Explore every episode of the podcast Sustainable Clinical Medicine with The Charting Coach

Nobody told you what to do when the letter arrived. Not in med school. Not in residency. And now you’re trying to hold it together through a malpractice case, a licensing board investigation, or a billing audit that feels like it came out of nowhere.

Dr. Erin Pemberton has spent 20 years defending doctors and healthcare providers in exactly those moments. Now she’s also a certified coach, and she works with providers who are in the middle of the hard stuff: not after, not in recovery, but right now, while it’s happening. In this episode, she and Dr. Sarah talk about what that kind of support actually looks like, and why it matters.

Dr. Erin Pemberton is a partner at Baylor, Evnen, Wolf & Danele law firm in Lincoln, Nebraska and the founder of Pemberton Professional Coaching. She is a certified coach credentialed through the International Coaching Federation and trained at the Physician Coaching Institute. She works with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers navigating licensure, discipline, malpractice, and audits. Find her at pembertonprocoaching.com.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00] Dr. Erin Pemberton’s path from OR tech to nurse to nursing administrator to law school to coaching

[07:00] What 20 years of malpractice defense taught her about what doctors actually go through

[13:00] Why coaching is a safe space legally: no notes, no evidence, no diagnosing

[19:00] The risk behaviors that show up when doctors are under sustained pressure

[24:00] Billing audits, Medicaid letters, and the legal layer of medicine no one prepared you for

[28:00] What coaching looks like when someone is facing discipline, not just career transition

[31:00] How to find Dr. Pemberton and what working with her looks like

Three Key Takeaways

1. Coaching is legally distinct from therapy, and that distinction matters when you’re in trouble.

Dr. Pemberton is clear: coaching doesn’t generate notes, doesn’t create evidence, and doesn’t involve diagnosing. For a doctor in the middle of a malpractice case or licensing investigation, that makes it a genuinely safe place to process what’s happening. You can talk about how you’re feeling without creating anything that could be used against you later.

2. The emotional toll of a malpractice case or audit doesn’t wait for the case to resolve.

These cases can take years. Licensing board investigations move slowly. And the pressure doesn’t pause while your life keeps going. Dr. Pemberton talks about the risk behaviors that show up when doctors are carrying that weight with nowhere to put it, and why having a place to let the relief valve open can change how someone shows up in every other part of their life.

3. You’re not the first. You’re not the worst. And there are people who specialize in the hard part.

Most coaching focuses on career transitions or growth. Dr. Pemberton deliberately works with people who are in crisis right now, not on the other side of it. Knowing that someone has walked alongside dozens of doctors through this, and has seen them come out, is its own kind of grounding.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access program for doctors that is helping them get home with today’s work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Jennie Byrne is a psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and author of three books on brain performance, moral injury, and ADHD in professionals. In this episode, she and Dr. Sarah dig into what ADHD actually looks like in high-performing clinicians and why so many go undiagnosed for decades. If you’ve ever wondered why the administrative side of medicine feels exponentially harder than the clinical side, this conversation is going to feel uncomfortably familiar.

Dr. Jennie Byrne is a board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist. She’s the founder of Constellation, a mental health practice, and the author of Work Smart: Use Your Brain and Behavior to Master the Future of Work, Moral Injury: Healing the Healers, and ADHD in Professionals: Embracing Your Brain. Connect with her at constellationpllc.com.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00] Why ADHD shows up differently in high-achieving doctors, and why the traditional picture doesn’t fit

[07:00] The “brain variant” framing: why Dr. Byrne doesn’t see ADHD as a disorder

[14:00] Up to 10% of doctors may have ADHD, and the adrenaline-driven specialties are where you’ll find the most of them

[21:00] Task-shifting and cognitive load: why switching from clinical to admin work costs ADHD brains up to 60% capacity

[28:00] The inbox problem: how to stop letting email run your day (scheduling send, time blocking, making it a game)

[35:00] Portal messages as moral injury: when the system is asking more than it was ever designed to give

[42:00] Why doctors avoid psychiatry and how coaching offers a lower-barrier path to support

[49:00] The three books, what they cover, and how to find Dr. Byrne

Three Key Takeaways

1. ADHD brains aren’t broken. They’re built for a different environment.

Dr. Byrne reframes ADHD as a brain variant, not a deficit. The skills that make ADHD brains exceptional in high-stakes clinical environments (hyperfocus, fast pattern recognition, comfort with chaos) are the same skills that make the administrative side of medicine feel like it’s grinding gears. The mismatch isn’t in the brain; it’s in the job design.

2. The cognitive cost of switching from clinical to admin work is real and measurable.

For doctors with ADHD brains, task-shifting between clinical and administrative work doesn’t just feel hard. Research suggests it can consume up to 60% of working capacity. That’s not a motivation problem or a time management problem. It’s a neuroscience problem, and it reframes why charting after hours feels so disproportionately exhausting.

3. The barrier to mental health support for doctors is partly structural, and coaching can help bridge it.

Doctors are less likely to seek psychiatric support due to stigma, licensing concerns, and the particular awkwardness of being a clinician and a patient in the same system. Dr. Byrne talks about why coaching offers a lower-stakes, more accessible entry point and why that matters for sustainable careers in medicine.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access program for doctors that is helping them get home with today’s work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Sarah Smith recently joined Dr. Andrea Austin on Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare to talk about something that hits close to home for a lot of doctors: the charting problem that follows you no matter where you work, what system you're in, or what country you move to.

In this conversation, Dr. Smith shares practical emergency department charting strategies, her honest take on perfectionism and training trauma, and why the administrative burden is an "us problem, not a you problem."

This episode originally aired on Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, hosted by Dr. Andrea Austin, board-certified emergency doctor and doctor development coach. Visit andreaaustinmd.com to learn more.

Timestamped Highlights

[02:00]: Dr. Smith traces how she became interested in helping other doctors, starting with 15 years of working evenings and weekends before she finally figured out how to get home with the work done, and what it took to get there.

[07:00]: The emergency department gets specific attention here. Dr. Smith explains why doctors staying six hours after their shift is not a personal failing, and what it is actually costing the department.

[09:00]: A quick shift huddle at the start of every shift, done right, can reduce interruptions, improve teamwork, and set up the whole team to leave closer to on time. The logistics are simpler than you might think.

[11:00]: Real-time charting in a busy ED sounds impossible. Dr. Smith makes the case for why doing it imperfectly in the moment beats doing it perfectly at midnight.

[14:00]: C-minus. That is the charting standard Dr. Smith recommends when you are under pressure, and the reasoning behind it will resonate with anyone who has ever held their notes accountable to a voice from residency they do not even respect anymore.

[19:00]: Training trauma is real, and it shows up in documentation. Dr. Smith and Dr. Austin talk about the attendings, the fear of courtrooms, and the invisible audience doctors are still writing for years later.

[25:00]: What can a CMO or hospital leader actually do? Dr. Smith gives concrete, practical answers including one idea for how a department could restructure a shift to give doctors a protected hour to get caught up.

[31:00]: Dr. Smith lived and worked in both Australia and Canada, saw up to 40 patients a day across multiple practice settings, and was still working evenings and weekends in both countries. The problems followed her. What finally changed things was not the system; it was the skill set.

[39:00]: What does a sustainable clinical career actually look like? Dr. Smith closes with her own definition, and why the goal of leaving 10 minutes after the last patient once felt completely impossible.

Three Key Takeaways

1. The end-of-shift backlog is a system problem, not a personal one.

When doctors are staying six hours past their last patient to finish documentation, that is not a sign that those doctors are slow or disorganized. The electronic medical record was not designed for speed or ease, the click burden is heavy, and nobody hands clinicians the specific strategies to work differently inside it. Dr. Smith frames it plainly: this is an us problem, not a you problem, and that reframe matters because it puts the conversation where it belongs, at the level of the team and the department, not the individual.

2. Perfectionism around charting is often training trauma wearing a professional mask.

C-minus charting is not a shortcut. It is the right standard for a doctor who has not eaten in three hours, has a full waiting room, and knows something is coming through the door in five seconds. The reason so many doctors cannot let themselves chart to that standard is that they are still writing for an attending who intimidated them in residency, or bracing for a courtroom that is unlikely to ever materialize. Naming who you are imagining looking at your notes is one of the most practically useful things in this episode.

3. Moving countries does not fix the problem; changing your skill set does.

Dr. Smith left Australia for Canada and kept working evenings and weekends. Different system, different EMR, different patient volume structure, same problem. What changed things was not geography. It was learning a different way to interact with the system she was already in. For any doctor who is convinced their burnout is entirely environmental, this is worth sitting with: the system is broken, and it is also true that there is a skill set available that can make where you are right now more sustainable.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access program helping doctors get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support, and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at chartingcoach.ca/charting-champions

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don't forget to hit "follow" so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Sarah Smith has always believed that getting home with the work of the day done was possible, and now there is published research to prove it. In this episode, she walks through the journal article that studied 280 Charting Champions members across a range of specialties and career stages, sharing exactly what the data found about hours spent charting outside clinical time, feelings of burnout and dread, and the number of patients doctors were still able to see. If you have ever wondered whether a coaching program can actually move the needle on physician administrative burden, or if you need something concrete to show your organization, this is the episode to send them.

Timestamped Highlights

[02:00]: Dr. Smith traces the origin of the Charting Champions program, not to a business plan, but to a very specific moment in her own clinical life when she realized she could not keep going the way she was going.

[09:00]: On a remote cabin with no internet, a pencil, and a pad of paper, Dr. Smith did something that would eventually reach hundreds of doctors worldwide, and the simplicity of how it started may surprise you.

[13:00]: Before the program even launched, Dr. Smith knew she would need to measure what it actually did, and the way she set that up created some unexpected challenges for her research team.

[16:00]: The study found something that most organizations will immediately ask about: does doing less charting after hours come at the cost of seeing fewer patients? The answer is significant.

[22:00]: The data on dread, burnout, and resignation ideation before and after Charting Champions are numbers worth knowing, especially if you are working inside a healthcare organization looking for interventions that actually hold up.

[28:00]: Dr. Smith closes with a direct message to doctors who want to bring this evidence to their employers, and where to find the full journal article and its reference list.

Three Key Takeaways

1. The study didn't just show improvement. It showed clinically significant improvement.
Two hundred and eighty doctors completed both pre- and post-program surveys, and what they reported wasn't marginal. Charting outside clinical hours decreased significantly. Feelings of dread, burnout, and thoughts of resigning all dropped. And the proportion of doctors who frequently had their evenings and weekends free of paperwork nearly doubled, from 16 to 30 percent. The phrase "clinically significant" is precise here: this wasn't a feel-good survey, it was a longitudinal study that met the bar for meaningful change.

2. Productivity did not take a hit, and that matters for the organizational argument.
One of the most common objections to any administrative burden intervention is that reducing paperwork time means reducing patient volume. This study directly addressed that, and found no significant difference in the number of patients seen per day before and after the program. For doctors trying to make the case to their hospital, clinic, or health system that coaching is worth supporting, this finding removes the most common counter-argument.

3. This program was built from one doctor's lived experience, then tested against evidence.
The Charting Champions program did not begin as a curriculum or a product. It began as Dr. Sarah Smith spending two years working through every aspect of her own clinical day to solve a problem that was quietly making her miserable. What makes this research meaningful is that the intervention is grounded in something real, not top-down efficiency consulting, but a process developed by a doctor who had the same problem the participants had, and figured out a way through it.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

This episode was originally published on Designing Healthcare That Cares, hosted by Dr. Laura Suttin. We are grateful to Dr. Suttin for the conversation and for permission to share it here.

Episode Summary

Nobody ever walked down the corridor and asked a doctor to see fewer patients today. Nobody ever offered to take half their inbox. The clinical day was not designed with the clinician in mind, and most doctors have spent their careers working inside that reality without ever stopping to question it.

In this episode, originally recorded for Designing Healthcare That Cares with Dr. Laura Suttin, Dr. Sarah Smith talks about what it actually looks like to start reclaiming your day from the inside, how to work with your team differently, what AI can and cannot do for your charting, and why noticing without judgment is always the first move.

What This Episode Covers

• Why the clinical day was never designed with the doctor in mind, and what to do about it now

• How to identify which inbox messages are not doctor work and get them off your plate permanently

• What it looks like to work with your team at the highest level, and how to have that conversation without adding to their load

• Why everything you say yes to in the room has a time consequence, and how to start navigating that

• A practical and honest look at where AI scribing helps and where it quietly creates new problems

• Why noticing without judgment is the foundation of every sustainable change in clinical medicine

• How to batch staff questions, protect thinking time, and reduce the interruptions that drain executive function

Key Moment Worth Hearing

Dr. Smith describes discovering that the clinic nurse was spending over an hour a day booking ultrasound appointments, creating a bottleneck that delayed patient vitals and backed up the entire morning. One conversation redirected that work to the ultrasound clinic's own secretaries. The hour came back. That is the noticing piece in action.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

This episode was originally published on Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine, hosted by Dr. Diane Shannon. We are grateful to Dr. Shannon for the conversation and for permission to share it here.

Episode Summary

Every time a doctor opens their mouth in a consultation, they are either shortening or lengthening their day. That is the lens Dr. Sarah Smith brings to clinical communication, and in this episode, originally recorded for Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine with Dr. Diane Shannon, she applies it to everything from how you greet a patient to how you handle the person who walks in with 17 problems. The conversation is practical, honest, and built around a single idea: you are the captain of the ship, and there are more choices available to you than you may have realized.

What This Episode Covers

• Why the way you communicate inside the consultation is one of the biggest drivers of after-hours work

• The real cost of not having efficient patient communication, including financial costs most doctors do not track

• Why saying yes to everything in the room means saying yes to homework

• How to handle the patient with 17 problems without abandoning good care

• Practical strategies for reducing interruptions, batching staff questions, and protecting thinking time

• Why noticing without judgment is the first and most important step toward change

• How small, incremental pivots compound into a very different clinical day

Key Moment Worth Hearing

Dr. Smith describes what happens when a patient walks in and fills the silence while you are still mid-thought about their diabetes management. Her response to that moment, warm, direct, and completely unapologetic, is one of the most useful things in this episode.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

This episode was originally published on the Doctors Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast, hosted by Dr. Heather Fork. We are grateful to Dr. Fork for the conversation and for permission to share it here on the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast.

Episode Summary

Dr. Sarah Smith spent the first 15 years of family medicine asking her mentors the same question: how do you do the paperwork part? The answer was always the same. Come in on Sundays. It was not until she was walking past the living room one evening, hearing her son talk about university, and realizing she was on her way to the computer again, that something shifted. In this episode, originally recorded for the Doctors Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast with Dr. Heather Fork, Dr. Smith talks about the moment everything changed, what she actually did differently, and what she now teaches doctors who are stuck in the same cycle she was.

What This Episode Covers

• The moment Dr. Smith realized charting chaos was costing her more than just time

• Why noticing your patterns without judgment is where change begins

• How perfectionism and imposter syndrome slow charting down in ways most doctors never connect

• Practical strategies for charting in real time and managing the clinical day more intentionally

• How to reduce interruptions, set boundaries, and get notes done before the next patient

• What good enough documentation actually looks like, and why it is more than enough

• How AI is changing the charting landscape and where it still falls short

Key Moment Worth Hearing

Dr. Smith describes the preceptor she was unconsciously writing five-page notes for, years after training ended. When she realized who she was trying to please and what it was actually costing her, everything about her approach to documentation changed.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Most doctors were never taught how to handle conflict. They were taught to avoid it, outlast it, or hand it to someone else. Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist who completed a master's degree in conflict resolution in the middle of a busy clinical career and discovered something that changed everything: it was not medicine she did not like. It was the unresolved conflict happening around it. In this episode, she introduces a reframe that shifts the entire conversation, treating conflict not as a disease to eliminate but as a vital sign to investigate, and makes the case that learning to do that is one of the most direct paths to a sustainable clinical career.

