The Podcast by KevinMD

"I now say getting divorced was one of the best things that ever happened to me. Through that painful circumstance, I rediscovered me. I learned more about myself and my ability to do hard things than at any point in my life since medical training. I'm not the same person that I was before my divorce, and that's OK. I'm more confident, decisive, and self-assured. Those are all qualities that not only benefit me, but benefit my patients as well. Because of my divorce, my patients now get Dr. Trina Dorrah, version 2.0, and we are all better off because of that." Trina E. Dorrah is an internal medicine physician and can be reached at Dr Trina Dorrah Life Coaching. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "How divorce helped this physician." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/02/how-divorce-helped-this-physician.html)

"One of the best solutions to rising obesity and non-communicable disease rates lie in primary care. Medical professionals can influence the U.S. food system indirectly through demand and collective purchasing power by educating their patients to choose and purchase healthier options. Merely improving nutrition education succeeds in shifting people's thinking about food. Simultaneous with the WHO's declaration of the Decade of Action on Nutrition is the "food is medicine" movement that has been growing in response to mounting evidence that a nutritionally-sound diet and access to quality foods improve health outcomes. The theory behind food is medicine is that food is a preventative public health system. This movement includes prescription meals to people with multiple chronic conditions and low income, food delivery services, and community food quality assessment. So far, the food is medicine solution has proven cost-effective, and one study reported a 16 percent reduction in health care costs in meal recipients. We know that widening health disparities are partially diet-dependent. Integrating nutrition into primary care is really a social necessity. Just as everyone should have access to medical care, all Americans should have equal access to proper nutritional guidance and nutritious food." Melinda Mesmer is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Put nutrition counseling in primary care." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/put-nutrition-counseling-in-primary-care.html)

"I have closed my practice, but I have no plans to retire at the age of 52. I have started the journey to become a high school science teacher. There are frequent internet postings and blogs by physicians with strategies to retire young. I suspect that many of us, not near traditional retirement age, still desire to work. At this point, I do not yet have a passion for traveling the world or for driving around the country in an RV like many former physicians. Furthermore, I still have two children who are not yet college age. I enjoy working, and I fear mental stagnation were I to retire at this point. Currently, I am pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching degree. From pre-school through hand fellowship, I have had 28 years of formal education. It is time for me to reciprocate and to honor the extraordinary minds of my teachers and mentors. I am excited to become a high school teacher. I was a chemistry major in college, and it will be a smooth transition to teach high school science. I judge success not by financial wealth, but by contributing to the community and finding happiness in life. I don't miss my pager." Timothy Bill is a plastic surgeon. He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Why this plastic surgeon closed his practice to become a high school science teacher." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/why-this-plastic-surgeon-closed-his-practice-to-become-a-high-school-science-teacher.html)

"Definitions ground us in our profession and in our world. Definitions matter because they help us pause, give our body a moment to settle, and our breath time to move in and out. Our racist actions, inactions, and comments are invasive throughout our waking hours, but we can change them if we can define them. Racist. Anti-racist. Microaggression. Institutional racism. Don't let the words keep you tense. Let's move forward together and breathe." Joy Eberhardt De Master is a pediatrician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Racist. Anti-racist. Microaggression. Institutional racism. The power of a definition." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/racist-anti-racist-microaggression-institutional-racism-the-power-of-a-definition.html)

"The good news is that imposter syndrome can be quieted with increased awareness and replacing negative internal messages with positive ones. In our work together, I helped Sheila identify the voices, understand the positive role the voices fill (and there is always a positive or protective role), and find specific mechanisms for turning down the volume. Imposter syndrome may crop up again, but she now has a toolkit to quiet the intrusive thoughts and move ahead with confidence. Not only is Sheila now waking up without dread, she's explored several career paths and settled on one that she's excited about. You don't need to stay imprisoned in the dank dungeon of imposter syndrome. With the right tools, freedom is possible. Think of all you can accomplish, and how much lighter you will feel, when a more positive set of voices fills your head." Here's a questionnaire to assess imposter syndrome. (https://paulineroseclance.com/pdf/IPTestandscoring.pdf) Diane W. Shannon is an internal medicine physician and physician coach and can be reached at her self-titled site, Diane W. Shannon. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Solving imposter syndrome in physicians." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/12/solving-imposter-syndrome-in-physicians.html)

