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Description
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.
207 Episodes
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The Girl Doc Survival Guide: Wellbeing in Medicine In this New Year's Eve 2026 short, Christine highlights the focus of this podcast on work-life balance, physician wellbeing, burnout, and self-care; as well as compassion, empathy, career development, and emotional experiences in healthcare. Upcoming episodes will feature conversations with Dr. Oksana Babenko on preventing burnout with exercise and mindset, and Dr. Bulat Ibragimov on decoding decisions using eye tracking. 00:00 Introduction a...
Embrace the Present: Insights from Sadhguru In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine extends holiday greetings and delves into the teachings of Indian guru Sadhguru. Highlighting his Miracle of Mind meditation app, the episode discusses the practice of daily seven-minute meditations aimed at reinforcing the ideas that we are not merely our bodies or minds, but life itself. Christine reflects on the notion that life's essence is found in our breath, rather than the external 'd...
Navigating Dermatopathology with Dr. Ronald Barr: An Inspiring Career Journey In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. Ronald Barr, a seasoned pathologist, dermatologist, and dermatopathologist. Dr. Barr shares his intriguing journey from his time in the Navy to his pivotal mentorship with Dr. James Graham. He explores the complexities of diagnostic discordance, the evolution of dermatopathology, and offers heartfelt advice for thriving in one's career. Persona...
Questioning Overdiagnosis: A Conversation with Dr. H Gilbert Welch In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine speaks with Dr. H Gilbert Welch, a general internist and senior researcher at the Center for Surgery in Public Health at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Welch is known for his critical views on the medical profession, particularly around the issue of overdiagnosis in cancer screening. He explains the concept of overdiagnosis, shares a compelling personal anecdote from...
Thanksgiving Reflections and Insights on Perception and Overdiagnosis In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine expresses gratitude for listeners and contributors, especially highlighting recent enlightening discussions. Dr. Claudia Mello-Thoms shared insights on subconscious perception in dermatopathology, while an upcoming episode will feature Dr. H. Gilbert Welch discussing over-diagnosis and the limitations of static tissue samples in cancer diagnosis. The importance of ac...
Dr. Scott Binder on Life Lessons and Medical Philosophy Dr. Scott Binder, MD, shares his journey from a dermatopathology residency at UCLA to directing his own practice. He recounts challenges such as his first autopsy during the AIDS crisis and discusses overcoming prejudice, emphasizing the significance of resilience and putting patients first. Dr. Binder highlights the importance of moral integrity in medicine, continuous learning, and staying relevant through life's stages. He also touche...
Understanding Visual Perception in Medical Diagnoses: A Deep Dive with Claudia Mello-Thoms In this episode, Christine continues the conversation with Claudia Mello-Thoms, an expert in visual perception as it relates to medical diagnosis. The discussion delves into the use of templates by experts to quickly recognize abnormalities in medical images, despite their large size and complexity. Claudia explains how perception operates at a subconscious level, often leading to perceptual errors in...
Visual Expertise and Diagnostic Accuracy with Claudia Mello-Thoms, PhD In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Claudia Mello-Thoms, PhD, an Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Iowa. Claudia discusses her research on visual search, medical image perception, and why errors occur in reading radiological images. Key topics include the use of eye tracking to detect unconscious viewing patterns, the different diagnostic appro...
The Sacred Duty of Healthcare: A Conversation with Theresa Brown In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Theresa Brown, PhD, RN, a registered nurse, New York Times bestselling author, and cancer survivor. The discussion delves into Brown's experiences as both a clinician and a patient, highlighting the emotional challenges and the need for compassion in healthcare. Brown shares insights from her books, 'The Shift' and 'Healing,' and talks about her upcoming book, ...
Career Planning and Wellbeing for Doctors with Dr. Naomi Elton In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Naomi Elton, a systemic therapist and retired consultant psychiatrist, discusses her career journey and the importance of career planning and self-care for doctors. She talks about her new book with co-author Caroline Elton, PhD: 'Career Planning for Doctors: An Evidence-based Guide,' which provides practical exercises and methods inspired by Daniel Kahneman's cognitive decision-...
