Our stories

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.

Read More »
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.

Read More »
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.

Read More »
workplace psychological safety

Workplace psychological safety

This article defines workplace psychological safety, the toxic triangle of unsafe workplaces, and presents 4 principles for leaders to promote psychologically safe work environments.

Read More »
Legislation to Safeguard Physicians from Burnout

Legislation to safeguard physicians from burnout

Why do we need laws? After all, hospitals and healthcare businesses know all about the corporate risks of overwork! We argue that without legislation to force safety, nothing will change because little, if anything, has changed to protect healthcare staff from overwork.

Read More »
The power of regret in medicine

The power of regret in medicine

I have so many regrets about my medical career that I don’t even know where to begin. And I am not alone. We all make mistakes, give suboptimal service, have off days, or (most often, in my experience), nature wins. The cancer progresses. The psychosis relapses. The diabetes complicates. So am I going to wallow in them and feel sorry for myself? Or is there another way of dealing with regrets in my career as a doctor?

Read More »
Disruptive physician wounded healer

Disruptive physician – or wounded healer?

For so many reasons the term “disruptive doctor” is unhelpful at best, cruel and discriminatory at worst. As a label it has been used and misused. Very few physicians start out disruptive. The reality is that disruptive behavior in physicians is often a symptom of a larger systemic problem. It may be related to stress, burnout, mental health issues, addiction, and more.

Read More »
Physician Wellbeing Ecosystem

Physician wellbeing requires an ecosystem approach

Addressing physician wellbeing is a complex challenge that requires a comprehensive approach beyond individual interventions. A physician well-being ecosystem, designed to support and prioritize the mental and emotional well-being of physicians, is crucial for sustainable change.

Read More »
The power of positive affirmations to fight physician burnout

Positive affirmations to fight burnout

Positive affirmations are a powerful tool that can help you fight burnout. If you are feeling overwhelmed by stress, try using positive affirmations to boost your self-confidence and self-esteem. With a little practice, you can start to see a difference in your mood, emotions, and overall well-being.

Read More »

I Rise Part One: Pre-Med

This is part one of a guest blog by one of our senior mentors. She was a groundbreaker as a woman of color studying medicine in the 1970s. Here, she recounts her struggles in Pre-Med.

Read More »
Buffalo Med School

I Rise Part Two: Med School

This is part two of a guest blog by one of our senior mentors. She was a groundbreaker as a woman of color studying medicine in the 1970s. Here, she recounts her first year at Med School far from home.

Read More »

Cultivating self-compassion for medical students

Protecting the Next Generation of Doctors. The practice of self-compassion has emerged as a valuable tool for medical students, offering support in navigating the pressures, setbacks, and self-criticism that can arise throughout their training. This article explores the importance of self-compassion specifically for medical students, provides an overview of relevant research and studies, and offers a practical guide to cultivating self-compassion in daily life.

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 »