Six Timestamped Highlights

[04:00]: Dr. Sharma describes the Monday morning meetings where nobody said anything, the same problems plagued the practice for years, and what she now understands about what was actually happening in that room.

[13:00]: She introduces the vital sign reframe for conflict, and explains why thinking of conflict as a disease is the very reason most doctors run from it rather than move toward it.

[20:00]: The doctor who is 45 minutes behind, the patient who is furious, and the specific words that can shift that encounter without abandoning your boundaries or your dignity.

[26:00]: How to navigate conflict with administration when goals feel completely opposed, and the one place to start that makes every difficult conversation easier to have.

[36:00]: The direct line Dr. Sharma draws between unresolved conflict and burnout, and why closing the charts does not mean you have gone home if you are still replaying a conversation at 8pm.

[41:00]: What doctors are and are not responsible for when the system is the problem, and why learning to make that distinction clearly is one of the most important things a doctor can do for their own sustainability.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Conflict is a vital sign, not a disease.

Dr. Sharma's central reframe is this: when a patient has a fever, you do not blame yourself or the patient. You use the fever to look harder. Conflict works the same way. It is a sign that something underneath needs attention, not evidence that someone is bad, wrong, or failing. When doctors stop treating conflict as something to be eliminated and start treating it as information to be investigated, the fear around it shifts. Curiosity replaces avoidance. And curiosity, she argues, is the single most effective tool for moving through a difficult encounter without losing the relationship on the other side.

2. Unresolved conflict does not stay at work.

Dr. Sharma is direct about the burnout connection. A doctor can close every chart and leave on time and still not have gone home if they are replaying a difficult patient interaction at the dinner table. Those thousand small cuts of the clinical day, the nurse who seemed unhappy with an order, the colleague who made a comment in the corridor, the patient who challenged a treatment plan, accumulate in the body and do not switch off just because the clinic is locked. Learning to engage with conflict constructively means fewer things get carried home. And fewer things carried home is one of the most underrated contributions to a sustainable clinical career.

3. With administration, start where you agree, not where you differ.

When conflict involves a power differential, most doctors walk in defending their position against someone defending theirs. Dr. Sharma calls this positional bargaining, and it almost never works. What she coaches instead is finding the single thing both parties can agree on and starting the conversation there. In a dispute about appointment numbers or supply budgets, that shared point is almost always quality of patient care. Starting from shared ground does not guarantee the outcome a doctor wants. But it preserves the relationship for the next conflict, which is always coming.

Guest Bio

Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist, conflict resolution specialist, and co-founder of Lintel Health, based in Auburn, Alabama. After completing a master's degree in conflict resolution while practicing full-time OBGYN, she opened her own solo practice in 2001 and has spent over two decades consulting with hospital systems, residency programs, and clinical offices on conflict resolution in medicine. She is the creator of the SPARC system for addressing conflict in real time and co-hosts the podcast Scalpel and Sword. Find her at lintelhealth.com.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Most burnout conversations focus on systems, strategies, and workflow. And those things matter. But what happens when the inbox is clear, the charting is done, and something still feels wrong? Dr. Annia Raja is a clinical psychologist whose practice is almost entirely dedicated to serving doctors in therapy, and she sees this pattern regularly. The practical strategies work, until they reveal something underneath that the strategies were never going to reach.

In this episode, she talks about the deeper psychological dynamics that underpin burnout in medicine, why the traits that made someone an excellent doctor often have roots that go much further back than medical school, and why therapy does not have to wait for a crisis.

Timestamped Highlights

[05:00]: Dr. Raja describes what happens when a doctor finally clears their inbox and gets their clinical day under control, and why for some of them the relief they expected does not arrive.

[09:00]: She introduces the tangled ball of yarn as a more honest metaphor than the onion for understanding how medicine, personality, childhood, and relationships interweave in burnout, and what it means for how recovery actually works.

[12:00]: Why rest is not a destination you arrive at, and what she keeps finding in therapy when doctors finally create time away and discover they do not know what to do with it.

[16:00]: The ruminative pattern she sees most often in female doctors, where it comes from, and why telling someone to simply stop replaying an interaction is never going to work.

[20:00]: The real reason most doctors wait until crisis to seek therapy, including the specific fears around credentialing and licensing boards, and what has changed in the US that most doctors do not know about.

[26:00]: The difference between symptom-focused therapy and depth-oriented therapy, and why she makes a specific case for the latter with high-achieving doctors who have already tried every other fix.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Practical strategies work until they reveal what they cannot fix.

Dr. Raja is not dismissive of workflow strategies, charting systems, or inbox management. She sees their value. What she also sees, regularly, is doctors who have implemented all of those things and still feel something is off. When the busyness clears, what is left? Who are you when you are not overwhelmed? For some doctors, that question is more confronting than the overwork ever was. The strategies address the surface. Therapy, she argues, addresses what is underneath it.

2. The traits that make doctors vulnerable to burnout usually started long before medical school.

Dr. Raja describes burnout not as something medicine creates from scratch but as something medicine builds on top of. Perfectionism, people-pleasing, hypervigilance, martyrdom tendencies, these patterns often have roots in family environments, childhood experiences, and personal histories that preceded medicine by decades. Medical training did not create them. It found them, rewarded them, and amplified them. Understanding that changes what recovery needs to look like.

3. You do not have to be in crisis to go to therapy.

Dr. Raja uses the gym as her analogy, and it is a good one. You do not go to the gym only when something is broken. You go to maintain, to build capacity, to stay ahead of what would otherwise accumulate. Mental and emotional care works the same way. She is direct about the credentialing fears that keep doctors from seeking help and equally direct about what has changed. Over 40 US state boards have now removed the intrusive mental health history questions from their applications. The barrier many doctors think is there may no longer exist.

Guest Bio

Dr. Annia Raja is a clinical psychologist based in California whose practice is dedicated almost entirely to serving doctors in therapy. She practices across multiple US states through PSYPACT and offers private pay sessions specifically to protect her clients' confidentiality and privacy. She will be speaking at the White Coat Investor Conference in February 2027. Find her at helmpsychologygroup.com and on Instagram at Helm Psychology.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Most doctors are trained to have answers. The higher the stakes, the more certainty is rewarded. But when those same doctors step into leadership roles, that certainty becomes the very thing that gets in their way. Dr. Debra Clary has spent nearly two decades developing leaders inside healthcare organizations, and what her research keeps showing is that the leaders with the highest curiosity have the highest performing teams.

In this episode, she talks about what curiosity actually looks like in clinical environments, why resistance to change is biological rather than personal, and what happens when doctors who have spent careers being the expert in the room are suddenly asked to lead people who need to be heard.

Timestamped Highlights

[04:00]: Dr. Clary shares the research behind The Curiosity Curve, and why the data connecting leader curiosity to team performance surprised even the researchers who set out to find it.

[08:00]: She describes the single most powerful thing a leader can say to create a culture where people feel safe to speak up, and it is three words most high-achieving people rarely use.

[12:00]: The balance between certainty and curiosity in clinical medicine, and why the same trait that makes a doctor exceptional in an emergency can become an obstacle the moment they step into a leadership role.

[16:00]: Why resistance to change is not a character flaw but a biological response, and what leaders need to say before rolling out any new system or technology if they want it to actually work.

[20:00]: What AI can and cannot do, and why the differentiator that keeps doctors irreplaceable is not clinical knowledge but something more fundamental.

[25:00]: What happens when patients arrive armed with data from their own research, and how a doctor's relationship with curiosity determines everything about how that encounter goes.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Certainty narrows curiosity, and that is where dangerous things happen.

Dr. Clary's research found that leaders who created environments where questions were welcomed and the status quo could be challenged consistently outperformed those who did not. The same principle applies inside clinical environments. The doctor who is certain about how an encounter should go, how a system should work, or how a team should function stops asking questions, and the moment questions stop, so does learning. She is not arguing against clinical confidence. She is arguing that certainty and curiosity need to coexist, and that most leaders lean too heavily on one at the expense of the other.

2. Change resistance is biological, not personal, and leaders who understand that roll it out differently.

When something new arrives, the brain's first job is to assess threat. It is not interested in efficiency or innovation. It is interested in whether this is safe. Dr. Clary coaches leaders to work with that biology rather than against it, which means being transparent about the reason for a change, showing people how they fit into the future, and inviting them to help solve the implementation rather than handing them a directive. The organizations that skip that step, she says, pay for it in resistance, delay, and disengagement. The ones that do not skip it tend to move faster than they expected.

3. Leadership and culture are synonymous.

Dr. Clary's closing message is direct: so goes the top of the house, so goes the organization. A C-suite that does not model curiosity, collaboration, and psychological safety will not produce teams that offer those things either. For doctors moving into leadership roles, this reframe matters because it shifts the question from how do I get my team to perform differently to how do I need to show up differently first. The answer almost always involves asking more questions, saying I do not know more often, and being genuinely interested in what the person in front of you thinks. None of that is complicated. Most of it is just unfamiliar.

Guest Bio

Dr. Debra Clary is a leadership consultant, executive coach, and author based in the United States. With a doctorate in human behavior and organizational design and 18 years at Humana developing healthcare leaders, she works primarily with C-suite leaders and executive teams. She is the author of The Curiosity Curve, published in 2025. Find her at debraclary.com.

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Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Bertina Hooks has been a hospitalist, a locums doctor, a private practice owner across three locations, a utilization management reviewer, a medical expert witness, and a physician coach. She built all of that intentionally, piece by piece, while raising a daughter and running a business with no roadmap. Then in December 2022, she was hospitalized with necrotizing fasciitis and woke up without her right leg below the knee.

In this episode, she talks about burnout recovery, career reinvention, and the non-clinical pathways most doctors do not know exist until they are desperate enough to start looking. Her message to every doctor who feels trapped is the same: you are not stuck, you are not broken, you just need clarity about what you are actually looking for.

Timestamped Highlights

[06:00]: Dr. Hooks describes how she set up her own outpatient practice from scratch, and the specific systems she built before she saw her first patient that kept charting inside clinic hours from day one.

[09:00]: She explains where she learned the delegation and workflow skills that most doctors never develop, and why hospitalist medicine was the unexpected training ground for running a sustainable practice.

[21:00]: The hybrid approach she used to start her private practice without financial risk, running hospitalist shifts alongside building her own panel, and why it allowed her to ramp up slowly and intentionally.

[22:00]: Dr. Hooks describes the health emergency that changed everything, and what it forced her to ask herself about medicine, identity, and what she actually wanted.

[25:00]: She maps out the three non-clinical career paths she coaches doctors through most often, including one that most physicians misunderstand entirely.

[33:00]: The values energy audit she uses with every coaching client, and why she believes alignment between values and career is the foundation of burnout recovery.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Sustainable practice requires intentional systems, not just goodwill.

Dr. Hooks did not stumble into an efficient clinical day. She designed it, deliberately, before she opened her doors. Pre-visit labs ordered a week in advance. Huddles with staff before morning and afternoon sessions. Templates for normal inbox results handled by the nurse, with anything flagged coming directly to her. Scribes from early on. Delegation structured around scope of practice. She knew what had made her exhausted as a resident and as a hospitalist, and she made different decisions. The lesson is not that her system is the right one. It is that she had one, and most doctors never build theirs.

2. Your medical degree is portable in more directions than you think.

Dr. Hooks has built income streams across clinical medicine, utilization management, medical expert work, and physician coaching. None of the non-clinical work required an additional degree. What it required was a willingness to see her existing skills differently, and a mindset shift around what counts as using her training. She coaches doctors who are considering a pivot and consistently finds the same thing: the barrier is almost never competence. It is imagination. The belief that there is only one way to be a doctor, and that stepping outside it means starting from scratch.

3. Burnout recovery starts with recognizing the signals before they become a crisis.

Dr. Hooks describes burnout as a spectrum, and the early signals are easy to miss or explain away. The clearest early sign she names: coming back from a break and not feeling the return of motivation that used to be automatic. She teaches a values energy audit as one of her foundational coaching tools, built on a simple question: when you look at where your energy is going, how much of it is actually aligned with what you care about? That audit, she says, is often the first time a doctor has been asked that question. And the answer is almost always the beginning of everything that needs to change.

Guest Bio

Dr. Bertina Hooks is a board-certified internal medicine physician, entrepreneur, and physician coach based in Texas. After building a multi-location private practice, navigating a serious health emergency that resulted in a below-knee amputation, and exploring careers across utilization management, medical expert work, and telemedicine, she founded Pinnacle Business Academy to help doctors navigate burnout recovery and career reinvention. Her memoir, From Fire to Freedom: A Memoir of Transformation, Renewal, and Resilience, launches September 23rd, 2026. Find her at pinnaclebusinessacademy.org and bertinamhooksmd.org.

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Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Most doctors believe they are good communicators. Most of them are right. But there is a difference between compassion, doing everything in your power to help someone, and empathy, letting them know for one moment that you genuinely understand what they are going through.

Dr. Chantal Lorio spent seven years as medical director of patient experience at Ochsner Health, has observed hundreds of clinical encounters firsthand, and has coached physicians on the specific connection between how they communicate with patients and how they feel at the end of the day.

In this episode, she makes a case that most doctors find counterintuitive: a five-second moment of empathy does not add time to a consultation. Done right, it actually shortens it.

Timestamped Highlights

[03:00]: Dr. Lorio describes the moment she first saw her own patient survey data and what she noticed that convinced her better communication was not about being nicer. It was about outcomes.

[11:00]: She introduces the concept of the bubble, the one thing a patient keeps repeating until someone acknowledges it, and explains exactly what it costs when a doctor tries to redirect past it instead.

[13:00]: A neighbor versus a doctor. Dr. Lorio uses a simple example to demonstrate the difference between compassion and empathy, and why patients can feel the difference even when both are present.

[20:00]: The retreat exercise that revealed to her how she was showing up at home versus at work, and why showing up in body is not the same as being present.

[27:00]: She describes pajama time, the data healthcare systems can now access showing which doctors are charting at 3AM, and what she believes organizations should do with that information rather than ignore it.

[33:00]: What Ochsner invested a million dollars in that had nothing to do with training or wellness programs, and why it saved doctors more time than almost anything else.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Empathy and compassion are not the same thing, and patients know the difference.

Dr. Lorio draws a distinction that most medical training never makes explicit. Compassion is wanting to help and acting on it. Empathy is stepping into someone's shoes for a moment and letting them know you did. Doctors are typically excellent at compassion. They ask the right questions, order the right tests, and do everything clinically necessary. But when a patient feels like the doctor did not quite get them, it is usually because the empathy moment was skipped. That moment, she argues, does not require extra time. It requires a single sentence, delivered once, at the right moment.

2. Acknowledging the bubble is faster than working around it.

Every consultation has one. A patient says something unrelated to the chief complaint, and keeps saying it, slightly louder and with more detail each time, until someone acknowledges it. Dr. Lorio calls it the bubble. The doctor who tries to redirect past it will spend more time on the visit than the doctor who pauses for five seconds and says you must be exhausted or things must be really tough right now. The acknowledgment puts it to rest. The patient feels heard. The conversation moves forward. What sounds like an extra step is actually a shortcut, and she has watched it play out in hundreds of observed encounters.

3. Sense of control is the most common thing doctors come to coaching for.

Dr. Lorio has worked with doctors across private practice and large health systems, and the theme that comes up most consistently is not workload or communication. It is a feeling of having no control over the clinic, the career, or life at home. She coaches around all three areas, helping doctors identify where they actually do have agency, exploring career possibilities beyond the current role even if they never act on them, and working on presence at home rather than just hours spent there. The shift from I am stuck to I have options, she says, is often the single most powerful thing coaching produces.

