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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.
189 Episodes
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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 ...
Insights on Success, Optimism, and Emotional Intelligence with Dr. William James In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. William James, an Emeritus Professor of Dermatology with a distinguished career spanning over four decades. Dr. James shares his extensive medical background, personal anecdotes, and the importance of forming lasting relationships. He discusses key skills that have contributed to his thriving academic career, such as optimism, listening, and...
Embracing Change: From Breast Cancer to Being Nice to Yourself In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine edited an episode from the Lean Out Podcast with Dr. Dawn Baker. The conversation covers Christine's journey with a breast cancer diagnosis and its impact on her work. They discuss the importance of self-care, the fixed mindset, and having hobbies. Christine shares insights from her journey as a parent of a young patient and her reflections on medical decisions, emphasizing...
The Rejuvenating Power of a Well-Planned Vacation In this short and sweet summer episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine shares her rejuvenating experience from a girls' vacation to Italy. The trip was a graduation gift from her sister to her daughter and included highlights such as exploring Rome, biking through Tuscany, and visiting Florence. Christine emphasizes the benefits of taking a vacation planned by someone else, visiting a new place, and engaging in the right amount of ac...
Exploring Life with Cochlear Implants: A Conversation with Paul Bass and Owen Whang In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, we have excerpts from Dateline New Haven, in which host Paul Bass interviews Christine and her son Owen Whang about their picture book, SOUND SWITCH WONDER. The book, inspired by Owen's experiences with cochlear implants, aims to fill a gap in children's literature by featuring a character with the implants living his daily life. Christine, a Professor of Dermato...
Unveiling the Connection: Dr. Keira Barr on Stress, Skin Health, and the Mind-Body Paradigm In this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Keira Barr, a dermatologist specializing in somatic psychodermatology, shares her personal journey of discovering early melanoma and the ensuing health challenges that led her to explore the mind-body connection. Dr. Barr discusses the critical role of stress in skin and overall health, highlighting the importance of recognizing and addressing body si...
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 trusting oneself. Dr. Toya also discusses how the culture of medicine im...
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 challenges of career and family, and the importance of redef...
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 well-being and family, talking about her own experiences with ...
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 emphasizes the importance of honesty, boundaries, emotional pro...
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 human aspect of medicine where perfection is impossible yet striv...
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 challenges female medical providers face, and the importance...
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 balanced and sustainable career. She offers practical advice on medical i...
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 on her challenges as a female physician, including balancing m...
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 achievement,' the importance of self-compassion, and practical tools ...
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 and the development of important works like Smith's Patient-Cen...
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 integration, and the challenges women physicians face with childcare and ca...
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 self-care. She introduces key concepts from her book, including ...
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. Swain shares personal anecdotes about her love for reading and ...
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This was a fascinating interview with Dewsnap. the thoughts about hidden curriculum and shame are very helpful.