"In the world of medicine, inordinate stress is instead accepted as just part of the job. If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen- or see a therapist on your own time and dime. I strongly believe that traditional therapy and psychiatry are vital and valuable disciplines- I might not be here without them. But not everyone who needs help living through this crisis (or pre-coronavirus life) is mentally ill or needs a diagnosis in order to qualify for guidance and support. No one should have to go through this pandemic, or life itself, alone. Literally or metaphorically. Not even doctors. As we wait for scientists to develop a vaccine and improve the reliability of testing, it is a good time to confront the obvious: in order to come out intact, healthy and whole on the other side of this pandemic, we are going to have to build our emotional intelligence and learn how to be vulnerable again. The only way to heal is to feel." Tracey O'Connell is a radiologist and physician coach. She can be reached at her self-titled site, Tracey O'Connell, M.D. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Vulnerability is challenging but necessary for health care professionals." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/05/vulnerability-is-challenging-but-necessary-for-health-care-professionals.html)

"As a young girl, I'd stand on my tiptoes, craning my neck to watch her sweep cerulean eye shadow across lids and smear foundation on sunken cheeks. While my high school friends resorted to secondhand eye shadow instruction from the pages of Teen magazine, I learned by watching my mom transform the face of a corpse with her skilled makeup application. My mother's gentle and methodical lipstick application entranced me. Back and forth. Slowly outlining the cupid's bow of a mouth. Delicately tracing of the arch in a feathery eyebrow. Until, wondrously, the corpse's vacant mask appeared serenely lifelike. With her artistry complete, no one could spot the thin line of super glue keeping the embalmed lips from springing open, or the plastic eye caps that gave the appearance of eyeballs peacefully resting in sockets. As I grew older, I pondered their last moments before this transition. What was the final word they spoke? Who received their last hug? What were they thinking when they realized their mortal roller-coaster ride was coming to a full and complete stop?" Lara Salyer is a family physician and author of Right Brain Rescue: One physician's journey from burnout to bliss reveals the creative muse in all of us. (https://amzn.to/3bw5XiQ) She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "One physician's journey from burnout to bliss reveals the creative muse in all of us." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/one-physicians-journey-from-burnout-to-bliss-reveals-the-creative-muse-in-all-of-us.html)

"I just started laughing. It was early on Monday morning during our COVID surge. I couldn't help myself. Phones were not on yet, but I already had triage COVID calls. "Put on your roller skates" was all I was thinking. I questioned my laughter. The day and a life of a primary care physician during COVID. Not a fun one by any means. Certainly not one to laugh at. But, if we don't laugh, we would cry. Everyone knows that cliche. Our days never end. We don't leave. The EMR has made sure of that. The nurses and staff are expected to smile and be respectful. They have, in fact, been so amazing during this pandemic. They have shown up every day with smiles on their faces." Kelly Lisciandro is an internal medicine physician. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Why do I laugh during a pandemic?" (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/why-do-i-laugh-during-a-pandemic.html)

"As a professional woman who most identifies as a physician more than any other title, I know that I run the risk of losing myself to this disease. I am not ignorant to the risk. I understand that my identity is supposed to be separate from my achievements and that my babies are supposed to make me value something greater than my career. But my oath runs through me in a way that I can only describe as visceral. And for this reason, the pain is that much worse. Because as much as I miss them. And as much as I miss me. I can't not keep going. Because they deserve the best we have to offer. And those of us who have stood here on the front lines for over 10 months know more than anyone else, that if we don't do it, then who will?" Nicole M. King is an anesthesiologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "I keep going because I miss them. And I miss me." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/i-keep-going-because-i-miss-them-and-i-miss-me.html)

"Research conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI), a nonprofit research organization in New York, defines the three pillars of executive presence (EP) as gravitas, communication, and image. Stated differently, EP reflects how you act, how you speak, and how you look. CTI concluded that when people are perceived as capable of becoming leaders, they are more likely to be promoted into leadership roles. This is particularly important for aspiring female leaders who continue to battle both conscious and unconscious gender bias. Studies show that men are more often associated with leadership qualities and women with nurturing qualities. This forces women to confront the need to master an intricate balancing act that simultaneously conveys both softness and strength." Nandita C. Gupta is a cardiologist. She shares her story and discusses her KevinMD article, "Executive presence for women leaders." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2020/10/executive-presence-for-women-leaders.html)