Guest Bio

Dr. Chantal Lorio is a podiatric surgeon, executive coach, and patient experience consultant based in New Orleans. After 16 years in private practice and 12 years as department chair at Ochsner Health, she served as medical director of patient experience for seven years before moving into independent coaching and consulting. She works with doctors and healthcare organizations on the connection between patient communication, physician wellbeing, and clinical outcomes, and is the author of I Get You, I Got You, available on Amazon. Explore her website here.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

The data couldn't be ignored, and it was so shocking it stopped her in her tracks.

When burnout data came back showing 53% of providers in her institution were burned out, Dr. Susan MacLellan-Tobert did not wait for someone else to fix it. She flew to Denver for a weekend coaching course, came back with a business plan, and helped build an internal coaching program that served over 300 staff members in two years, right in the middle of a pandemic.

In this episode, the retired pediatric cardiologist talks about what coaching actually does for doctors inside systems that are not changing anytime soon, why some doctors chose to leave after completing the program rather than stay, and what any clinician can take from coaching even if their organization never invests a single dollar in it.

Timestamped Highlights

[03:00]: Dr. MacLellan-Tobert describes what it felt like to watch medicine shift from team-based care where everyone contributed to a system of standardization and efficiency targets, and why that shift was the beginning of the end of her clinical career.

[12:00]: A burnout survey came back at 53%. She describes what happened next, including a weekend in Denver that changed the direction of her remaining years in medicine.

[16:00]: She explains what she had to fight to establish before the internal coaching program could even get started, and it was not funding or time. It was the perception of what coaching actually is.

[18:00]: Why some doctors who completed the coaching program chose to leave medicine rather than stay, and why she considers that a success rather than a failure of the program.

[22:00]: The difference between a coaching client who is paying for the program and one who receives it for free through their institution, and what that difference reveals about commitment and change.

[33:00]: A short list of the most common reasons doctors come to coaching, including one that surprises people who assume coaching is only for those in crisis.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Coaching does not fix the system. It changes what you can see inside it.

Dr. MacLellan-Tobert is clear about what coaching can and cannot do. It does not change the appointment template, the staffing ratios, or the corporate directives. What it does is shift the question a doctor is asking from why is this happening to me to what do I actually have agency over here. For some doctors that leads to a way of staying that feels more sustainable. For others it clarifies that the fit is no longer right. Both outcomes, she argues, are exactly what the program is supposed to produce.

2. Internal coaching programs work when they are protected, not bolted on.

When Dr. MacLellan-Tobert built the program at her institution, coaches were given 0.1 FTE each, and the institution accommodated scheduling so that providers could access coaching during the working day without it simply becoming another drain on their time. She has seen what happens when that structure is not in place, and the results are predictable: participation drops, commitment wavers, and the program becomes another initiative nobody has time for. The logistics matter as much as the intention.

3. You do not need to become a certified coach to use coaching skills.

Dr. MacLellan-Tobert now teaches with the Physician Coaching Institute, and one of the things she is most direct about is this: learning to listen fully, ask better questions, and be genuinely present with a colleague for 10 minutes is a coaching skill. It does not require a program, a credential, or a formal role. In a system where time and energy are in short supply, those skills are among the most valuable things a clinician can develop, both for the people they lead and for the patients sitting in front of them.

Guest Bio

Dr. Susan MacLellan-Tobert is a retired pediatric cardiologist, certified coach, and faculty member with the Physician Coaching Institute based in the United States. After nearly 30 years of clinical practice, she co-built an internal coaching program that served over 300 providers at her institution and now works as an independent coaching contractor with organizations and individuals across healthcare. She can be found at healingedgecoaching.com and on LinkedIn.

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Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Medical training produces a particular kind of identity. Responsible, accountable, self-sufficient, always proving competence. Those traits are useful in the clinic. They are quietly destructive everywhere else.

Dr. Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is a doctor with 25 years of experience across clinical medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and pharma who now coaches doctors through career transitions and leadership challenges. In this episode, she introduces the African philosophy of Ubuntu as a lens for sustainable medical careers, and asks a question most doctors have never been given space to consider: what would it look like to measure your success not by what you personally can do, but by what your team can do together?

Timestamped Highlights

[06:00]: Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson describes the moment she told her sister she had made a mistake joining her dream job in pharma, and what her sister said that changed everything.

[12:00]: She unpacks the specific friction she experienced moving from mission-driven nonprofit work into a for-profit pharmaceutical company, and why it forced her to examine whether her values were actually incompatible with the sector or whether her thinking about the sector needed to change.

[20:00]: Three things medical training instils that serve doctors well in clinical roles and create significant problems everywhere else, including leadership and charting.

[22:00]: Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson makes an observation about charting that connects documentation avoidance directly to professional identity and the need to prove competence, and it reframes the charting problem in a way that is hard to unsee.

[30:00]: She introduces Ubuntu, the African relational philosophy, as a framework for medical leadership, and explains why the shift from what can I do to what can we do is not just a mindset change but an unlearning.

[35:00]: Her closing message on relational wholeness as the foundation of a sustainable medical career, and why connection with patients, colleagues, and yourself is not a soft extra but the core of what keeps doctors in medicine.

Three Key Takeaways

1. The traits that make great clinicians make difficult leaders.

Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson identifies three qualities that medical training reliably produces: putting work first, personal responsibility and accountability, and a constant drive to prove competence through external validation. In clinical roles, these traits are functional. In leadership, they become obstacles. The doctor who cannot delegate because they feel personally responsible for every outcome, or who measures their worth by how much work they personally complete rather than how much the team achieves, is living out their clinical training in an environment where it no longer serves them. Awareness of that pattern, she argues, is where change begins.

2. Charting avoidance is often about identity, not complexity.

This is one of the most precise observations in the episode. Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson draws a direct line between the need to prove competence, which is baked into medical training, and the way some doctors approach their notes. The chart becomes a place to demonstrate how thorough, how careful, how clinically excellent they are, not because the clinical or legal record requires it, but because somewhere along the way it became a proxy for proving themselves. She uses her own experience of a routine travel expense form to show how the same pattern plays out beyond clinical settings, and why coaching is often the only thing that makes the blind spot visible.

3. Ubuntu reframes what sustainable medical leadership actually looks like.

The philosophy of Ubuntu, often translated as I am because we are, sits at the heart of Dr. Makhunga-Stevenson's coaching practice. She applies it specifically to the transition from clinician to leader, arguing that a doctor who leads through a relational lens understands that their growth as a leader is inseparable from the growth of their team. The question shifts from what can I do to what can we do together, and that shift, she says, is not just a strategy. It is a form of relational wholeness that makes sustainable careers in medicine possible.

Guest Bio

Dr. Nondumiso Makhunga-Stevenson is a South African-trained doctor and ICF PCC-accredited coach who works with doctors navigating career transitions, leadership, and burnout through her practice Ubuntu Doctor Coaching at ubuntudoctorcoaching.com.

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Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

There is a version of professionalism in medicine that looks like competence from the outside and feels like self-erasure from the inside. Dr. Kathleen Muldoon is an anthropologist who teaches in a medical school, coaches doctors through burnout, and navigates the healthcare system daily as the mother of a medically complex child with 22 specialists on his care team.

In this episode, she brings all of those lenses to a conversation about psychological safety, curiosity, and what it actually costs doctors when they are trained to hide who they are. The question she keeps coming back to is one worth sitting with: what kind of clinical environment are you co-constructing, and what small things could you do differently starting today?

Highlights

[04:00]: Dr. Muldoon explains what burnout looks like from her vantage point, and why she sees it less as exhaustion and more as a detachment that builds quietly in environments where asking questions does not feel safe.

[08:00]: She describes what it is like to be a parent of a medically complex child navigating a care team of 22 specialists, and why staying curious in clinical encounters matters to her in a way that is deeply personal.

[14:00]: Dr. Muldoon defines psychological safety in clinical environments, and why the ability to ask a question or challenge a protocol without it being received as a threat is the foundation of both good learning and good medicine.

[19:00]: She introduces improv theater as a tool for practicing psychological safety in low-stakes environments, and explains why the techniques were originally developed for building empathy across difference, not for getting laughs.

[27:00]: The hidden cost of professionalism. Dr. Muldoon describes what happens when the cultural ceremonies of becoming a doctor teach students to erase themselves, and why that self-erasure may be one of the least examined drivers of burnout.

[36:00]: A five-second check-in practice she uses at the start of every workshop she runs, and why something that small can shift the entire dynamic of a clinical team.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Psychological safety is not about being comfortable. It is about being able to ask the question.

Dr. Muldoon is precise about what she means by psychological safety in clinical settings. It is not warmth, friendliness, or the absence of conflict. It is the specific experience of being able to ask a question, name a concern, or push back on a protocol without it being received as a challenge to someone's authority. In hierarchical environments like medicine, that experience is rarer than most people acknowledge. And without it, doctors stop asking, students stop questioning, and teams stop learning. The cost is not just cultural. It is clinical.

2. The hidden cost of professionalism is self-erasure.

Dr. Muldoon uses the language of anthropology to describe something doctors will recognize immediately. The white coat ceremony, the board exams, the residency rituals, all of the cultural markers that induct someone into the profession of medicine also teach a specific lesson: hide what you are feeling, perform competence, and leave the full version of yourself outside the clinic door. She argues that this inculcation of professionalism, however well-intentioned, is masking emotional suppression on a systemic scale. And that suppression, accumulated over years of training and practice, is one of the most underexamined contributors to burnout.

3. Change in a system that feels immovable starts with influence, not control.

Dr. Muldoon is clear that she is not asking anyone to burn the system down. What she offers instead is a reframe: trade control for influence. You may not be able to change the appointment schedule, the EMR, or the staffing model. But you can ask a better question in a difficult encounter, check in with your team before a shift, keep a parallel chart of moments that did not feel right, and model a different way of being in the room. Those small acts compound. And in her experience, they matter more than most people expect.

Guest Bio

Dr. Kathleen Muldoon is an anthropologist, medical educator, and coach based in Arizona. She is a professor at a medical school where she teaches anatomy and human development, and brings her training in applied improvisational theater into workshops designed to build psychological safety, team connection, and humane clinical environments. Dr. Muldoon coaches doctors and medical students navigating burnout and career transitions, and writes about humanity in medicine through her Substack publication and on KevinMD. She also draws on her experience as the mother of a medically complex child to bring a patient and caregiver perspective to her work with clinical teams.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Most doctors experiencing burnout look completely fine from the outside. They are professional, put together, and still showing up. On the inside, they have been quietly disconnecting from their own emotions, dreams, and values for years, often without realizing it is happening.

Dr. Jeannie Lawrence is a board-certified psychiatrist who now coaches women doctors through burnout, and she has a name for what is driving it. In this episode, she talks about the misalignment at the core of burnout, why guilt about setting boundaries is not a problem to solve, and what emotional mastery actually looks like for a doctor who has spent years learning to switch their feelings off.

Highlights

[04:00]: Dr. Lawrence describes the community mental health center where she was seeing 25 psychiatric patients a day, five to seven minutes each, and the moment she realized she could keep up with that pace but no longer wanted to.

[10:00]: She was in the middle of an overbooked clinic day when she answered a call that changed everything. What happened next broke through what she calls the mirage that the work always has to come first.

[17:00]: She explains what she is doing now and why coaching lets her take a patient from stable to thriving in a way that clinical psychiatry, even at its best, never quite could.

[20:00]: Dr. Lawrence reframes burnout entirely. Not as an occupational hazard or a workload problem, but as a misalignment between who a doctor is and how they are living.

[27:00]: She describes two clients on opposite ends of the burnout spectrum and what it actually looked like for each of them to come out the other side.

[34:00]: She explains why waiting until the guilt goes away before setting a boundary is the wrong strategy, and what to do instead.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Burnout is a misalignment, not just a workload problem.

Dr. Lawrence does not see burnout as something that happens to doctors because they are too busy. She sees it as what happens when the distance between who a doctor is at their core and how they are actually practicing becomes too wide to ignore. It shows up as moral injury when the system asks them to practice in ways that conflict with their values. It shows up as disconnection when years of stuffing down emotion to stay professional have left them unsure what they even want anymore. And it shows up as depletion when they have been at the bottom of their own priority list for so long that the idea of mattering to themselves feels unfamiliar. The path out, she argues, starts with closing that gap.

2. The guilt of setting a boundary is not a sign something is wrong. It is a sign of your values.

Dr. Lawrence is direct about this. Most doctors know they need to say no more often. Knowing is not the problem. The problem is what to do with the flood of guilt that arrives the moment they try. Her answer is counterintuitive. Stop trying to get rid of the guilt, and stop waiting for it to disappear before you act. The guilt is there because you care about your patients and your team, and those are good things. When you understand what the guilt is actually telling you about yourself, it stops having the same grip. You can feel it and still choose differently.

3. Emotional mastery is not about expressing your emotions at work. It is about not being controlled by avoiding them.

Dr. Lawrence trained in psychiatry and cognitive behavioral therapy, and she is precise about what she means by emotional mastery. It is not crying in the clinic or processing feelings in the middle of a busy day. It is the ability to turn towards your emotional experience in a structured, self-compassionate way rather than pushing it further down. For doctors who have spent years conditioning themselves to disconnect from their inner world in order to function, this is often the piece that has been missing longest. And it is the piece, she says, that makes everything else possible.

Guest Bio

Dr. Jeannie Lawrence is a board-certified psychiatrist, burnout coach, and founder of The Sanctuary, a coaching program for women doctors. After 16 years in clinical psychiatry across community mental health, telehealth, and locums settings, she now works with women doctors navigating burnout, helping them move from depletion and stuckness to what she calls thriving and flourishing. She draws on her background in psychiatry and cognitive behavioral therapy to bring a clinical lens to coaching without medicalizing the process. She works with her clients longitudinally and can be found at jeannielawrencemd.com/sanctuary.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Jenny Brockis was the first one in and the last one out. She was dictating notes into her phone on the drive home. Her patients were asking the receptionist whether she had cancer because of how much weight she had lost. And she was still telling everyone she was fine. It took collapsing on the floor of an osteopath's rooms to stop her completely, and 12 months of recovery before she could see clearly what had actually happened.

In this episode, Dr. Brockis traces her journey from burnout in general practice to lifestyle medicine and health coaching, and asks a question that every driven doctor needs someone to ask them: what is actually realistic and sustainable here?

Highlights

[03:00]: Dr. Brockis describes the moment her burnout became impossible to ignore, and why the first thing she felt when she walked out of her practice for the last time was not relief but shame.

[08:00]: She set up her own general practice from scratch with no business training, no template, and no one to tell her that running it the way she imagined would cost her everything.

[13:00]: Her husband bought her a mobile phone so she could dictate notes in the car on the way home. She thought it was a solution. It was a warning sign she drove straight past.

[19:00]: A psychologist told her something about herself that she had never once considered in over two decades of clinical practice, and it reframed everything she thought she knew about why she burned out.

[28:00]: Dr. Sarah Smith asks her to coach her former self. What Dr. Brockis says she would have needed to hear is something most doctors never get told.

[43:00]: She closes with three things she wishes someone had given her permission to do much earlier, and the question she now asks every doctor she works with.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Burnout does not happen overnight, and it does not announce itself.

Dr. Brockis lost nearly 10 kilos. Her patients were whispering to her receptionist that she looked unwell. Her colleagues were watching and waiting. She was exhausted before she got out of bed in the morning. And she kept going, because she had built an identity around pushing through. By the time she collapsed, burnout had been building for months, possibly years. The warning signs were visible to everyone around her long before she could see them herself, which is why she now argues that reflection needs to be a scheduled practice, not something that happens by accident.

2. The sustainability skills that could prevent burnout are not taught in medical training.

Dr. Brockis set up her own general practice with no business training, no boundaries framework, and no one to ask what a sustainable clinical day actually looked like for her specifically. She is now working to get lifestyle medicine and behavioral change into medical school curricula, not because it is one more thing to teach, but because she believes it is the missing piece that keeps excellent doctors in medicine. The skills are learnable. They just need to be taught before the collapse, not after.

