Our stories

The emotional exit interview no one ever does in medicine

Every year, thousands of physicians quit their jobs leaving hospitals, clinics, and academic centers behind. When they go, most organizations conduct exit interviews to gather feedback on salary, workload, or management. But there’s a deeper conversation that almost never happens: the emotional exit interview. This is the chance for doctors to honestly express how their hearts have been bruised by the very profession they once loved—and for institutions to learn what truly drives physicians away.

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radical-rest-doing-less

Radical rest: Why doing less made me a better doctor

Let me confess something that might sound ridiculous coming from a doctor: for most of my career, I treated rest like a threat. A sign of weakness. A guilty pleasure to be earned only after I’d answered every email, seen every patient, signed off every note, and probably rotated the tires on someone else’s car just to be safe.

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A split image of a dignified man: a physician on the left and an airline captain on the right, complete with a captain's uniform, hat, and a “Sully”-style mustache.

Resilience and true grit (Part 2)

Is the motive behind resilience training to retain staff so that the system can continue to stay revenue-positive, or is it an investment in the ultimate resource of medicine, the human one?

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A mature male physician with silver hair and a calm, authoritative expression, wearing a white lab coat and a surgical mask. He has reached the top of Mt Everest and is delighted. Following him is another dignified female physician in the same attire.

Resilience and true grit (Part 1)

I am just a physician who has spent 20+ years in the ER, had a few leadership roles along the way (which makes for a mildly robust LinkedIn profile), and nurtured some wisdom too. I think that is enough.

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physician and patient in consulting room with patients waiting outside on hospital chairs

Why traditional support systems aren’t enough for physicians

Despite the availability of traditional support systems like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and institutional wellness initiatives, a significant number of physicians continue to grapple with burnout, depression, and other mental health challenges. This disconnect prompts a critical examination of why these support structures often fall short for those in the medical profession.

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Coaching solution to physician burnout

Coaching: A potential solution to physician burnout?

Research suggesting low rates of help-seeking behavior among physicians. Yet an encouraging recent study showed that some 70% of physicians would engage with a professional coach. We argue that this openness to coaching provides a much-needed support system and a potential solution to the current pandemic of physician burnout and suicide.

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Physician coaching

Physician coaching and wellbeing: The evidence base

In this article, we examine the evidence base for physician coaching and wellbeing, how to find a good coach, and how to tell if they’re right for you. We also note a caveat around the need for systemic change – a white coat revolution if you will – to address the underlying toxicity of modern medicine causing so much physician distress, burnout, and moral injury.

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Solving medicine’s moral injury

There is clearly no quick fix to the underlying causes of moral injury in healthcare. This is not a war where a ceasefire can be declared.

So, how do we try to move from the collective moral injury experience of physicians to a systematic change in the structure of medical practice?

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A serene, peaceful scene reflecting the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi

Wabi-Sabi and Medicine

The Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi beautifully captures the essence of life: appreciating the imperfect, the impermanent, and the incomplete. It reminds us to cherish the journey, with all its ups and downs – especially in medicine – instead of obsessing over destinations or goals.

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female physician overwhelmed by administration

Physician burnout: An administrative disorder

Physician burnout is not a result of individual physician characteristics, but is significantly influenced by systemic factors within the healthcare system. In this blog, we will delve into the concept that physician burnout is more accurately described as an administrative or systemic disorder rather than an individual problem disorder, emphasizing the organizational, cultural, and economic factors that contribute to burnout in doctors.

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How to be a good physician poem

Physician poetry: How to be a good doctor on a very bad day

Physician Poetry: How To Be a Good Doctor On a Very Bad Day. The writer beautifully articulates the quiet suffering so many of us endure—the shame, the imposter syndrome of self-doubt, and the silent suffering and unnecessary isolation that comes with the weight of our responsibilities and our toxic medical system.

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Poem - The Human Conundrum - Dr Preyasha Tuladhar

Physician poetry: The human conundrum

This poem, The Human Conundrum, explores the emptiness of consumerism and the need for deeper fulfillment through creativity, community, and connection with nature. It highlights the damage inflicted on the planet due to overconsumption while offering hope through imagination, unity, and action.

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medical student mental health

Start early: Medical student mental health

By the time we are finished our medical training, it’s too late. We have already absorbed or been infused with years of culture, tradition, attitude, and approaches to mental health. These attitudes are towards ourselves, our colleagues, and our patients. If we are to change the culture around physician mental health, we need to start with the doctors of tomorrow. Medical schools have a key role in tackling medical student mental health. And they should start yesterday.

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