The Balanced Medics' Handover Podcast

Dr Adaira Landry is an Emergency Medicine Physician, and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School with almost a decade of experience mentoring students and early-career professionals. She is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and mentor. She co-founded Writing in Color, a nonprofit that teaches the craft of writing.  Dr Resa E. Lewiss is a Professor of Emergency Medicine, TEDMed speaker, designer, entrepreneur, educator, mentor, and point-of-care ultrasound specialist. She also hosts the Visible Voices Podcast, amplifying content in the healthcare, equity, and current trends spaces.  They're on to discuss their upcoming book, 'Micro Skills: Small Actions Big Impact', which is a business self-help book about reaching big goals in small actionable steps. They share their personal journeys in medicine and writing, as well as what drew them to emergency medicine. The book covers various themes, including self-care, communication, reputation building, networking, conflict navigation, and finding new opportunities. The authors emphasise the importance of self-care first, before everything else. We Discuss The importance of self-care and the impact of the workplace environment on professional success Dr Lewiss & Dr Landry's new book, 'MicroSkills: Small Actions Big Impact' Self-care and compassion are essential to prevent burnout and promote well-being The importance of authentic self-expression, doing things you enjoy, and how this helps us show up as better versions of ourselves For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Connect with Dr Adaira Landry here: X/Twitter, LinkedIN, Instagram; www.adairalandryMD.com Dr Resa E. Lewiss here: LinkedIN, Instagram, X/Twitter;  www.resalewissmd.com Buy the book from April 16th 2024 here: Amazon | HarperCollins

Dr. Malathi Acharya shares her journey from being a hospitalist to becoming a primary care physician and eventually starting her own practice in integrative medicine. Dr. Acharya emphasises the importance of self-care and self-nourishment in combating burnout and finding meaning and purpose in medicine. We discuss: - How self-care and self-nourishment are essential in combating burnout and finding meaning and purpose in medicine - Starting your own practice requires learning new skills and overcoming fears, but it offers the opportunity for greater control and fulfilment - Emerging models of medicine that provide hope for a more balanced and fulfilling career For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Dr Malathi here: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Dr. Patrick Johnson, a psychiatrist and the medical director of the Victorian Doctors' Health Program, discusses physician suicide and wellbeing. He shares his journey to becoming a psychiatrist and his interest in doctors’ health. Dr. Johnson emphasises the importance of addressing loneliness, shame, and depression as risk factors for suicide. He highlights the need for leadership and wellbeing in the medical profession and encourages open conversations and connections among colleagues.  We discuss how: - Loneliness, shame, and depression are significant risk factors for physician suicide - Leadership and wellbeing are crucial in addressing mental health issues in the medical profession - Open conversations and connections among colleagues can help prevent physician suicide - Prioritising wellbeing is essential  - Supervision and coaching are valuable resources for doctors to gain wisdom and navigate the challenges of their careers - Balance is a dynamic process that requires actively making time for different aspects of life If you or someone you know needs help please call your local doctors' health service or Lifeline. Doctors' Health Service - Drs4Drs.com | 1300 374 377 Lifeline | 13 11 14

Dr Stephen Bergman AKA Samuel Shem, author of famed ‘The House of God’, is on to talk his new book. ‘Our Hospital’ is the final book in Shem’s Healing Quartet, about the COVID-19 pandemic and money-driven bureaucracy in medicine.  It was fun to speak with Shem to hear about his colourful life & provocative books. ‘The House of God’ is a satirical novel, exposing the dark side of medicine training. It’s often said that ‘The House of God’ did for the art of medicine what ‘Catch-22’ did for the art of war. We discuss: - Shem’s reason for going into medicine (Harvard Med OR conscription to the Vietnam War) - Why Shem got into writing (and how he got F for writing in Harvard & didn’t write for 4 years after that) - ‘The House of God’ - His new book ‘Our Hospital’  - Shem’s hope for the future of medicine & healthcare workers - The importance of sticking together and human connection Get Shem's new book here.

