, and the critical role of peer support and safe learning environments. Tune in for actionable strategies to plan CPD activities that support not just knowledge, but also emotional and professional fulfillment.

Referenced Resources:

• The Raft – An accredited online platform created by Dr. Gautam, offering community, leadership resources, and support for women physicians. Available at theraft.ca.

• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) – Provides standards and accreditation for CPD in Canada. Learn more at royalcollege.ca.

• Five Cs of Resilience – Dr. Gautam's framework for physician well-being: Control, Commitment, Connections, Calming, and Care, introduced through her leadership and professional development programs.

• Psychological Safety in Learning Environments – See work by Amy Edmondson, including The Fearless Organization, for foundational concepts related to creating safe, inclusive spaces for professional learning.

Find Something to Hang Your Hat On!

Listen to The Hat Rack podcast, where physicians in practice gain access to the strategies that CME/CPD experts and influencers use to effectively plan CME and implement change in their professional practice. The Hat Rack guests draw from their extensive experience as developers, contributors and promoters of CME/CPD, providing insights at local, provincial, national and international levels. 

Hosted by Dr. Bill McCauley, CPD Associate Dean at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Continuing Professional Development, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada.

Questions, Comments, & Suggestions can be directed to [e-mail].