3. Connection was the thing that made recovery possible.

When Dr. Brockis finally stopped pushing, it was not just professional support that brought her back. It was colleagues from other practices reaching out. It was sitting in a friend's kitchen drinking tea. It was the basic human experience of being with people who were not asking anything of her. She had spent years filtering connection out of her day without realizing it, and rebuilding it was not a secondary part of her recovery. It was the foundation.

Guest Bio

Dr. Jenny Brockis is a UK-trained doctor, lifestyle medicine advocate, and health coach based in Perth, Western Australia. After burning out completely from running her own general practice and spending 12 months in recovery, she spent over 16 years as a health and wellbeing consultant before training in lifestyle medicine and adding her fellowship to her accreditation.

She now works with doctors and healthcare professionals who are burnt out, stuck, or navigating career transitions, and advocates for lifestyle medicine to be integrated into medical and allied health training. She is the author of Thriving Mind and writes a weekly blog at drjennybrockis.com.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Judy Wright burned out more than once before she started paying attention to what was actually driving it. As a family doctor who spent years staying two hours after her last patient to finish charting, she knows firsthand what it costs to keep grinding without ever stopping to ask what you actually need.

In this episode, she talks about burnout prevention, energy management, and the quiet belief that saying yes is just part of being a good doctor and a good person. For high-achieving women in medicine who are still doing everything for everyone, her PACE method and her very honest account of learning to say no offer something more useful than another list of self-care tips.

Highlights

[02:00]: Her residency director told her she was slow because she cared too much about her penmanship. Dr. Wright explains what was actually going on, and why nobody gave her anything useful to work with.

[06:00]: She spent years leaving clinic two hours after her last patient before a single conversation with a colleague cracked something open for her.

[11:00]: The moment she came back from maternity leave, she walked into her clinic and asked for something she had never asked for before. What she asked for, and how she asked for it, is worth hearing in full.

[19:00]: Dr. Wright introduces the PACE method and makes a distinction between time and energy that reframes what sustainable clinical medicine actually requires.

[23:00]: She moved from clinical practice into leadership and immediately repeated every pattern she had spent years trying to break. She explains why, and what finally shifted.

[40:00]: A free stress assessment she has built specifically for doctors who think they are managing fine, because that is exactly where she was every time she burned out.

Three Key Takeaways

1. The problem is rarely time. It is almost always energy.

Most doctors who feel overwhelmed reach immediately for a time management solution. Dr. Wright argues that time is the wrong lens. Everyone has 24 hours. What varies is energy, and energy is renewable in a way that time is not. When she started working with groups of high-achieving women, she found that underneath the complaints about not having enough time was something else entirely: exhaustion, depletion, and a capacity that had been quietly shrinking for years. Protecting your energy, she argues, is not a luxury. It is the prerequisite for everything else.

2. Saying no is a skill that has to be practiced, not a decision you make once.

Dr. Wright is clear that she was not a people pleaser, but she still had work to do around saying no. For doctors who are socialized to help first and for women who are socialized to say yes, declining a request carries a weight of guilt that does not disappear just because you know it is the right call. She offers several practical ways to say no that do not require a single-word answer, and makes the case that every yes has a cost. The question is simply whether the cost is one you can afford.

3. Delegation only works when you know the people you are delegating to.

Dr. Wright is not interested in getting things off her plate for the sake of it. She watched leaders hand tasks to whoever was available and then spend more energy managing the fallout than the task would have taken. What she learned, both in clinical teams and at home with her own children, is that effective delegation starts with knowing people well enough to match the right task to the right person. That takes time upfront. It also, eventually, creates something that no amount of personal effort can build alone.

Guest Bio

Dr. Judy Wright is a board-certified family doctor, burnout prevention strategist, and performance coach based in the United States. She works primarily with high-achieving women leaders, helping them protect their energy, set meaningful boundaries, and continue performing at a high level without burning out in the process. Her PACE method, which stands for Pause, Awareness, Calibrate, Execute and Excel, gives doctors and leaders a practical framework for sustainable performance.
Connect with Dr. Wright on Linkedin.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

When Dr. Maggie Kang's nine-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a rare, incurable autoimmune disease, she was the radiologist who first saw the images. What followed was not just the grief of a mother watching her child suffer. It was two years of silent, suffocating guilt built on a story that made no logical sense but felt completely true.

In this episode, Dr. Kang talks about the difference between pain and suffering, why doctors are particularly vulnerable to the stories that keep them stuck, and what it actually takes to let those stories go. The insight she shares is one that applies far beyond rare disease diagnosis, and doctors who have ever blamed themselves for a bad outcome will recognize it immediately.

Episode Highlights

[01:00]: Dr. Kang describes the moment she first saw her daughter's images as a radiologist, and what the following five weeks in hospital looked like for their family.

[06:00]: She had tried thinking her way through the guilt for two years before coaching surfaced a belief she had never once said out loud to another person.

[11:00]: Dr. Kang explains why this particular belief was so hard to release, and how cultural background, professional identity, and motherhood all collided in ways she had not anticipated.

[15:00]: The moment she stopped asking what had gone wrong and started asking a different kind of question entirely set off a chain of events that is still unfolding today.

[25:00]: She draws a clear line between pain and suffering that reframes how doctors might think about everything from a difficult diagnosis to a bad clinical outcome.

[31:00]: A lobster metaphor that her whole family now uses to talk about growth, uncertainty, and what it actually means to let go of a story that is no longer serving you.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Pain is unavoidable. Suffering is the story we add to it.

Dr. Kang makes a distinction that sounds simple and lands hard. Pain is the actual experience: a child who is sick, a patient outcome that did not go as hoped, a career that suddenly changes course. Suffering is the additional layer of blame and guilt that doctors quietly construct around that pain, often without ever examining it or saying it aloud. For doctors, who are trained to believe that good outcomes follow from doing everything right, this distinction is particularly important. When things go wrong despite their best efforts, the story they reach for is often the harshest one available.

2. The stories that keep doctors stuck rarely survive being questioned out loud.

Dr. Kang spent two years convinced she should have caught her daughter's diagnosis earlier, even though the pediatric presentation of the disease she knew was entirely different from what she had trained on. It was not logic that kept that belief in place. It was shame. Shame keeps stories in the dark, and stories in the dark grow. What coaching gave her was not an answer, but a question: are you sure? That single question, asked with genuine curiosity by someone else, was the beginning of everything that followed.

3. Letting go of a story means tolerating not having one.

Dr. Kang uses the lobster as her metaphor, and it is a good one. When a lobster grows, it has to shed its shell and endure a period of complete vulnerability before the new shell forms. The discomfort of that transition is not a sign something is wrong. It is the growth itself. For doctors, releasing a long-held belief about what they should have done or who they should be does not feel like freedom at first. It feels like losing ground. Dr. Kang describes that period honestly and what she found on the other side of it.

Guest Bio

Dr. Maggie Kang is a TEDx speaker and certified coach who works with mothers navigating life with a child's chronic or rare disease diagnosis. She runs the Lobster Lessons newsletter and advocates for the neuroimmune disease community alongside her daughter Nell at maggiekangmd.com.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

The traits that make someone a great doctor, caring deeply, holding high standards, never switching off, are the same traits quietly driving burnout in medicine.

Dr. Ira van der Steenstraten has spent over a decade working with junior doctors across Queensland and now coaches doctors one-on-one, and what she keeps finding is that most are not struggling because the system is hard.

They are struggling because nobody ever taught them to treat themselves with the same compassion they extend to every patient.

This episode asks a confronting question: what if burnout is not a workload problem, but a self-compassion problem? And what do you actually do about a critical inner voice that has been running unchallenged for decades?

Highlights

[03:00]: Dr. van der Steenstraten describes what it was like to sit across the table from patients suffering deeply from the same condition she was living with herself, and what she noticed that changed how she understood the mind-body connection.

[07:00]: A report landed in Australia in 2013 with numbers so alarming that a group of junior doctors decided enough was enough. What they built in response reached more than 4,500 interns across Queensland.

[15:00]: Burnout gets talked about constantly in medicine, but Dr. van der Steenstraten draws a distinction between burnout and something else entirely that is far more common and far more misunderstood.

[19:00]: She describes a period in her own clinical career where she showed up every day, did her job, and felt hollow doing it. The reason why will resonate with doctors across every specialty.

[25:00]: Something unexpected happened when hospital leadership was invited into the wellbeing workshops. Dr. van der Steenstraten explains what it was and why it changed everything in the room.

[30:00]: The very qualities that get doctors into medicine are the ones that make them most vulnerable inside it. Dr. van der Steenstraten explains why this is not a coincidence and what needs to happen next.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Burnout and moral distress are not the same thing. Most doctors know what burnout feels like, but fewer have a name for the specific frustration of being unable to practice medicine the way they believe it should be practiced. Dr. van der Steenstraten describes moral distress as something distinct from burnout, with different drivers and a very different path forward. She has watched the moment doctors hear this distinction described clearly, and the response in the room is always the same. When you finally have the language for what is happening to you, something shifts. That shift is where recovery begins.

2. Self-compassion is not a soft skill. It is a clinical risk factor. The selection process for medical school tends to attract people who are caring, conscientious, and hard on themselves. Then medical training reinforces exactly those tendencies. Dr. van der Steenstraten argues that low self-compassion is one of the most underrecognized risk factors for burnout in medicine, and that the critical inner voice most doctors carry has often been running since long before they ever set foot in a hospital. The good news is that it is not fixed. The harder truth is that it takes more than awareness alone to change it.

3. Connection inside the workshop was the intervention. When Dr. van der Steenstraten asked groups of junior doctors what they found most valuable about the wellbeing program, the answer was rarely a specific strategy or framework. It was the moment they realized they were not alone. That simple recognition, that the person sitting next to them was carrying the same weight, consistently came back as the most powerful part of the experience. It raises a pointed question about what is actually lost when wellbeing programs move entirely online.

Guest Bio

Dr. Ira van der Steenstraten is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and wellbeing coach based in Brisbane, Australia. She coached more than 4,500 junior doctors through her Queensland-wide wellbeing program and now works one-on-one with doctors internationally through Vitae Wellbeing Leadership.

🌐 vitaewellbeingleadership.com
💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Ira van der Steenstraten

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Dr. Heidi Baker has been a pediatrician, an emergency medicine doctor, a helicopter retrieval medic, and a coach.

That kind of career range does not happen by accident. It happens when someone keeps hitting walls and choosing to climb rather than quit.

In this episode, Dr. Baker talks candidly about the moment she realized emergency medicine was no longer sustainable for her, and what happened when she decided to do something about it rather than simply endure.

The conversation raises a question that more organizations need to sit with: if you offered your doctors real coaching support, would you be helping them leave medicine, or saving them from doing exactly that?

Highlights

[03:00]: Dr. Baker describes the point in her emergency medicine career when she realized she was not showing up the way she wanted, either at work or at home, and the decision that followed.

[08:00]: Setting up a private practice after 17 years of hospital paychecks meant learning an entirely different skill set almost overnight. Dr. Baker shares what she was not prepared for.

[13:00]: Pre-hospital retrieval work sounds thrilling from the outside. Dr. Baker describes what it actually demands of a clinician in the moment, and the specific experience that brought her to her knees.

[19:00]: Dr. Baker explains what drew her toward coaching and why a 16-week program changed how she practices medicine, not just how she supports other doctors.

[25:00]: There is a quiet fear inside many healthcare organizations about offering coaching to their staff. Dr. Baker names it directly and makes a case that flips the assumption.

[33:00]: One emergency department embedded a psychologist for the entire team, not just doctors. The uptake surprised everyone. Dr. Baker explains how the model works and why it matters.

Three Key Takeaways

1. Coaching can bring doctors back, not push them out. There is a persistent concern among healthcare organizations that offering coaching will accelerate doctors leaving medicine. Dr. Baker's experience challenges that directly. She was close to walking away from clinical work entirely when coaching, both receiving it and training in it, gave her the clarity to pivot rather than exit. The doctors most at risk of leaving are often those who have never been given space to examine what is actually driving their dissatisfaction. Coaching creates that space. The result, more often than organizations expect, is doctors who stay, re-engage, and contribute more fully.

2. Peer supervision works best when it is built on actual skill. Mentorship and peer review have long been part of medical culture, but the role is frequently handed to someone experienced rather than someone trained to hold it. Dr. Baker draws a clear distinction between top-down informational support and the kind of exploratory, reflective practice that actually shifts things for the person receiving it. She has built several peer supervision groups of her own, including one that meets at the change of each season, and describes what makes them work. The skill set required to facilitate that kind of space is learnable. It just needs to be taught.

3. Sustainable clinical medicine sometimes means rebuilding from the ground up. Transitioning from a salaried hospital role to running a private practice is not just a clinical challenge. It is a business challenge, a mindset challenge, and for many doctors, the first time they have had to place a real value on their own time. Dr. Baker reflects on the steep learning curve of setting up her pediatric practice, including billing, insurance contracts, and patient management systems, none of which were covered in her medical training. For doctors considering a similar move, her honesty about what the transition actually costs is both a warning and a reassurance that it is survivable.

Connect:

🌐 https://www.podhealth.nz/

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

What if you could replace your hospital income, work 25 hours a week, take three week vacations without asking permission, and still practice medicine you are proud of?

Three physicians who made the leap to full time telemedicine join us to share exactly what that looks like and what it took to get there.

Timestamps:

1. 1:00: Meet the panel. An EM doc, a family physician, and a primary care doctor who all left brick and mortar for telemedicine

2. 7:00: What telemedicine actually looks like for an emergency medicine physician and how to expand your clinical niche

3. 13:00: Income. Can telemedicine really replace a hospital salary and what does that look like in practice

4. 25:00: What growth means in telemedicine and why one doctor realized on her last day she had stopped growing years ago

5. 33:00: Licensure in 51 states. What it costs, how to streamline it, and why more licenses means more opportunity

6. 43:00: You are not as stuck as you feel. Final thoughts on courage, golden handcuffs, and redesigning your career at any stage

3 Key Takeaways:

1. You Are Not as Stuck as You Feel. Whether you have been in medicine for two years or thirty, the options available to physicians right now are wider than most realize. Telemedicine, independent contracting, medical directorships, niche clinical roles, and leadership opportunities are all on the table. The ceiling you think exists may just be the walls of the building you are currently working in.

2. The Math of Telemedicine Can Work in Your Favor. One panelist cut her hours by more than two thirds and increased her income. Another paid off sixty thousand dollars in startup costs within a year of going full time. Working fewer hours for comparable or better pay is not a fantasy. It is a business model. But it requires understanding the rules of the space you are operating in.

3. Community Is What Makes the Leap Survivable. Every panelist pointed to the same thing: the transition was hard, and they could not have done it alone. Whether it is knowing which companies to trust, how to manage licensure across states, or just having someone in your corner when the fear kicks in, the people around you during a major career change matter as much as the plan itself.

Connect:

1. 🌐 airphysicianacademy.com

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

What if the thing you want most is actually the solution, not the problem? Dr. Kristine Goins was a full time academic psychiatrist, burnt out, physically unwell, and working across nine clinics with five different electronic medical record systems.

Two years out of residency she booked a one way ticket to Colombia and never looked back. She now works one clinical day a week, lives in her 16th country, and helps other physicians do the same.

Timestamps:

1. 1:00: Two years out of residency, chest pains, tremors, and a skyrocketing A1C. What burnout actually looked like

2. 4:00: Nine clinics, five different systems, and notes every weekend. What her academic career really cost her

3. 9:00: Why her colleagues stayed even though they were miserable. The devil you know

4. 16:00: How NomadMD started and why there is no specialty that cannot be digitized

5. 22:00: Working two days a week from Colombia and earning more than she did full time in academia

6. 25:00: The one hour a week that changed everything and how to stop catastrophizing your way out of a better life

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Your Body Will Tell You What Your Mind Is Trying to Ignore. Dr. Goins was eating well, doing yoga, and doing all the right things. Her body still gave her tremors, chest pains, and a skyrocketing A1C. Burnout is not a mindset problem you can outrun with self care. It is a signal that something structural has to change and the sooner you listen the better.

