Our stories

Stained glass window of a man hiking.

A life of purpose

When you allow yourself to truly see and sit with the fact that we are only here for a short period of time, it can feel scary… and also freeing.

Read More »
Balancing Parenthood and a Medical Career

Balancing parenthood and a medical career

Motherhood is by far the hardest thing that I have ever done and continue doing every day. It is 1 million times harder than being a doctor and requires such a delicate dance of unconditional love, consistency, and compromise. At the same time, there is no doubt that being a physician is one of the hardest professions out there.

Read More »
Jillian Reigert My Teacher Tree

Meet my teacher – morning musings

I do my best thinking in the quiet, calmness of nature – with space to breathe and observe the beauty of the world around us. I perform best when I have time to think, process, and move at ease with intention. For years, I pushed myself to move faster – with an urgency that was getting me places faster- only to realize I was missing the opportunity to enjoy the journey and the destinations were not where I wanted to be.

Read More »
group of physicians relaxing around a coffee table. fingers and faces MUST be correct. photorealistic.

AI impressions of physicians

To prove that Physicians Anonymous is surfing the wave of high technology, we’ve been playing around with various AI models. Starting with image generators, we’ve been both impressed and horrified by the outputs.

Read More »
Boundaries self care medicine

Setting boundaries for self care in medicine

Self-compassion does not make you soft. Boundaries do not make you closed off nor selfish. I had to repeat this many times before I started to understand how true and how essential self-compassion and boundaries are in our lives.

Read More »
physician self compassion

Self-compassion for physicians

Doctors and those in training are taught to put the needs of others ahead of their own – often to the detriment of their own well-being. Self-compassion can play a vital role in supporting physician wellness and overall work satisfaction.

Read More »
Medicine, milestones, mental health

Medicine, milestones, mental health

The arrival fallacy — the idea that I will be happy when I reach X — can also contribute to mental health issues among physicians, who may struggle to find a sense of purpose and meaning in their work.

Read More »
Permission to pivot

Permission to pivot

In this article, Dr Reigert discusses her surgical residency journey, the effect of chronic sleep deprivation, the arrival fallacy, and giving yourself permission to pivot your career if Plan A isn’t working out. She also reminds us of the importance of getting professional help and that no career is worth your life.

Read More »
physician career risk

I risked my career to save my life

“I think I need to take a medical leave.”
He replied with compassion and understanding, “When?”
I said, “Days or months ago, but I’ll settle for.. now.”
The next day, I was on medical leave. I risked my career to save my life.

Read More »
Workaholism in Medical Doctors

Workaholism in medical doctors

The Dark Side of a Dedicated Career. Medical doctors are known for our long hours and unwavering dedication to our patients. But what happens when this level of commitment turns into a destructive force? Workaholism, the compulsive drive to work excessive hours, is a growing concern in the medical profession, with a significant number of doctors struggling with the demands of our careers.

Read More »