Choosing Courage with Dr. Anjali Bhagra

Today's conversation is packed with insight, wisdom, and a perspective that is so necessary at this point in history. On the show is Dr. Anjali Bhagra, who is a physician and clinical investigative internist at Mayo Clinic, as well as the Medical Director of the Office of Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity! Our guest generously shares many of her thoughts on trust and bias, what is needed for meaningful allyship, and how to stand up for important issues in a professional setting. She also unpacks the goals she and the clinic have set for creating an environment of empowered belonging. We discuss curiosity and awareness, the power of acknowledging and apologizing in the process of repairing damages, and the power of numbers and data to convince folks. The last section of today's chat allows time to explore Dr. Bhagra's frameworks and some of the initiatives and events she is involved in.

Key Points From This Episode:

•    A brief introduction to the positions that Dr. Bhagra holds at Mayo Clinic. 

•    How we form our ideas about trustworthiness and the impact of first impressions. 

•    Looking back on Dr. Bhagra's decision to pursue medicine and her career path so far.  

•    Dr Bhagra's memories of helping her grandfather at his neighborhood clinic.

•    Choosing courage over comfort and transcending learned helplessness. 

•    Experiences as a mother and a professional; what has changed for women of color in the last two decades. 

•    Unpacking some of the leadership structures at Mayo Clinic and how Dr. Bhagra fits into these.

•    The initiatives that have been rolled out at Mayo to combat social issues and inequality.

•    Approaches to difficult conversations; Dr. Bhagra's strategies for the best outcomes in different scenarios. 

•    Healing hurts and offenses through acknowledgment and apology.

•    Lessons in the power of data and stories for resolving conflict.

•    Dr. Bhagra talks about the GRIT and RISE frameworks that she uses!

•    The progress that has been made at Mayo Clinic in their equity project, and information on the Rise for Equity Conference. 

•    Closing comments from Dr. Bhagra on the work still to be done and how everyone can contribute. 

Tweetables:

“It is striking to see how we trust somebody based on ability, even before we have spoken with them.” — @anjalibhagramd [0:07:22]

“Growing up, in my family, I always had a voice, I always found role models in my parents. I would say my mom is the biggest feminist I have known, and my dad supported that.” — @anjalibhagramd [0:15:27]

“Familiarity brings more empathy. Whenever we ourselves have gone through a situation, we can automatically connect with it at a different level, on a deeper level.” — @anjalibhagramd [0:22:29]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Anjali Bhagra

Mayo Clinic

Dr. Anjali Bhagra on Twitter

University of Minnesota 

GLOW

GRIT Conference

RISE for Equity