Dr Jolie Keenan is an infectious disease physician, real estate investor, mother, and founder of Best Year Journals. Best Year Journals was created after witnessing patients write down lists of dreams and aspirations post life-changing diagnoses. Jolie noticed that often the dreams were being written down for retirement, so she decided to create these journals with her mother so that we can live our “retirement” goals NOW.  We discuss: - Migration - Choosing our specialty - Highlights & challenges of infectious disease  - Exploring the world outside of medicine - Entrepreneurship  - A little bit of magic For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Get the journals here Best Year Journals

Dr Mary Leung is on this episode to discuss how she recovered from burnout and found a path that aligned with her values more. Dr Leung is a physician specialised in medical oncology, haematology, and internal medicine. She went from feeling trapped and devalued at work to regaining control of her life. We discuss: - what led up to Mary’s burnout - the danger of self-sacrifice - how she transformed her life - how caring for ourselves helps how we relate and help others - the importance of boundary setting - we are worthy, just as we are - the power of gratitude and curiosity For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Find out more about Mary here: shiningwithgratitudemd.com | shiningwithgratitudemd@gmail.com | Facebook | LinkedIn

This episode we have Dr. Funke Afolabi-Brown, a sleep medicine physician, to speak all about how she found her niche in medicine and created her own business. She is passionate about helping people discover sleep as their superpower. Dr. Afolabi-Brown is a clinician, speaker, consultant, and coach, and she helps busy professionals and their children prioritise sleep to thrive, achieve optimal health, and live to their fullest potential. We discuss: - How we can exert so much pressure on ourselves  - Burnout, people-pleasing, and self-doubt - How she found her niche in medicine - The importance of sleep and how we can practically prioritise it - Effects of poor sleep on our health, functioning, and wellbeing - Unhelpful habits like waking up with caffeine and going to sleep with alcohol For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Dr Funke here restfulsleepmd.com | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

This episode we have Sharee Johnson on. Sharee is a registered psychologist and executive coach to leaders, business owners and health professionals. Sharee is the founder of Coaching for Doctors and author of bestselling book The Thriving Doctor. As part of Coaching for Doctors, Sharee also offers Recalibrate, an immersive development program for doctors that is due to start in-person this 8th of March in Melbourne. There is an online version starting in April this year if this suits better. For those listeners who would like to sign up, you can mention that you listened to this podcast episode and take advantage of the early bird prices. For junior docs, there is still 1 scholarship per program available if you’d like to apply.  We discuss: - Why Sharee became a coach for doctors - Stoicism, perfectionism & overachieving  - “Work-life balance” - Unhelpful habits we may have, how to notice them and change them for more helpful ones - Mindfulness (bear with us) - Tips on how to thrive in medicine and take care of ourselves - What the Recalibrate Program offers doctors For coaching with Isabella go here. Sign up to Recalibrate here and say you listened to this episode to take advantage of early bird prices. Find out more or reach out to Sharee here.

Today we have Dr Nishi Bhopal, a psychiatrist, sleep medicine physician, who practices holistic medicine, calling from San Francisco. Nishi did all the things she was supposed to do, but found herself experiencing high levels of stress in training, that ultimately led to burnout. Nishi is on to share her story and how she turned her experience into a practice that helps to heal others. Nishi currently teaches other doctors sleep medicine. If you’d like to sign up to her free masterclass go here. We discuss: - How Nishi has experienced three big health systems - NHS, Canada & the US - Changing specialties from internal medicine to psychiatry - How Nishi realised she wanted to change specialties and how the transition was - Dealing with unsolicited advice - Feelings of exhaustion, perfectionism, doubt, anxiety, and burnout - The arrival fallacy  - Healing from burnout and finding fulfilment while still in medicine - Identifying your skills and unique talents For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Nishi Youtube | Website | Private Practice Sign up for sleep medicine teaching 

