Girl Doc Survival Guide

Girl Doc Survival Guide

Young doctors are increasingly in ‘survival’ mode. Far from flourishing, the relentless pressure of working in medicine means that ‘balance’ is harder than ever to achieve. On the Girl Doc Survival Guide, Yale professor and dermatologist Dr Christine J Ko sits down with doctors, psychologists and mental health experts to dig into the real challenges and rewards of life in medicine. From dealing with daily stressors and burnout to designing a career that doesn’t sacrifice your personal life, this podcast is all about giving you the tools to not just survive... But to be present in the journey.

Episodes

July 9, 2025 15 mins

Redefining Success and Survival for Physician Moms with Dr. Toya

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. La Toya Luces-Sampson, aka Dr. Toya, shares her top five tools for navigating motherhood while being a physician. She emphasizes the importance of redefining one's own values around motherhood, building a supportive village (both paid and unpaid), maintaining a healthy marriage, prioritizing self-care, and trusti...

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Overcoming Burnout and Redefining Physician Motherhood with Dr. La Toya Luces-Sampson

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. La Toya Luces-Sampson, also known as Dr. Toya, an OB/Gyn, perinatal mental health specialist, and transformational coach, shares her personal journey through three periods of burnout during her medical career and postpartum experience. Dr. Toya discusses the pressures of being a physician mom, the...

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Navigating A Stellar Career in Pediatric Dermatology: Dr. Ilona Frieden

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Ilona Frieden, a distinguished leader in pediatric dermatology, shares her journey and insights. Dr. Frieden discusses her personal background, the challenges she faced growing up in California, and her unexpected path into medicine. She underscores the importance of balancing career aspirations with personal w...

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The Importance of Awareness, Boundaries, and Support in Medical Culture

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, we continue our compilation from the last 40 episodes, focusing on critical topics like error and diagnostic discordance, dealing with mistakes, the toxic culture in medicine, the necessity of self-awareness, and prioritizing personal well-being. Featuring insights from various medical professionals, the episode em...

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Embracing Imperfection: Navigating Error and Diagnostic Discordance in Medicine

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine reflects on key insights from various experts across multiple episodes that discuss the inevitability of errors and diagnostic discordance in medical practice. Featuring quotes from Dr. Philip McKee, Dr. Ale Gru, Dr. Rose Elenitsas, Dr. Gauri Agarwal, and others, the transcript emphasizes the huma...

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Balancing Medicine and Motherhood with Dr. Wendy Stead

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Wendy Stead, the Program Director for the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Infectious Diseases Fellowship, discusses her dual roles in medical education and as a mentor for residents. She provides a personal anecdote about her experiences as a mother of two. The conversation explores gender bias in academic advancement, the...

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Thriving in Pediatric Emergency Medicine: Insights from Dr. Tessa Davis

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, we are joined by Dr. Tessa Davis, a pediatric emergency medicine consultant at the Royal London Hospital and co-founder of the pioneering educational platform Don't Forget the Bubbles. Dr. Davis shares her unique journey from Glasgow to Sydney and back to the UK, detailing her experiences in building a balance...

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Navigating Medicine with Dr. Celeste Royce: Mentorship, Motherhood, and Advocacy

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Celeste Royce, a Harvard Medical School OB/GYN educator with over 35 years of experience, shares insights from her comprehensive career. Dr. Royce discusses her journey from initial medical school fears to her love for OB/GYN, shaped by camaraderie and a pivotal surgery block experience. She reflects o...

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Finding Authentic Balance: A Conversation with Dr. Dawn Baker on Burnout and Rediscovery

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, host Christine interviews Dr. Dawn Baker, a board-certified anesthesiologist and lifestyle design coach. Dr. Baker shares her journey from burnout and significant health issues, including a pituitary tumor, to finding a sustainable path forward. They discuss the perils of the 'treadmill of ach...

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Reimagining Mental Health in Medicine with Dr. Robert C. Smith

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine hosts Dr. Robert C. Smith, a University Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry Emeritus from Michigan State University. Dr. Smith discusses his journey from a traditionally trained internal medicine doctor to an advocate for integrating mental health care into primary care. He shares his experiences an...

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Balancing Hematology, Oncology, and Parenthood with Dr. Annie Im

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Annie Im, a hematologist oncologist and Program Director for Hematology Oncology Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, shares her insights on balancing a demanding medical career with personal sustainability. She discusses the unrealistic expectations of 'doing it all,' the importance of work-life inte...

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Thriving as a Savvy Working Mom: Insights from Whitnee Hawthorne

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine welcomes Whitnee Hawthorne, Global Head of Travel and Hospitality at Snowflake and author of The Savvy Working Mom: A Guide to Prioritization, Delegation, and Making Time for Cocktails. Whitnee shares her personal journey from New York to Georgia, detailing how she and her husband juggle careers, family, and sel...

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The Intersection of Medical Humanities and Physician Wellness with Dr. Amanda Finegold Swain

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Amanda Finegold Swain, MD, Faculty Director for UME Medical Humanities and Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, discusses her advocacy for incorporating medical humanities into medical education to teach empathy, perspective taking, and improve communication skills. Dr. Sw...

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Balancing Healing and Doctoring: Insights from Dr. Dympna Weil

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Dympna Weil, a former Ob/Gyn hospitalist, discusses her experiences with vestibular migraine and how these challenges reshaped her approach to physician wellness. Dr. Weil highlights the complexities of navigating the healthcare system as a physician-patient, the emotional toll of health-related identity crises, and the...

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Navigating Intimacy and Connection in High-Stress Professional Lives

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, a physician turned relationship expert, shares her journey and insights into nurturing passionate and fulfilling relationships for high-achieving professionals, particularly those in medicine. Dr. Stockwell discusses the challenges faced by physician couples, emphasizing the importance of tran...

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Breaking Stereotypes in Orthopedic Surgery: A Conversation with Ms. Deepa Bose

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Ms. Deepa Bose, a consultant in Orthopedic Trauma and Limb Reconstruction at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, UK. With over 13 years of experience, Ms. Bose shares her journey in the traditionally male-dominated field of orthopedics. She discusses her upbringing in Guyana and Ind...

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Emotional Intelligence in Healthcare: Insights from Dr. Robin Stern

In this episode of 'The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine welcomes Dr. Robin Stern, a key authority on emotional intelligence. They discuss the vital role emotional intelligence plays in healthcare, exploring its impact on patient interactions, workplace challenges, and the parallels between parenting and medical practice. Dr. Stern emphasizes the importance o...

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The Power of Emotional Connection in Medicine: A Conversation with Dr. Laurie Lyckholm

In this episode of the Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Laurie Lyckholm, a hematologist oncologist, discusses her three-decade journey challenging the notion that doctors should emotionally distance themselves from patients. Despite traditional training advocating emotional detachment as a professional strength, Dr. Lyckholm's experiences and men...

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Overcoming Burnout: Insights from Dr. Kathy Stepien

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Kathy Stepien, founder of the Institute for Physician Wellness, shares her journey from experiencing burnout as a physical therapist to thriving as a pediatrician and coach. She discusses the importance of self-compassion, setting boundaries, and recognizing one's own capacity in order to prevent burnout. Dr. Stepien offers p...

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Navigating Work-Life Balance in ENT Surgery with Dr. Nina Shapiro

In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, we chat with Dr. Nina Shapiro, MD a seasoned pediatric surgeon from UCLA who has over 25 years of experience and has successfully balanced her demanding career with raising a family. Dr. Shapiro shares her journey, discussing the unrealistic advice on work-life balance she received, the challenges of internalizing societ...

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