On Writing, Medicine and Advocacy with Dr Sonia Henry.

Season 6 Episode 3 returns with a Special Sponsor episode to align with The Medical Benevolent Association of NSW-ACT's May appeal. I'm delighted to have the opportunity to sit down with  GP, writer and author Dr Sonia Henry.Dr Henry is also a councillor for the MBA NSW-ACT. She has been published in The Australian, RM Williams Magazine, The Sydney Morning Herald, Kevin MD, Australian Medical Students Association Magazine, The ANZ Journal of Surgery and on a variety of other platforms. Her most widely read article was an anonymous piece, 'There is something rotten inside the medical profession', which detailed the stress of medical training and was shared more than 22,000 times and re-published widely around the world. This article led to the start of a conversation that her novel Going Under seeks to continue. Her debut novel Going Under, a fictionalised account of her internship, was an Australian best seller. She is passionate about First Nations health and improving health equity to people who live in regional and remote parts of the country. She spends part of the year living and working as a GP in remote Australia and this inspired her second book and memoir, Put Your Feet in the Dirt, Girl. 

      In this conversation we discuss Sonia's passion for writing which pre-dated her physiotherapy and  medical careers and learn more about her motivations to write, writing process and hopes for her words. Sonia tells me more how she became involved with the Medical Benevolent association as a councillor and her work to support doctors' health and wellbeing and wider advocacy for needed healthcare system and cultural reform. 

You can find our more about the Medical Benevolent Association NSW-ACT and/or donate the current appeal here:   https://www.mbansw.org.au/donations

Thank you Sonia, I can't wait for book 3!

Links/References:

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Sonia-Henry-Put-Your-Feet-in-the-Dirt,-Girl-9781761068072/

https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Sonia-Henry-Going-Under-9781760878641

 https://kevinmd.com/2017/01/something-rotten-inside-medical-profession.html

This conversation again covers topics including doctor suicide and barriers to accessing mental health support. The excellent AMA/AMSA Traffic Light Guide includes contact numbers for doctors' health and other mental health helplines in Australia.  Episode S5 E8 and S4 E12 show notes include relevant contact numbers and supports internationally in UK/Ireland/Canada/US/NZ.

 https://www.ama.com.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/FINAL%20AMACDT%20x%20AMSA%20Mental%20Health%20Support%20Flyer%20June%202022.pdf

The Mind Full Medic Podcast is proudly sponsored by the MBA NSW-ACT Find out more about the charitable organisation supporting doctors and their families and/ or donate today at www.mbansw.org.au

Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Moreover views expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or other official organisations.