This episode we my friend on, Dr Charlotte Cachia, my friend from internship & residency who has a big career change. From critical care to a non-clinical specialty, pathology, Charlotte is on to share her story. I’m so grateful for Charlotte’s vulnerability and honesty in how she healed from burnout and found a career in medicine that helps her live a more fulfilling life.  We discuss: - Charlotte’s journey from young high school graduate to even younger doctor - Charlotte’s experience with burnout, the contributing factors, and the build up to the moment she decided to leave her job as a critical care SRMO - What places us more at risk of burnout (like people-pleasing and overachieving) - The importance of TIME to think over our next steps - How it is OKAY to change directions in our career, at ANY time - Charlotte’s transition from critical care to pathology - Pathology training & tips on what to do if you’re interested in it For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Pathology Training Website. Read Charlotte’s article here.  Reach out to Charlotte via email.

This episode we have Dr Barb Blasko, an Emergency Medicine Specialist and owner of a mobile healthcare service for equestrian events, called Show MD. This episode is all about how we can combine our passions to create our own unique career. Instead of ‘either/or’, we can be ‘yes, and’. We discuss: - How she got to where she is now - Why Barb chose Emergency Medicine - How Barb combined her love of horses with medicine - Tips on starting your own business Coaching with Isabella at balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Barb via her website | email barb@showmd.org

This episode we have Dr Mary Magdy on to discuss her role as a Principal Investigator in Clinical Trials. This job is a hidden gem that remunerates well. It’s a growing industry in Australia and not want some might think when they hear research. Tune in to learn more about this role that is a great option for doctors that want to stay in medicine, keep seeing patients, but in a different way. We discuss: - Mary’s journey in medicine and how she found clinical research - What clinical research is - Who funds this type of research  - The different roles in a clinical trial - What a Principal Investigator & Sub-Investigator is - and a detailed overview of what they do - The highlights and lowlights of the job - The type of person that would be suited to this job - Who could apply Coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Check out Good Clinical Practice. Reach out to Mary via LinkedIn.

This episode we have Dr Bishan Rajapakse on. He is an Emergency Medicine Specialist, writer, educator, and advocate for wellbeing, culture, and safety. Bishan came on to share his story & wisdom. This episode is great to show us all how there is no rush to the consultant finish line. We all do life at our own pace and that is more than okay. We discuss: - Bishan’s scenic route to specialisation - How he lived his life with what made sense to him (instead of what makes sense to others) - Following your ‘gut’ and your values - How Bishan considered leaving medicine at one point, and then reconnected to his why - Changing specialties - Taking time off during training - The “medical treadmill” (and hopping off it) - Not feeling like you fit the mould of medicine and certain specialties - Failure!!! & medical shame - Valuing who WE ARE, over what we do For coaching with Isabella - balancedmedics.com/coaching Read Bishan’s blog post in Life in the Fast Lane Get in touch with Bishan Insta | YouTube | Blog | LinkedIn

Ready to take radical responsibility for our 2024? This episode is all about how we can reflect on 2023 and design our 2024 to be the year we want it to be. Looking forward to witnessing your powerful 2024. For coaching go to balancedmedics.com/coaching

We’re so excited to share the latest episode of the podcast. Dr Kristine Goins, also known as The Nomad MD, is our guest. Kristine is an integrative adult and paediatric psychiatrist and world traveler. She is living proof that doctors can work remotely and is on a mission to help digitise medicine. Kristine is a coach to help other physicians change their life from traditional medicine to pursue location freedom. We discuss: - Kristine’s journey from traditional medicine to pursuing location freedom - Her own experience with burnout - What integrative medicine and integrative psychiatry is - The role of travel in healing  - How Kristine became a digital nomad & continued to practice medicine - Kristine’s vision in transforming the healthcare system For coaching with go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Dr Kristine Goins here Website | Instagram | Facebook 

This episode we have the inspiring Dr Vanessa Atienza-Hipolito on to share her journey. Vanessa is a Clinical Breast and Interventional Radiologist and solopreneur. She is the Clinical Director and business owner of Women’s & Breast Imaging in Cottesloe, educator, co-author, mother and triathlete. Vanessa is an international medical graduate and dedicates her recent award, Filipino-Australian of the Year, to all migrant people and migrant doctors. We discuss: - Her journey through medicine - How she changed from surgical trainee to radiology training - Why she migrated to Australia - Her experience as an international medical graduate in Australia and how she became registered as a radiologist in Australia  - How she became a business owner and solopreneur - Why she writes - Healing from burnout and having a life that is more than work - The importance of asking for help, and the moment when Vanessa did reach out for help during a period of burnout For coaching with Isabella go to balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Dr Vanessa Atienza-Hipolito at her website | Insta | Twitter | LinkedIn Drs4Drs if you need help - it’s always ok to ask for help.