2. The Stability You Think You Have May Be Costing You More Than You Know. Working full time in academia felt safe. It was also paying her less than two days of direct contract work from Colombia. The institution takes a cut, sets your schedule, and decides your worth. When you work for yourself, the math changes completely.

3. Give Your Brain a Better Problem to Solve. Instead of asking how do I survive this, Dr. Goins started asking what if traveling was actually the path to financial independence? Our brains are wired to solve problems. The question is whether you are giving yours a problem worth solving. Sometimes the thing you want most is not the obstacle. It is the answer.

Connect with Dr. Kristine Goins:

1. 🌐 thenomadmd.com

2. 📸 Instagram: @thenomadmds

3. 👥 Facebook: thenomadmds

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

What happens when a doctor becomes the patient and discovers that everything she thought she knew about recovery was only half the picture?

 Dr. Olivia Ong was a second-year rehabilitation registrar when a car struck her in a hospital car park, leaving her with a spinal cord injury and a prognosis full of uncertainty.

She went on to walk again, return to clinical practice, and build a career in pain medicine, but a decade later, doctor burnout brought her to her knees in a completely different way.

 This episode sits at the intersection of nervous system dysregulation, chronic pain, and sustainable medical careers, and raises a question every clinician will recognize: when the standard advice to "just meditate" fails, what actually works?

5:00: On her 29th birthday, surrounded by friends in a rehabilitation ward, something happened to her body that shifted the entire trajectory of her recovery, though she had been deliberately trying not to hope for it.

11:00: As a rehabilitation registrar who had just become a patient, Dr. Ong experienced the healthcare system from the other side, and what she found there changed something fundamental about how she understood her own patients.

 22:00: Her rehabilitation trainers in California did something her Australian medical team had not. The name for it comes from psychology, and once she understood what it was, it permanently changed how she shows up for her patients with chronic pain.

28:00: Being part of a team is not the same as being protected by one. Dr. Ong describes the specific working arrangement that put her at highest risk of burnout, and it is more common than most doctors realise.

37:00: It was not a colleague, a coach, or a clinical measure that finally forced her to act on her burnout. It was her three-year-old son, and four words he said to her at 7:30 on a weeknight.

45:00: Dr. Ong shares the non-negotiable physical maintenance routine that keeps her functioning with a spinal cord injury, and makes the case that busy doctors without a serious illness have far less excuse than they think.

1. Meditation alone will not rescue a dysregulated nervous system. When burnout reaches the point of physical collapse, top-down cognitive approaches like breathing exercises and mindfulness may not land at all. Dr. Ong spent six weeks with a meditation teacher just learning to breathe properly again. What eventually made the difference was bottom-up nervous system regulation work, and understanding why that distinction matters may be the missing piece that explains why conventional burnout advice keeps failing.

2. The Pygmalion effect is a clinical tool, not just a leadership concept. When Dr. Ong arrived at a rehabilitation facility in California, her trainers held an unshakeable belief that she would walk again, something she had not encountered in her Australian clinical care. She credits that belief as the turning point in her recovery, and it permanently changed how she practices pain medicine. In a specialty where patients often arrive having already been told nothing will help them, a clinician's genuine belief in their patient's capacity to improve is itself an active ingredient.

3. Solo practice is one of the highest risk factors for doctor burnout. Dr. Ong's experience points to something more specific than patient overload: the absence of collegial support. Working as a solo practitioner within larger organizations, with no shared case load and no one to carry part of the emotional weight, is what preceded her burnout. Her path out involved deliberately choosing workplaces with genuine multidisciplinary teams, and she makes the case that for doctors designing their careers, this is a structural decision worth taking seriously.

Dr. Olivia Ong is a rehabilitation and pain medicine specialist based in Melbourne, Australia, whose own recovery from a spinal cord injury sustained early in her medical career reshaped her understanding of chronic pain, nervous system dysregulation, and what it takes to sustain a clinical life.

Her memoir, Back On My Feet, is available now in Australia and forthcoming in the US and UK.

Find her on Instagram at @drolivialeeong or at drolivialeeong.com.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Are you saying yes to everything and wondering why you have no joy left? Dr. Santina Wheat, family physician, program director, and wellness coach, has lived that story and found her way through it. She shares what she has learned about alignment, boundaries, and how to build a sustainable career in medicine without leaving it behind.

Timestamps:

1. 2:00: The reality of family medicine: double bookings, no lunch, and being told you are not bringing in enough money

2. 4:00: How she protects her team from unsustainable scheduling and why saying no for them matters

3. 7:00: The pause: why reacting too quickly is one of the biggest drivers of burnout

4. 13:00: Losing her mom, surviving COVID as a first year program director, and finally finding coaching

5. 17:00: The one misconception that sent her into burnout: thinking availability meant immediate response

6. 22:00: How coaching changed the way she has difficult conversations with residents

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Saying Yes to Everything Is Not How You Get Ahead. Earlier in her career Dr. Wheat thought taking every opportunity was the path forward. What it actually did was fill her calendar with things she didn't enjoy and drain the joy from her career. Alignment, not busyness, is what creates sustainability. The question to ask yourself: what did the younger version of you actually want to do with this career?

2. Availability Does Not Mean Immediate Response. One of the biggest lessons Dr. Wheat learned from coaching was that she didn't have to answer every message the moment it arrived. Sometimes waiting two minutes meant someone else handled it. Sometimes the person figured it out themselves. Being responsive and being reactive are two very different things.

3. The Pause Is Everything. Whether it is a difficult conversation with a resident, a request to take on a new role, or a message that arrives at 10pm, the pause is the single most powerful tool available to any clinician. When you stop and ask how you actually want to respond rather than just reacting, the joy becomes so much easier to find.

About Dr. Santina Wheat Dr. Santina Wheat is a family physician, program director, and wellness coach helping driven healthcare professionals find purpose, set boundaries, and build sustainable careers in medicine.

Connect with Dr. Santina Wheat:

1. 🌐 santinawheat.com

2. 💼 LinkedIn: Santina Wheat

3. 📸 Instagram: @DrTinaWheat

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

 Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

What does it take for a patient to become one of the most passionate advocates for physician wellbeing? For Kim Downey, it was losing her beloved radiologist to suicide after years of navigating her own complex cancer journey. That moment changed everything. Kim shares what she has learned from hundreds of conversations with physicians about what is really driving the crisis in doctor wellbeing, and what is actually helping.

Timestamps:

1. 1:00: The moment that changed Kim's life and sparked her calling to support doctors

2. 6:00: How a LinkedIn family became a podcast, a newsletter, and two books

3. 8:00: The hidden risk nobody warned doctors about: substance use disorder in medicine

4. 9:00: The themes that keep coming up: perfectionism, shame, and "I thought it was just me"

5. 14:00: Why medical culture teaches doctors to suppress their needs from day one

6. 21:00: Connection as the antidote to trauma and how to find it inside and outside medicine

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Doctors Are All Walking Around Thinking Everyone Else Is Fine. The shame and isolation of struggling in medicine is compounded by the fact that nobody talks about it. Perfectionism, guilt over complications, and replaying what could have been done differently keeps doctors trapped in silence. When one doctor shares their story, something shifts for them and for everyone listening.

2. Medical Training Teaches Doctors to Suppress Their Needs, and It Sticks. Not eating for hours, running on no sleep, suppressing emotions to move on to the next patient. By the time doctors reach attending level, self-neglect is so ingrained it feels normal. Kim's message is clear: just as doctors recertify in CPR every year, they should have regular access to resources that remind them how to care for themselves too.

3. You Are Never Just a Doctor. When medicine becomes your whole identity and the job gets hard, there is nowhere else to go. Having something outside of medicine that nurtures you: a hobby, a community, a person you can be yourself with isn't a luxury. It's what keeps you in the game for the long run.

About Kim Downey:

Kim Downey is a pediatric physical therapist, physician wellbeing advocate, podcast host, and author. After losing her radiologist to suicide, she founded Stand Up for Doctors, a platform dedicated to amplifying physician stories, reducing stigma, and building connection across the medical community.

Connect with Kim Downey:

1. standupfordoctors.org

2. LinkedIn: Kim Downey

    

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @thechartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Are you drowning in responsibility you never actually agreed to take on? Dr. Rachel Morris, former GP and founder of You Are Not a Frog, has spent years helping doctors and healthcare professionals break out of what she calls the responsibility trap, and the answer isn't just learning to say no. It starts with understanding why you can't.

Timestamps:

1. 3:00:  What a day in UK general practice actually looks like and why it's become unsustainable

2. 10:00:  Why trying to teach resilience to medical students never worked

3. 11:00:  The responsibility trap: how good people in high stakes jobs end up carrying everything

4. 15:00:  The poll that revealed why we really can't say no (and it's not patient harm)

5. 22:00:  The pause: the single most powerful tool for breaking the automatic yes

6. 27:00:  Why delegation feels like dumping and how to actually do it well

3 Key Takeaways:

1. You're Not Carrying Responsibility Because You Said Yes. You're Carrying It Because Nobody Else Did. The responsibility trap isn't just about saying yes too often. It's the work that quietly lands on you without anyone asking, the gaps you fill because you notice them, and the impossible targets the system expects you to meet anyway. Until you get clear on what is and isn't in your control, the guilt and overwhelm will keep coming.

2. Less Than 20% of the Time Is It Actually About Patient Harm. When Dr. Morris asks audiences what stops them setting boundaries, fewer than one in five say it's because a patient would be harmed. The real reasons are guilt, people pleasing, fear of judgment, and not wanting to disappoint anyone. Knowing that is the first step to doing something about it.

3. Wellbeing Is an Outcome, Not a Starting Point. Everyone knows what they need to do to stay well. The reason they don't do it is because they have no time or capacity left. Protecting your time and managing your energy has to come first, and that means getting honest about what you're carrying that was never really yours to carry.

About Dr. Rachel Morris

Dr. Rachel Morris is a former GP, keynote speaker, and founder of You Are Not a Frog; a podcast and training business helping doctors and healthcare professionals beat burnout, break out of the responsibility trap, and work happier.

Connect with Dr. Rachel Morris:

1. 🎙️ Podcast: You Are Not a Frog

2. 💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Rachel Morris

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

What if the biggest threat to patient safety in your hospital isn't clinical error, but it's how your team treats each other?

Professor Catherine Crock, AM, hematologist at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, spent 35 years asking that question and building something remarkable in response.

From bringing musicians into operating theaters and waiting rooms, to founding the Gathering of Kindness, a global movement to transform healthcare culture, this conversation will change how you think about kindness, safety, and what sustainable medicine actually looks like.

Timestamps:

1. 1:00: Sitting down with families to ask "what makes this harder?" and the surprising answers that changed everything

2. 8:00: Getting pushback on change and why a six week pilot is the best tool in your arsenal

3. 13:00: How music opened the door to talking about how staff were actually feeling

4. 19:00: The Churchill Fellowship revelation: the biggest patient safety risk is how we treat each other

5. 24:00: Theatrical plays about healthcare culture and what hundreds of audience responses revealed about the crisis in how we treat each other

6. 30:00: How a media launch turned one hospital music album into an international movement

3 Key Takeaways:

1. Kindness Isn't Soft, It's a Patient Safety Strategy: After traveling the world on a Churchill Fellowship studying patient safety, Catherine came to a striking realization: the biggest threat to patient safety is how healthcare workers treat each other. When staff are burned out, disrespected, or running on empty, patient centered care becomes almost impossible. Kindness to your team isn't a nice to have. It's the foundation everything else is built on.

2. Small Acts of Change Are More Powerful Than Big Overhauls: Whether it was staggering theater admission times, getting a pathology trolley to come to the oncology clinic, or starting each morning huddle with a safety story, Catherine's approach was always the same. Find the right person, propose a small pilot, tweak as you go. You don't need permission to start small.

3. A Culture of Kindness Lifts Everyone, Including Your Newest Team Members: When a grad nurse told Catherine she felt at her absolute best in their theater because she was welcomed, included, and given a role, it crystallized something important. Psychological safety isn't just good for staff retention and wellbeing. It unlocks performance. When people feel seen and valued, they show up differently, and so does the whole team around them.

Connect with Professor Catherine Crock, AM:

1. 🌐 hush.org.au

2. 🎵 Hush Foundation Music Program

3. 💙 Gathering of Kindness, Kindness in Action online program

4. 📱 Instagram 
5. 📱 Facebook

About Professor Catherine Crock, AM

Professor Catherine Crock, AM, is a hematologist at the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, founder of the Hush Foundation, and creator of the Gathering of Kindness; a global movement to build health systems that are as kind to their staff as they are to their patients.

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Toxic leadership in healthcare is more widespread than the profession likes to acknowledge, and its effects on doctors and clinical teams go well beyond a difficult work environment. Organizational psychologist Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett has spent years researching toxic boss behaviors across industries, and she's clear: healthcare has more than its fair share. In this episode, she breaks down the difference between a difficult boss and a truly toxic one, explains why high-achieving doctors are especially vulnerable, and offers a surprisingly hopeful framework for anyone who feels trapped. If toxic workplace culture has ever made you question your own judgment, this episode is for you.

Timestamped Highlights:

[00:04:00] : Toxic leadership didn't vanish after the pandemic, it came back, and what Dr. Hambley Lovett observed in her clients across healthcare is more concerning than most organizations want to admit.

[00:09:00] : Sending a toxic boss to a leadership course sounds like a reasonable solution. Dr. Hambley Lovett explains why it isn't, and what that tells us about whether true change is ever really possible.

[00:11:00] : Not all toxic behavior is loud or visible. The covert behaviors, the ones that operate quietly over time may cause more lasting damage than the obvious ones, and most people don't recognize them until it's too late.

[00:13:00] : Working harder, impressing more, staying later, it's what high-achieving doctors do when they feel under threat. Dr. Hambley Lovett describes why this instinct, in a toxic environment, tends to make things worse.

[00:18:00] : Feeling trapped is one of the most common experiences of working under a toxic boss. But Dr. Hambley Lovett says there are exactly six options available, and one of them is her favorite for a reason.

[00:32:00] : What does it actually take to be a great leader? The qualities Dr. Hambley Lovett names are not the ones most organizations are selecting for, and that gap explains a lot.

Three Key Takeaways:

1. There is a real difference between a difficult boss and a toxic one. Not every frustrating manager is toxic, and the distinction matters. A difficult boss may be disorganized, absent, or poorly trained for leadership, promoted because they were a great clinician, not because they knew how to lead people. A truly toxic boss is different: they lack self-awareness by design, they divide teams, they gaslight, manipulate, and erode the confidence of the people around them. Recognizing which one you're dealing with changes everything about how you respond, and whether change is even possible.

2. Toxic workplaces create a very specific psychological trap for high achievers. Doctors are trained to work harder when things get difficult. In a toxic environment, that instinct backfires. The pattern Dr. Hambley Lovett describes is consistent across industries: increased effort, diminishing returns, growing anxiety, disrupted sleep, and eventually a confidence so eroded that the thought of leaving feels impossible. Understanding this cycle, and recognizing it early, is the first step toward breaking it before it does serious harm to your mental health and career.

3. You have more options than you think, including one worth planning for. Feeling trapped is real, but it is not the full picture. Dr. Hambley Lovett outlines six concrete options for anyone working under toxic leadership, from setting boundaries and taking medical leave to filing a complaint or building a deliberate exit strategy. Her favorite, creating what she calls a "good riddance date" and working backwards, reframes leaving not as giving up, but as taking back control of your career. For doctors who have built their identity around perseverance, that reframe can be genuinely life-changing.