Navigating Autism and End of Life: A Conversation with Dr. Caroline Elton In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, host Christine invites back psychologist Dr. Caroline Elton, who has extensive experience supporting doctors' emotional wellbeing. Dr. Elton discusses her new book, Looking After: A Portrait of My Autistic Brother, and touches on end-of-life care. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 00:59 Discussing 'Looking After: Portrait of My Autistic Brother' 01:22 Lionel's Early Lif...
Cultivating Joy in Medicine: Dr. Madeline Lagina on PERMA and Positive Psychology In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Madeline Lagina, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan, delves into the importance of joy in education and medicine. Drawing from her paper on the PERMA model—a framework for well-being comprising Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment—Dr. Lagina shares personal anecdotes and insights on how joy and other p...
Exploring Physician Grief and Burnout with Dr. Annia Raja In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine chats with Dr. Annia Raja, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in therapy for high achievers, including physicians. Dr. Raja shares insights from her own experiences as a physician's spouse and dives deep into the many facets of grief that physicians encounter, including personal losses, changes in identity, and professional sacrifices. The discussion also touches on t...
A Journey with Dr. Luiza Laborne Kalil In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine speaks with Dr. Luiza Laborne Kalil, a dermatologist specializing in hair loss and an Assistant Professor at Yale. Dr. Kalil shares her inspiring journey from Brazil to the US, including her rapid completion of the USMLE tests while balancing work and family life. They discuss the challenges of work-life balance, finding motivation, and the importance of pursuing one's dreams. Dr. Kalil emphasizes...
Dr. Hafeez Diwan: The Power of 'Meh', Writing Passions, and Handling Obnoxious People In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Hafeez Diwan, Professor of Pathology, Immunology, and Dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine, shares insights on his diverse writing endeavors, from self-help books to a young adult sci-fi fantasy novel co-authored with his daughter. Highlighting ideas from his books 'The Power of Meh' and 'How to Love Obnoxious People,' Dr. Diwan discusses strategies fo...
Navigating Grief with Dr. Tony Subtil: Acceptance, Processing, and Adjustment In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine explores the topic of grief with Dr. Tony Subtil, a Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of British Columbia and author of the textbook Diagnosis of Cutaneous Lymphoid Infiltrates: A Visual Approach to Differential Diagnosis and Knowledge Gaps. Dr. Subtil shares his personal experiences with grief, discusses the common misconceptions ph...
Career and Family: A Conversation with Dr. Jane Grant-Kels In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. Jane Grant-Kels, a prominent dermatologist and Professor at the University of Connecticut Health Center. Dr. Grant-Kels shares insights from her extensive career in dermatology, including founding the UConn Dermatology residency program and receiving numerous accolades. She offers personal anecdotes about balancing her demanding career and family life, the import...
A Conversation with Dr. Jag Bhawan: Career, Challenges, and Lifelong Learning in Dermatopathology In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Jag Bhawan, a distinguished dermatopathologist from Boston University School of Medicine, shares his journey and accomplishments in the field. Dr. Bhawan recounts a significant anecdote from his early career, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an open mind, the value of perseverance, and the necessity of clinical-pathological correlation....
Medicine and Motherhood with Dr. Eliza Lo Chin This episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide features Dr. Eliza Lo Chin, Executive Director of the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) and former AMWA President. Dr. Chin, an internist with a focus on women's health, shares her personal journey balancing her career, motherhood, and marriage. She discusses the inspiration behind her anthology, 'This Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine,' and reflects on her path to becoming...
The Balance of Work and Passion with Dr. Edward J Gutmann In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine welcomes Dr. Edward J Gutmann, MD, a cytopathologist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. They discuss Dr. Gutmann's career path which includes studying English and history, and how these experiences inform his work in pathology. Dr. Gutmann shares a memorable anecdote about choosing a Bob Weir concert over an academic lecture, highlighting the importance of personal passions ...
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This was a fascinating interview with Dewsnap. the thoughts about hidden curriculum and shame are very helpful.