This episode we have Dr Toni Liu back! Listen to episode 2 to hear our first chat about people-pleasing and how to beat it. This time we are chatting all about those tricky emotions surrounding leaving medicine. Dr Toni Liu is a physician from the US who left medicine to be a cartoonist, digital nomad, and self-love and relationship coach.  We discuss: - The emotions we both felt when contemplating leaving medicine - What came up when we left full-time clinical medicine (it wasn’t all sunshine straight away) - How we can navigate those tricky emotions and pursue our dreams - Dealing with unsolicited advice - How we both are now vs at the start of our journeys This episode is inspired by Dr Heather Fork from The Doctors’ Crossing. Coaching with Isabella balancedmedics.com/coaching Reach out to Dr Toni Liu: Insta | LinkedIn | Website | Podcast Helpful articles 5 tips for handling the emotional side to leaving medicine 20 Tips On What To Do If You Want To Quit Medicine

This episode we have Dr Seema Pattni, a mother, GP and career coach with a special interest in coaching women of South Asian backgrounds. Seema kindly came on to the pod to discuss how we can make empowered choices in our lives. I’m sure we have all felt a bit lost at some point in our lives, moving past this fog can be scary. Where do we even start? We discuss: - How we can make sustainable career and life choices based on our own values - Seema’s journey through medicine, why, and how she re-evaluated her own career - How we can identify our own values - The importance of knowing our core values - How we can apply them to make the change we want in our lives - Navigating conflicting values Insta | LinkedIn | Website

This episode we have Dr Matthew Coleshill (BSc (Hons), PhD) from the Black Dog Institute on the pod to discuss physician mental health & The Essential Network (TEN) for health professionals. I feel very privileged to share this episode to help normalise talking about mental health in doctors and to share another resource that is available to all of us. This episode happens to be published after the recent loss of one of our own to mental health. It’s okay to not be okay. There is help out there. Please reach out to your loved ones, colleagues, GP, professionals or one of the resources listed in our bio and show notes.  Having a mental health struggle does not mean you are not fit to practice or not well enough to be a doctor. It is so human and more common than you may think. You are not to blame, things are tough out there. I’m sure we have all struggled in medicine at some point in our lives. I know I have.  I would like to share the memory and impact of Dr Trudy Hong, who left this world too soon. We need change in the health system, not just momentary outrage. My dream is we can be that change. This episode we discuss: - The Essential Network (TEN) for health professionals of the Black Dog Institute - a free mental health resource for health professionals that is confidential and separate to our employers - What is unique about physician mental health - Physician anxiety, PTSD & burnout - Signs and symptoms of common mental health issues we may face as doctors and human beings - Where we can get help if we need it Resources for help now Doctors health - Drs4Drs TEN for Health Professionals AMA find a doctor Hand-n-Hand Peer Support

This episode we are lucky to have Dr Chloe Walters on, a paediatric trainee and mental health advocate. Dr Walters shares her mental health story and is working to fight the stigma of mental illness. Hearing her story shows how powerful vulnerability is, and we hope this episode can help someone feel less alone.  It’s okay to seek help if you need it.  We discuss: - Chloe’s journey through medicine with mental illness - How she was diagnosed with bipolar - Why Chloe decided to share her story - The stigma around mental health  - The importance of sharing stories to break this stigma - Chloe’s hopes for how mental health will be seen in medicine For coaching with Isabella balancedmedics.com/coaching Find out more from Dr Chloe Walters: YouTube | TikTok