Meet Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett:

Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett is an organizational psychologist, professional speaker, and career counselor based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with 25 years of experience helping individuals and organizations thrive. She is the founder of Canada Career Counseling and an adjunct professor of organizational psychology at the University of Calgary, where her research on toxic leadership has filled a significant gap in the post-pandemic literature. Her newest book, I Wish I'd Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, draws on interviews and surveys with hundreds of survivors across North America. She also hosts the podcast Where Work Meets Life, now six years running, which explores career fulfillment, leadership, and wellbeing across industries. Dr. Hambley Lovett brings both rigorous research and genuine warmth to a topic that too many professionals are still suffering through in silence.

Connect with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett:

1. 🌐 Website: https://drlaura.live/

2. 🎙️ Podcast: https://drlaura.live/podcast/

3. 📺 YouTube: @dr.laurawhereworkmeetslife

4. 📘 Facebook: @Dr.Laura.whereworkmeetslife

5. 📸 Instagram: @drlaura.live

6. 💼 LinkedIn: @drlaurahambley

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Burnout isn’t just about working too much, it’s about working in a system that quietly expects more than is sustainable.

In this episode on reducing clinician burnout, Dr. Lillian Emlet shares what she’s seen from both sides, as a critical care physician and leadership coach. From early-career clinicians running at 110 percent to experienced leaders carrying invisible pressure, this conversation unpacks why burnout shows up so often, and why it doesn’t go away on its own.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. When life gets hard, self-care goes up, not down. Most people abandon their routines when things get overwhelming. Dr. Emlet's counterintuitive lesson, learned through burnout, a pandemic, divorce, and single motherhood, is that the harder things get, the more intentional you need to be about caring for yourself. Working out two hours a day during COVID wasn't indulgent — it was survival.

2. Coaching isn't just for executives, and it doesn't have to be forever. For too long, coaching has been reserved for physician and nurse leaders at the top. Dr. Emlet argues that front-line clinicians of every profession deserve that support too, especially during major transitions. And it doesn't have to be a huge commitment — starting weekly, then scaling back to monthly maintenance is a completely sustainable model.

3. You have more choice than you think, at every level. Whether you're a burnt-out resident struggling to make it to the pickup line or a new chief who just inherited a calendar packed with meetings that were never really yours, the principle is the same: step back, get curious, and ask what actually needs to be there. You don't have to accept the life or role that was handed to you — you get to shape it.

Timestamps:

• 1:00 — Starting a career at 110%: two specialties, moonlighting, and the first burnout
• 3:00 — The pandemic turning point: COVID unit, divorce, and a sick mom all at once
• 8:00 — Has teaching wellbeing skills earlier actually prevented burnout in trainees?
• 11:00 — Finding her coach: how a podcast search changed everything
• 17:00 — The two flavors of leadership: titled vs. self-leadership
• 20:00 — Stepping into a new role: why your predecessor's calendar isn't yours

Meet Dr. Lillian Emlet:
Dr. Lillian Emlet is a critical care and emergency physician, professor, and founder of Transforming Healthcare Coaching®. After 20 years in academic medicine, she combined her clinical expertise with leadership and wellbeing coaching to help healthcare professionals at every level build sustainable, thriving careers. Her work is grounded in emotional intelligence, cognitive science, and energy leadership, transforming healthcare from the inside out, one person at a time.

Connect with Dr. Lillian Emlet:

• 🌐 transforminghealthcarecoaching.com
• 📧 hello@transforminghealthcarecoaching.com
• 🎙️ Podcast: Transforming Healthcare Coaching
• 💼 LinkedIn: Lillian Liang Emlet

Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.

**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

If your EMR feels like it’s adding to your workload instead of reducing it, this episode will feel very familiar.

In this conversation, Sarah Smith sits down with healthcare IT and analytics consultant Lori Runion to explore why clinician burnout is often driven by systems, not individuals, and what is actually working to fix it.

From large-scale virtual scribe programs to EMR workflow optimization and predictive staffing, this episode looks at the operational side of burnout and how healthcare organizations can reduce friction, improve efficiency, and give clinicians their time back.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why EMRs often increase after-hours work and frustration
• How a 200-physician virtual scribe program was implemented
• The difference between human scribes and emerging AI documentation tools
• Practical ways to reduce clicks and improve EMR workflows
• How predictive analytics can support staffing and patient demand
• Why burnout is a systems problem, not a personal failure

 Episode breakdown:

01:57 Why EMRs Are Driving Clinician Burnout
04:08 When Work Follows You Home
06:24 Inside a Large-Scale Virtual Scribe Program
10:35 Human Scribes vs Ambient AI
13:27 Using Data to Predict Patient Demand
18:53 Predictive Staffing in Practice
22:50 Fixing EMR Workflow Friction
28:31 Burnout as a Systems Problem
29:47 Managing the Patient Inbox
33:15 Reducing Clicks and Documentation Load

Key Takeaways:

1. Burnout is a systems failure, not a clinician failure. The EMR turned documentation into an after-hours expectation. Fix the workflow, not the person.

2. The data exists and now it's time to use it. Two decades of electronic records are sitting largely untapped. AI finally gives healthcare the tools to act on it predictively, not reactively.

3. You can optimize your EMR without waiting for IT. Pick lists, smart phrases, and a few hours of upfront setup can return significant time. Start small, collaborate with colleagues, and let it compound.

Meet Lori Runion:

Lori Runion is a healthcare technology and transformation leader with more than 20 years of experience improving how care is delivered and documented. At Community Health Network, she led the clinical informatics team through a comprehensive, two-year Epic EHR implementation and spearheaded a virtual scribe program that scaled to over 200 remote scribes, directly reducing provider burnout and helping clinicians reclaim joy in their work. Driven by a passion for supporting healthcare workers, Lori has seen firsthand how the right tools and systems can transform both patient outcomes and clinician well-being. Today, she serves as a Portfolio Leader at Resultant, partnering with healthcare organizations as the day-to-day leader on complex initiatives and helping turn technology investments into meaningful, real-world results.

Outside of work, Lori enjoys planning her next international adventure and cheering on musical theatre performances and football games with her husband and three step-children.

Connect with Lori Runion:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-runion/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lstone8

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Dr. Sadie Elisseou, a primary care physician in the US VA system in Boston, Harvard and Boston University educator, and trauma-informed care expert, discusses her path into medicine and how working with veterans led her to trauma-informed practice after noticing patients’ discomfort during routine exams. She explains trauma-informed care as creating physical and psychological safety through mindful nonverbal communication, transparent agendas, permission-seeking, and reducing power dynamics, with examples such as thyroid exams and avoiding phrases like “for me.” She highlights VA onboarding on military experience, notes higher ACE rates among volunteer-era veterans, and describes how staff behaviors and clinic environments shape patient stress. The conversation also covers clinician wellbeing and burnout prevention via self-care, team debriefing, boundaries, therapy access, and time-management strategies like scheduled breaks, batching tasks, finishing notes between visits, and structuring varied work roles.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Trauma-Informed Care Creates Safety Through Small, Intentional Actions: Physical and psychological safety in healthcare settings comes from deliberate practices: positioning yourself at the patient's side (not behind them), asking permission before examinations, explaining what you're doing and why, ensuring clear exits, and avoiding phrases like "for me" that emphasize power dynamics. These don't take extra time but transform the patient experience.
2. Shifting from "What's Wrong With You?" to "What Happened to You?" This mindset shift moves from blaming difficult patient behaviors to approaching them with curiosity and compassion. When patients are agitated or angry, it's often rooted in pain or fear. Co-regulation techniques—modeling calm through your own presence and validating their experience—can help both you and the patient settle into a more productive interaction.
3. Preventing Burnout Requires Structural Self-Care and Intentional Boundaries: Sustainable practice isn't about luxury spa days—it's about taking mindful breaths between patients, batching tasks by day (clinic on Mondays, administrative work on Thursdays), finishing notes immediately after appointments, scheduling regular breaks throughout the month, and setting non-negotiable hard stops. Varied work schedules that incorporate teaching, research, or consulting can also prevent monotony and reignite passion for the work.

Meet Dr. Sadie Elisseou:

Sadie Elisseou, MD is a practicing physician, faculty at Harvard Medical School, and leading subject matter expert in trauma-informed care who teaches clinical healthcare professionals how to provide top-quality care to trauma survivors and consults for organizations that wish to cultivate wellness and help team members engage through stressful times.

Connect with Dr. Sadie Elisseou:

🌐 Website https://www.sadie-elisseou.com/

LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadie-elisseou/

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

The host and physician coach Dr. Karen Leitner discuss why the transition to new attending is often harder than training, marked by impostor feelings, shame about not knowing, and decision paralysis in clinical uncertainty. They compare systems in the US, Canada, and Australia, including practice ownership models, overhead, billing learning curves, and how lack of business training and negotiation skills can affect long-term earnings; they share an example of lost income due to paperwork capacity and not realizing support could be hired. They emphasize that regret is unhelpful, mistakes and bad outcomes can happen despite good intentions, and guilt should be replaced with compassion and connection by talking with trusted colleagues. They address burnout dynamics—skipping food, water, and bathroom breaks—advocating radical responsibility, analyzing the “math” of workload, small workflow fixes, and boundaries, including not relying on external praise. Leitner mentions her eight-week coaching program for women physicians.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Being a new attending is a normal developmental milestone, not a sign of failure: Feeling overwhelmed, looking everything up, and comparing yourself to colleagues 20 years ahead is universal. The struggle isn't because you're unprepared—it's because no one prepares physicians for this transition. It can take 5-6 years to truly feel confident.
2. Self-compassion beats guilt when outcomes don't go as planned: When bad things happen to patients, guilt is the wrong emotion if you showed up with good intentions and made the best decision with available information. Replace self-punishment with compassion for both the patient and yourself—and reach out to trusted colleagues instead of isolating in shame.
3. Radical responsibility means protecting your time and energy—no one else will: No one is coming to save you from inbox overload, double-booked schedules, or skipping lunch. Taking care of yourself (eating, hydrating, setting boundaries) isn't selfish—it's essential for sustainable patient care. Learn to respect your own time before burnout forces you to leave medicine entirely.

Meet Dr. Karen Leitner:

Dr. Karen Leitner spends the bulk of her time helping women doctors recognize their amazingness and feel better in their lives (in addition to getting paid what they deserve.) She lives outside Boston< MA with her husband, her beloved mini goldendoodle Oscar, and three school-age daughters—and loves to travel, sing karaoke, and fight the patriarchy (preferably in that order).

Connect with Dr. Karen Leitner:

🌐 Website https://www.karenleitnermd.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/karenleitnermd/

🌐 https://go.karenleitnermd.com/masterclass free class for women physicians
looking for more time/less stress

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Psychologist and psychometrician Dr. Bryan Sexton, Chief Wellness Officer at Duke Health Integrated Practice, discusses how his early quality-improvement work in Johns Hopkins ICUs revealed that high staff burnout undermined readiness for interventions like bloodstream infection reduction. He explains measuring burnout—especially emotional exhaustion—and how adding metrics like work-life integration and emotional recovery enables personalized wellbeing “profiles” and targeted interventions. Sexton describes evidence-based, one- to two-minute “bite-sized” tools (e.g., humor, awe, gratitude) designed for busy clinicians, and how Duke embedded these into continuing education with private feedback to boost engagement; a five-hour, eight-day CE program published in JAMA Network Open (Sept 2024) showed improvements, particularly for those struggling most. He outlines a 7-minute gratitude letter exercise, its research roots (Emmons, Seligman), wellbeing-informed leadership practices, and directs listeners to free tools at caws.dukehealth.org.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Assess Wellbeing Before Adding New Tasks: Healthcare workers experiencing burnout lack the capacity to take on new initiatives. Organizations should measure emotional exhaustion and wellbeing readiness before implementing quality improvement programs or system changes. About one-third of ICUs weren't ready for innovation due to burnout - addressing wellbeing first is essential.
2. Bite-Sized Interventions Have Lasting Impact: Simple 7-10 minute wellbeing exercises (like writing a gratitude letter) can produce measurable improvements lasting 6-12 months. These micro-interventions are designed for busy healthcare workers who want something that takes minimal time, provides immediate relief, and creates long-term benefits. The effects actually continue improving over time rather than fading.
3. Wellbeing is Contagious - Both Ways: When 60% of a team engages in wellbeing interventions, even those who haven't participated show improvement through contagion effects. However, this works both ways - negativity and burnout also spread. Getting "enough" people engaged (not everyone) can create positive cultural shifts that lift the entire team.

Meet Dr. Bryan Sexton:

Bryan is the Chief Wellness Officer of Duke Health Integrated Practice and Director of the Duke Center for the Advancement of Well-being Science. After 30 years as a psychologist, psychometrician and investigator, he now works with leaders to assess and improve culture and work-force well-being. Bryan has conducted and published large studies and randomized controlled trials showing how to cause enduring improvements in the well-being of our workforce. He has authored over 100 peer reviewed publications, and his research instruments and well-being interventions have been translated and used in over 30 countries.

A perpetually recovering father of four, he enjoys running, using hand tools on wood, pickleball with friends, and hearing particularly good explanations of extremely complicated topics.

Don’t miss this enlightening conversation! 🎙️

Connect with Dr. Bryan Sexton:

🌐 Website https://caws.dukehealth.org/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/wellb/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Dr. Dhaval Desai, an Atlanta-based internal medicine–pediatrics physician and former hospitalist director, shares his path from studying economics and Spanish and teaching high school to training abroad and leading a 30-physician hospitalist group at Emory St. Joseph’s with a split clinical/administrative role. He describes how COVID-era pressures and a new baby contributed to burnout, sleep and mood issues, and seeking therapy and medication, later deepening his advocacy through a memoir and work with the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, noting about 400 U.S. physicians die by suicide annually. After being rejected for a chief wellbeing officer role and facing institutional limits on speaking publicly, he hired an executive coach and resigned, concluding loyalty can hold physicians back. He pivoted to direct primary care by purchasing a retiring physician’s practice, citing autonomy, fewer patients, and reduced bureaucracy as key to preventing burnout.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Physician Loyalty Can Become a Career Trap: Dr. Desai learned that his loyalty to his institution, patients, and colleagues was actually holding him back from making necessary career changes. His executive coach's blunt advice - "Nobody is going to give a shit if you leave tomorrow" - proved true when he resigned. Healthcare systems will move on, regardless of individual contributions, and physicians need to recognize when loyalty is preventing them from pursuing fulfillment.
2. Institutional Control Compromises Professional Integrity: Large healthcare systems often restrict physicians' ability to speak freely and advocate for what they believe in, even on humanitarian issues. Dr. Desai's experience being called in after writing an op-ed about ICE raids in hospitals showed how "the firm" can force physicians to compromise their values. This institutional pressure, combined with being passed over for the Chief Wellbeing Officer position, revealed that systems may pigeonhole physicians regardless of their capabilities.
3. Direct Primary Care Offers Control and Prevents Burnout: Transitioning to a Direct Primary Care (DPC) model allowed Dr. Desai to reclaim control over his schedule, patient panel size, and work-life balance. By eliminating insurance billing bureaucracy and middle management, he now spends 30-60 minutes per patient visit instead of documenting for 6 hours daily. This autonomy - combined with ongoing therapy and medication - has eliminated the "dread of going to work" and allows him to pursue advocacy, media, and other passions without institutional gatekeeping.

Meet Dr. Dhaval Desai:

Dr. Dhaval Desai is a dual board-certified Internal Medicine and Pediatrics physician who transitioned from hospital leadership into Direct Primary Care to practice medicine with deeper connection and purpose. He is the author of "Burning Out on the COVID Front Lines..." and host of the podcast SEEN IN FULL, where he explores burnout, identity, advocacy, and the human experience in modern work and life.

Connect with Dr. Dhaval Densai:

🌐 Website https://dhavaldesaimd.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/doctordesaimd/ 

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Our host Dr. Sarah Smith interviews Coleman Associates staff Amanda Laramie and Chief Innovation Officer Adrienne Mann about how Coleman Associates helps healthcare clinics—especially community health centers—redesign care delivery through their Dramatic Performance Improvement (DPI) methodology. Adrienne describes how Coleman’s work in her Chicago community health center targeted goals such as cycle time under 30 minutes (from patient arrival to departure), no-show rate under 5%, and 100% real-time charting completion, leading to improved patient and staff satisfaction and reduced burnout.

They explain cycle time as a measure of organized care and patient experience, and discuss how patient visit tracking reveals bottlenecks, handoffs, and physical-layout issues that slow flow. They cover strategies to reduce no-shows, framing them as a sign of a broken relationship and an access problem; examples include mystery shopper calls to identify barriers like long hold times, easier cancellation processes, and proactive visit confirmation and preparation. They discuss role realignment and preparing for visits through team-based workflows, including the “sheep-shepherd model” where MAs or nurses shepherd clinic flow to protect clinician time, reduce interruptions, and support “today’s work done today.”

Specific tactics include team “dance steps,” robust intake and concise handoffs, the “midway knock” check-in (physical or virtual), and having staff “bodyguard” clinicians while charting to prevent interruptions and avoid getting behind on notes. They also discuss inbox/worklist overload, aiming for net-zero inbox at day’s end through better routing/oversight, team support for tasks, and a “red carpet exit” to reduce follow-up calls by addressing questions and ensuring orders/referrals are completed before the patient leaves.

The conversation addresses individual needs and disabilities (including neurodiversity), emphasizing that frontline staff should design and adapt solutions; examples include noise-canceling headphones for charting and using space creatively (e.g., an exam room as a quiet charting space). They discuss shifting visit prep from clinicians to teams so multiple “brains” are aware of patient needs (e.g., hospital follow-ups, missing labs, forms), including pre-visit calls asking about ED visits, specialists, and concerns. They argue checkbox-heavy requirements (e.g., Medicare-related items) should be handled by nurses or staff through pre-visit “concierge” workflows, and note EHR limitations can be addressed through optimization and interdisciplinary decisions about filing and access.

They conclude by encouraging curiosity and questioning existing systems (“why” thinking), noting that everything is changeable except load-bearing walls, and provide ways to find Coleman Associates online. They state they primarily work across the U.S. but are open to working anywhere, including Canada and Australia. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Cycle Time Under 30 Minutes Indicates Organized Care: Cycle time (patient arrival to departure) isn't about rushing—it's about eliminating confusion, handoffs, and mishaps. Shorter cycle times mean better-organized care that respects patients' time, especially those without PTO or childcare access. The goal is efficiency through coordination, not speed through corners cut.
2. No-Shows Signal Broken Relationships, Not Patient Irresponsibility: When no-show rates exceed 10-15%, it reveals systemic issues: long hold times making cancellations difficult, appointments booked months in advance, or lack of relationship-building. The solution involves confirmation calls, easier cancellation processes, and recognizing that patients who no-show often need care the most—they're the ones appearing in emergency departments instead.
3. The Shepherd-Sheep Model Empowers Teams and Protects Clinician Focus: Medical assistants and nurses should "shepherd" the clinician's flow—staying slightly ahead, looping back to check needs, and bodyguarding charting time from interruptions. This allows clinicians to focus on what only they can do while the care team handles preparation, coordination, and protection of workflow. The result: 100% real-time charting completion becomes achievable.

Meet Amanda Laramie & Adrienne Mann:

Amanda is experienced in process design, training, and leadership development. Before working with Coleman, Amanda worked for a women’s health center in Providence, Rhode Island. She was a Medical Assistant and later, a Health Center Manager. Amanda has been working with Coleman Associates since 2011 and has coached hundreds of health center teams. She is a team leader and current COO of Coleman Associates.

Adrienne Mann is a dynamic coach, trainer, healthcare leader, speaker, and podcast host passionate about driving positive change. She develops training on succeeding in Alternative Payment Models and leadership. As a Step-In Executive, Adrienne helps organizations tackle tough challenges. She also spearheaded Coleman Associates' IACET accreditation and Joint Accreditation, ensuring high-quality continuing education. With a background in nursing and a love for innovation, Adrienne trains national cohorts in Dramatic Performance Improvement and tracks long-term results. Her work has transformed hundreds of health centers, making a lasting impact on patient care and staff morale. She is a RN by training and current Chief Innovation office of Coleman Associates

Connect with Amanda Laramie & Adrienne Mann:

🌐 Website https://colemanassociates.com/

Podcast https://colemanassociates.com/coleman-associates-innovation-podcast/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-laramie-8933b339/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennemannredesign/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coleman_associates/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this interview, Dr. Nikia Smith, a board-certified anesthesiologist, wellness coach, and retreat curator, shares how she experienced burnout twice during her attending career and nearly left medicine. She describes early warning signs (persistent fatigue despite rest, increasing irritability, and eventual emotional numbness and autopilot), and links her initial burnout to chronic understaffing after colleagues left and a lack of administrative support, including being told the team was “handling it so well” that additional hires were unnecessary.

After a near-20-hour call shift, she set boundaries by refusing further call, began educating herself on burnout, compassion fatigue, and self-compassion (including reading Kristin Neff), and rebuilt recovery through small, joy-based habits, movement (starting with Pilates), and reconnecting with community.

 She ultimately left a job that would not put agreed terms into a contract, moved to a no-call role to regain nights and weekends, and later negotiated for a part-time contract; she now works in Las Vegas under a contract requiring eight days per month, aligned with her goal of working 10 days or less.

Dr. Smith explains how her personal retreat became an annual four-day wellness retreat for physicians (expanding to other clinicians) that includes CME and group learning on moral injury, perfectionism, invisible labor/“third shift,” and practical strategies such as boundary-setting, negotiating schedules, and mutual support (including helping participants craft emails). She advises clinicians to talk to others to learn what’s possible, keep asking for what they need (e.g., administrative time for committee work), and recognize that burnout recovery is not a quick fix but a process of re-engaging with self and community.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Burnout Recovery Takes Time and Intentional Action: Burnout develops gradually over years, and recovery requires more than just rest. Dr. Smith emphasizes reconnecting with activities that bring joy and energy (like movement, hobbies, and community), even when exhausted. Small, consistent steps—like 5-minute walks or puzzles—can help rebuild your capacity to recharge.
2. Advocate for Your Non-Negotiables: Healthcare systems often claim certain accommodations are "impossible" until you're ready to leave. Dr. Smith successfully negotiated no-call schedules and eventually part-time work (8-10 days/month) by persistently asking and being willing to walk away. She encourages clinicians to keep asking for what they need and get terms in writing.
3. Systemic Issues Require Personal Boundaries: While healthcare systems prioritize profits over provider wellbeing, waiting for institutional change isn't sustainable. Dr. Smith learned to set firm boundaries—like refusing additional committee work without administrative time, and leaving jobs that wouldn't honor her needs. The solution involves both advocating for systemic change and taking personal responsibility for protecting your wellbeing.

Meet Dr. Nikia Smith:

Dr. Nikia Smith is a practicing board-certified anesthesiologist, wellness coach, and retreat facilitator. She’s also the founder of She Is Fire Forged, a transformative wellness brand that helps high-achieving women of color reclaim their peace, power, and purpose. With over a decade (and counting!) of experience in the high-stress world of medicine, Nikia brings a deeply informed lens to conversations around burnout, boundaries, and emotional restoration.

Nikia specializes in guiding women—especially Black women in leadership and healthcare—through the exhaustion that comes from constantly being everything for everyone. She equips her clients with the tools to say no without guilt, build lives rooted in their own definitions of success, and live in softness over survival mode. Through retreats, coaching, and community care, Nikia curates spaces where women are invited to pause, reset, and reimagine what thriving truly looks like. Her work blends evidence-based wellness tools with embodied spiritual practice, creating a holistic path forward rooted in softness, sustainability, and self-trust.

She’s also been featured as a guest on the Docs Get Money and Free to Be Mindful podcasts.

Outside of her work, Nikia prioritizes rest, joy, and connection. You’ll find her reading, recharging with loved ones, and spending time with her niece, modeling what’s truly possible for a strong and powerful woman in this world.

Connect with Dr. Nikia Smith:

🌐 Website https://sheisfireforged.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nikiasmithmd/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.
**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, our host welcomes Dr. Andrew Wilner to discuss his extensive career in medicine, detailing his certifications in internal medicine, neurology, and epilepsy. Dr. Wilner shares his multifaceted journey, from starting as an ER doctor without formal training to becoming a professor of neurology. He delves into the evolution of the internship model and offers advice for medical students in career decision-making.

Dr. Wilner also elaborates on the locum tenens lifestyle, discussing the challenges and benefits, including the necessary preparation and mindset for success. Additionally, he highlights his experiences in academic roles, private practice, and as a medical journalist. The conversation concludes with insights into Dr. Wilner's book, 'The Locum Life: A Physician's Guide to Locum Tenens,' and his podcast, 'The Art of Medicine,' featuring stories of physicians pursuing unique medical careers.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Flexibility is Essential for Locums Success: Locums work requires adaptability in every aspect - assignments can be canceled last minute, you'll work in unfamiliar systems, and conditions are often less than ideal. The ability to be flexible and resourceful is more important than clinical skills alone.
2. Prepare Thoroughly Before Each Assignment: Arrive 2 days early to handle logistics: learn the EMR system (demand paid training), scout parking and accommodations, get credentialing done, and eliminate uncertainties. This preparation reduces stress and lets you focus on patient care when the assignment starts.
3. Locums Prevents Burnout and Maintains Career Options: Working locums (even part-time) keeps you clinically active, resets credentialing clocks, and provides control over your schedule. Many burned-out physicians rediscover their love of medicine through locums by working on their own terms (7-9 months/year) rather than leaving clinical practice entirely.

Meet Dr. Andrew Wilner:

Dr. Wilner has worked locum tenens on and off since 1982 and is the author of "The Locum Life: A Physician's Guide to Locum Tenens." Dr. Wilner is Professor of Neurology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee, and host and producer of the Art of Medicine with Dr. Andrew Wilner podcast since 2020. Dr. Wilner is a PADI Divemaster and passionate underwater photographer.

Connect with Dr. Andrew Wilner:

🌐 Website http://www.andrewwilner.com

Twitter/X http://www.twitter.com/drwilner

Instagram http://www.instagram.com/seaphoto2025

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/c/andrewwilnermdauthor

YouTube Underwater http://www.youtube.com/c/andrewwilner

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Happy Women Physician Day! In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Sunny Smith, founder of Empowering Women Physicians, to discuss the unique challenges facing women physicians and the coaching tools that are helping hundreds break free from burnout—without quitting medicine.

If you've ever felt trapped, exhausted, or wondered "when does it get better?"—this conversation is for you.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. The Arrival Fallacy - Happiness Won't Come Later: The belief that you'll be happy "once you become an attending" or "once the kids are in school" is a fallacy. Happiness isn't found at some future milestone—it requires intentional choices now. The system won't change on its own, and no one is coming to save you.
2. Agency Over Learned Helplessness: Medicine systematically exposes physicians to situations beyond their control, leading to learned helplessness. The antidote is recognizing you have agency and choice—even small 1% changes compound over time. Start with one closed chart, one boundary, one small decision that shows you can impact your outcome.
3. Connection Breaks Isolation: You can't understand the mental load of being a physician unless you've been one. Being in community with other women physicians who normalize your struggles and model different choices is therapeutic. When you see others advocating for themselves—taking leave, setting boundaries, pursuing passion projects—it gives you permission to do the same.

Bonus insight: It's not your job's job to make you happy—that's your job. And 77% of physicians entering coaching programs meet burnout criteria, but only 33% do after just 8 weeks, without changing jobs.

Meet Dr. Sunny Smith:

Sunny Smith MD is the Founder and CEO of Empowering Women Physicians.

Dr Smith brings her background as an awarded Medical Educator, and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health into the coaching space.

She advocates for physician wellness through her comprehensive and collaborative coaching program, podcast, retreats and Facebook group that seek to change the culture of medicine through normalizing and humanizing the experience of being a physician.

Connect with Dr. Sunny Smith:

🌐 Website: https://empoweringwomenphysicians.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomenphysicians

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnysmithmd/

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnysmithmd/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Sarah invites Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall, an expert in adult ADHD and psychiatrist, to discuss executive function challenges faced by physicians, particularly those with ADHD. Dr. Hall shares her professional journey from family medicine to psychiatry, highlighting the importance of psychoeducation and executive function skills development. They explore common struggles such as time management, charting, and the impact of life transitions like menopause and parenthood.

Dr. Hall offers practical advice on enhancing productivity, using tools like time tracking and setting realistic goals. She also emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, kindness, and understanding one's strengths to manage executive function effectively.

Tune in to gain valuable insights into managing ADHD and improving executive function skills in the demanding field of medicine.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. ADHD in High-Achieving Physicians is Real—and Often Missed: Intelligence, creativity, and strong relationships help many physicians compensate for ADHD symptoms through medical school. Diagnosis often comes later when scaffolding disappears—starting practice, having children, menopause, or taking on leadership roles. The myth that "you can't have ADHD if you're a doctor" keeps many from getting help.
2. Executive Function Skills Matter for Everyone, Not Just ADHD: Supporting your executive function—through proper sleep, regular meals, movement, and brief breathing breaks—benefits all physicians. These aren't just "ADHD strategies"; they're fundamental tools for managing cognitive fatigue and the overwhelming administrative burden of modern medicine.
3. Start Small: Track, Reflect, and Be Kind to Yourself Instead of trying to fix everything at once, try tracking your time for just one hour or one morning. Then reflect: What were your expectations? Were they realistic? This awareness helps you adjust without shame. Multiply your time estimates by three, control your environment (headphones, closed doors, no wifi), and remember—you're not going to do groceries in a 20-minute break.

Meet Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall:

Elisabeth Baerg Hall MD, CCFP, FRCPC As a respected speaker, educator, and therapist specializing in adult ADHD, Dr. Baerg Hall is known for her leadership in building capacity to care for and improve services for adults with ADHD. She is passionate about advancing physician wellness, particularly in supporting medical professionals who have ADHD, through her targeted physician program, Build a Better Core and other Executive Function Workshops. She directs the ADHD Centre for Education and Training. She led development of ADHD Skills Builder, an online modular ADHD psychoeducational program funded by the James Family Foundation.

Sign up link here:
https://ebhallmd.com/executive-function-skills-for-health-care-providers/
Referral Code - CHARTINGCOACH to receive 10% off

Connect with Dr. Elisabeth Baerg Hall:

🌐 Website: www.ebhallmd.com

🌐 Website: www.adhdskillsbuilder.com

Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-elisabeth-baerg-hall-7515a8207/

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr, Sarah Smith interviews Dr. Andrea Austin, an emergency medicine physician, educator, and new program director of a residency program in Pensacola, Florida. Dr. Austin shares her journey from an early interest in medicine inspired by a 'Take Our Daughters to Work' day to her current roles in emergency medicine amidst the challenges of COVID and beyond. She discusses her experiences with burnout, the importance of therapy and coaching, and her transformative role in developing curriculum focused on positive changes in healthcare.

Dr. Austin also highlights her recently published book 'Revitalized,' which aims to guide physicians toward a fulfilling career. The conversation covers key factors for change-making in medical institutions, the critical need for supportive leadership, and the shared struggles of global physician burnout.The episode provides valuable insights and strategies for recognizing and dealing with burnout effectively.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Change Makers Need Supportive Organizations: Effective change in healthcare requires both individual qualities (insatiable learning, courage, resilience) and organizational support (funding for education, coaching, just culture, appropriate staffing, and the ability to actually take vacation time).
2.  Recovery Requires Time and Space: After experiencing burnout during COVID, Dr. Austin took a part-time remote teaching job that gave her three months to sleep, attend therapy, do coaching, and regulate her nervous system. This pause was essential for her body to "feel human again" and ultimately led to her pursuing a master's degree and starting a residency program.
3.  Caring Leadership Makes the Difference: The most critical factor in preventing physician burnout isn't metrics or ROI—it's caring. Leaders who see the big picture, invest in their people, provide meaningful feedback, and create psychologically safe environments enable physicians to thrive and create positive change, rather than just burning out from institutional betrayal.

Meet Dr. Andrea Austin:

Dr. Andrea Austin is the inaugural Emergency Medicine Program Director at Sacred Heart in Pensacola, Florida. As a Navy veteran, her military service taught her how to perform under pressure and lead teams in high-stakes environments. She brings that same focus to her work in medical education, physician well-being, and healthcare systems change. Dr. Austin is the author of Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline and host of the Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare podcast.

Connect with Dr. Andra Austin:

🌐 Website: https://www.andreaaustinmd.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreaaustinmd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andreaaustinmd/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, the host welcomes Dr. Claire Plumbly, a clinical psychologist from the UK, to discuss her work and insights into managing burnout and trauma. Dr. Plumbly shares her background and journey into clinical psychology, highlighting her work in private practice and her recent book, 'The Trauma of Burnout'. The conversation delves into signs and symptoms of burnout, practical advice for managing it, and the importance of understanding one's nervous system.

Dr. Plumbly also emphasizes the need for compassionate self-care, regular check-ins throughout the day, and has suggestions for winding down to improve sleep. She further discusses ways to prevent burnout and introduces the concept of intensive therapy sessions for those who find weekly sessions challenging.

The episode provides valuable insights and strategies for recognizing and dealing with burnout effectively.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Understand Your Nervous System States Burnout involves getting stuck in two problematic nervous system states: "Amber" (sympathetic overdrive - constant rushing, can't slow down) and "Red" (dorsal shutdown - autopilot, disconnected, people-pleasing). You need different strategies for each: discharge excess energy when in Amber through movement, and gently thaw out when in Red through soothing touch and connection.
2. Recognize the Four Warning Signs Watch for burnout signals across four areas: Physical (aches, tension, frequent illness), Cognitive (rigid thinking, decision fatigue, making mistakes), Emotional (limited emotional range - stuck in overwhelmed/anxious/flat), and Behavioral (numbing behaviors like extra drinking, doom scrolling, or impulse purchases).
3. Use Transition Points as Check-In Opportunities Don't wait until end of day to address burnout. Use every transition between tasks as a mini pause to check: "What does my body need right now? What gear am I in?" This prevents accumulation of stress and makes winding down at night actually possible - you can't crash from sixth gear into sleep.

Meet Dr. Claire Plumbly:

Dr Claire Plumbly is a clinical psychologist, EMDR consultant & founder of Plum Psychology - a team of trauma-specialists who offer intensive therapy packages for burnout and trauma in the UK. She is the author of The Trauma of Burnout - which shows us how to navigate out of overwhelm tapping into the power of your nervous system

 Connect with Dr. Claire Plemby:
🌐 Website: Www.drclaireplumbly.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrClairePlumbly

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drclaireplumbly

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Zhen Chan shares his unique journey from growing up in Miami, Florida to becoming a pediatrician in Washington, DC, and ultimately venturing into the entrepreneurial side of healthcare.

Dr. Chan discusses his educational background, including an MD-MBA dual degree, and how it shaped his interests in blending artistic and scientific aspects within the medical field. He delves into his clinical practice in the 'fast track' side of an emergency room and his desire to improve healthcare systems.

Dr. Chan also talks about his entrepreneurial endeavors, like founding Grapevine, a community focused on healthcare workforce optimization and reducing burnout among medical professionals.

Throughout the conversation, he emphasizes the importance of networking and staying updated with technological advancements to better serve patients and the healthcare community. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. The Power of Networking in Healthcare: Dr. Chan emphasizes that building professional relationships and communities—like her Grapevine initiative—is crucial for career growth, combating burnout, and reducing social isolation among healthcare professionals. Networking is not just for business leaders; it’s essential for clinicians at all stages.

2. Innovation and Entrepreneurship are Vital for Modern Physicians: Dr. Chan’s journey shows that blending clinical practice with entrepreneurial thinking and process improvement (such as Six Sigma and MBA training) can help address systemic issues in healthcare. Physicians can—and should—embrace innovation to improve patient care and the healthcare system.

3. Technology and AI Can Reduce Administrative Burden: The discussion highlights how AI-powered tools (like scribing and coding assistants) are transforming healthcare by reducing administrative workload, allowing doctors to focus more on patient care. Accurate documentation and embracing new technologies are key to improving efficiency and outcomes.

Meet Dr. Zhen Chan:

Dr. Zhen Chan is a practicing pediatrician at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and Founder/CEO of Grapevyne, a community dedicated to empowering physician autonomy and wellbeing through better networking and understanding about healthcare beyond medicine. He graduated from the University of Miami with his BS in Neuroscience and Criminology, MD, and MBA in Health Management & Policy. After completing his education, he went on to complete his pediatrics residency at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medicine, where his work in quality improvement and advocacy projects revealed a career path to impact healthcare at scale beyond the exam room. In addition to his clinical practice and his own community, he advises other healthcare startups as well focused on improving healthcare access.

Connect with Dr. Zhen Chan:
🌐 Website: https://grapevyne.health

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zhenmd

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhen_md/

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Happy Holidays from the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In honour of the holidays we are replaying our top two episodes of 2025.

This week we’re excited to bring you a replay of Episode 125 of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast. In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith brings together her “brains trust”—the talented team of assistant coaches from Charting Champions and Smarter Charting—for an inspiring and honest roundtable discussion. Join Dr. Jacqueline Holm-Jhass, Dr. Milene Argo, and Dr. Noelle Nelson as they open up about their personal journeys from burnout to rediscovering joy in medicine and share their passion for helping clinicians create better clinical days.

You’ll hear first hand stories about the real costs of working after hours, practical strategies for managing the chaos of unpredictable clinic days, and priceless reminders that you are not alone in the struggle. The coaches offer compassionate advice on emotional regulation, self-compassion, and the vital importance of finding celebration and purpose—even on the hardest days.

Whether you’re deep in the trenches of clinical work or just starting to think about how to make medicine more sustainable, this episode is packed with relatable insights, encouragement, and actionable wisdom to help you reclaim time for your life outside of medicine. Get ready to meet the coaches who are changing the way clinicians approach their clinical days and rekindling love for the profession—one conversation at a time.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. You’re Not Alone: Every physician experiences overwhelm—even the coaches and leaders we look up to. Vulnerability and community are key to finding solutions and breaking the cycle of isolation.
2. Small Wins & Self-Compassion Matter: Shifting from self-criticism to celebration of even tiny wins each day (like finishing one tough chart, or supporting a grieving patient) helps change the narrative and builds resilience over time.
3. The System is Broken, Not You: The impossible demands of modern medicine make it crucial to set boundaries and redefine what “good enough” looks like for you, rather than striving for unattainable perfection.

The Charting Champions Coaches

Dr. Sarah Smith and her vibrant Charting Coach team: Dr. Jacqueline Holm-Jhass, Dr. Milene Argo, and Dr. Noelle Nelson. Get ready for an honest, supportive, and practical conversation about what it truly takes to create a sustainable, joyful clinical day as a physician or clinician.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

****Get in on the Backlog Buddies Sale where All Session in June are only $10 https://www.backlogbuddies.com/

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith joins forces with Dr. Priyanka Venugopal from the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast for a deeply insightful conversation all about reclaiming time and creating more sustainable clinical practices.

Together, they dive into the real-life struggles physicians face when it comes to finishing work at work—and not letting charting and paperwork spill into precious family time. Dr. Smith shares her own journey of burnout, the “aha” moments that changed her approach forever, and the practical strategies that helped her—and now hundreds of other clinicians—conquer endless documentation and interruptions.

This episode is packed with actionable gems, from simple mindset shifts to rethinking workflow, delegation, and team dynamics. Whether you're a physician, a professional working mom, or anyone craving more balance between career and home, this conversation will inspire you to rethink what’s possible. Tune in for tangible tips, relatable stories, and a whole lot of encouragement to create those “bucket loads of time” you’ve been searching for.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Redesign Your Workflow—One Small Step at a Time:
   Challenging your status quo doesn't require a massive overhaul overnight. Dr. Smith emphasizes starting with one thing you wish were different, then getting curious about how to make that change—whether it’s charting as you go or setting clearer boundaries for finishing tasks before heading home.
2. Choose the 'Goat Track' over the 'Superhighway':
   Our brains crave familiar (often inefficient) routines. Breaking those habits will feel awkward and slower at first, but staying consistent creates more “bucket loads of time”—those open evenings and weekends we all crave.
3. Teamwork and Delegation Create Freedom:
   Whether you have a team or work solo, look for ways to delegate, systematize, and create assets that make recurring tasks easier. Training others (or even your future self!) means you spend your best energy on what truly requires your expertise.

Episode 102: Burn Stress. Lose Weight. Podcast (Formerly the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast)

https://www.burnstressloseweight.com/blog/getting-work-done-at-work-with-dr-sarah-smith

In this episode of the Unstoppable Mom Brain Podcast, I have Dr. Sarah Smith sharing her journey from being a rural family physician to becoming an expert in optimizing work-life balance for physicians, particularly focusing on completing tasks efficiently during clinical hours. Dr. Smith's transformation from struggling with work-life balance to finding simplicity and joy in her professional and personal life is inspiring. Through her coaching, she helps physicians reclaim their time, reduce stress, and prioritize their well-being while excelling in their careers. Tune in to this episode to unlock valuable insights and actionable strategies that will empower you to achieve greater balance, joy, and success in your professional and personal life.

Sarah Smith is the Charting Coach for Physicians and clinicians and a practicing Rural Family Physician in Alberta. Sarah is the founder of the Charting Champions Program helping more than 150 Physicians in the specific area of getting home with their charting done. 

She has a passion for reducing burnout and overwhelm resulting from the administrative burden of clinical medicine. Using evidence-based coaching to help Physicians find their most simple solutions within the clinical environments that they work in.  

Sarah is married to her husband of 21 years and has two sons and lives on her small farm. Evenings and weekends are for enjoying pursuits such as farming, exploring, reading and coaching.

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Maire Daugharty, an accomplished anesthesiologist who made the bold transition into clinical mental health counseling. In this episode, Dr. Daugharty opens up about her personal experience with burnout, the journey that led her to psychotherapy, and the lessons she learned about mental health—both as a physician and as a therapist. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, someone navigating career changes, or simply interested in well-being, this conversation is packed with valuable insights and practical advice.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Burnout and Depression Are Distinct but Overlapping: Dr. Maire Daugharty emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between burnout and depression. Burnout is specifically related to work overload and emotional exhaustion, while depression is a broader mental health condition. Recognizing the difference is crucial for seeking the right kind of help and intervention.
2. Career Transitions Can Be Empowering and Challenging: Dr. Daugharty shares her journey from anesthesiology to clinical mental health counseling, highlighting the challenges of making a major career shift. She discusses the importance of self-reflection, support from loved ones, and the value of aligning one’s work with personal interests and well-being.
3. There Is No Shame in Seeking Help: A central message of the episode is that seeking psychotherapy or counseling is a sign of strength, not weakness. Dr. Daugharty encourages medical professionals (and everyone) to value their own well-being, challenge the stigma around mental health, and recognize that taking care of oneself is essential for providing the best care to others.

Meet Dr. Maire Daugharty:

I am an anesthesiologist, over the course of my career specialized in regional and cardiac anesthesia. I went back to graduate school and completed a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling. I opened a practice working with a range of issues for adult individuals and couples including depression, anxiety, ramifications of childhood trauma, burnout, navigating conflict. I continue to work part time as an anesthesiologist on our general and obstetrical services, and work full time as a psychotherapist integrating mental health medication management when indicated.

Connect with Dr. Maire Daugharty:
🌐 Website: www.mdaugharty.com

• https://kevinmd.com/post-author/maire-daugharty
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maire-daugharty/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

Today, we’re joined by Mary Remón, a licensed counselor and experienced coach who has spent over two decades supporting healthcare professionals. Mary brings a wealth of insight from her work managing Employee Assistance Programs and coaching physicians through the unique challenges of burnout, compassion fatigue, and career sustainability.

In this conversation, Mary and Dr. Sarah Smith dive deep into the realities of working in healthcare, the stigma around seeking help, and practical strategies for building resilience and well-being. Whether you’re a clinician, a leader, or simply interested in the human side of medicine, this episode is packed with wisdom and actionable advice.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Confidential Support Is Available for Healthcare Professionals: Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer confidential counseling and support for physicians and clinicians. Most concerns about privacy and stigma are unfounded—these services are designed to protect employees and are not part of personnel files or medical records, except in rare safety-related cases.
2. Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Are Common—But Not Personal Failures: Many physicians experience burnout, imposter syndrome, and compassion fatigue due to the demanding nature of their work. These are normal reactions to challenging environments, not signs of weakness or failure. Recognizing and talking about these issues is the first step toward healing.
3. Small, Positive Changes and Support Networks Make a Big Difference: Sustainable well-being comes from making small, manageable changes—like setting boundaries, celebrating small wins, and seeking support from peers or coaches. Sharing struggles and accepting help can break the cycle of isolation and lead to meaningful improvements in mental health and job satisfaction.

Meet Mary Remón:

Mary Remón is a licensed counselor, certified coach, and Certified Employee Assistance Professional with over 20 years of experience in healthcare. In her professional role, she has coached physicians and leaders at hundreds of healthcare institutions across North America, including many leading academic medical centers. Mary previously managed employee assistance programs on-site at two academic medical centers, supporting physicians, leaders and frontline staff. She continues to support physicians and leaders through her private practice.

Connect with Mary Remón:

🌐 Website: https://www.maryremon.com/

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryremon/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryRemon.LCPC.LMHC.CEAP
• SoMeDocs: https://doctorsonsocialmedia.com/mary-remon-lcpc-cpc-ceap/

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this podcast episode #150 we shine a light on the real experiences of early-career medical professionals and listening to the voices of junior doctors. I’m your host, Dr. Sarah Smith, and today we’re joined by Victoria Lister—researcher, workplace coach, and passionate advocate for change in healthcare.

Diving into the hidden struggles junior doctors face: the culture of silence, the impact of discrimination and burnout, and the critical importance of psychological safety at work. Victoria shares her research and personal insights on why so many doctors feel unable to speak up, and what leaders and colleagues can do to create safer, more supportive environments.

Whether you’re a medical professional, a student, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this conversation is packed with eye-opening stories and practical advice. Let’s get started!

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. The Culture of Silence in Medicine: Junior doctors often feel unable to speak up about their working conditions due to fear of retaliation, career setbacks, and entrenched hierarchies. This silence can have serious consequences for both staff wellbeing and patient safety.
2. Psychological Safety is Essential: Creating environments where junior doctors feel safe to voice concerns is crucial. Leadership that listens, acts, and genuinely supports staff can transform toxic workplaces into supportive, high-performing teams.
3. Discrimination and Burnout are Widespread: Issues like bullying, harassment, and discrimination—based on gender, race, or background—are still prevalent in medical training. Addressing these challenges requires systemic change, open conversations, and collective action to ensure a healthier future for all healthcare professionals.

Meet Victoria Lister:

Victoria Lister is a researcher in the Business School at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Her PhD research investigates junior doctors’ working conditions silences and how the medical profession acts as a barrier to voice. To support junior doctors, Victoria trained as a workplace coach and is currently researching and delivering a ‘coaching for communication’ program for emergency medicine clinicians. She also works on other research projects in the medical context; has consulted on a healthcare workforce wellbeing initiative and a cultural change program designed to address bullying, harassment and discrimination in medicine; and has published on these themes.

Connect with Victoria Lister:
🌐 Website: https://www.victorialister.com/

• linkedin.com/in/victoria-lister
• https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=Fzi-II4AAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith explores the challenges of balancing mental load and domestic labor, particularly for women in medicine. She is joined by Dr. Pip Houghton, a family physician, facilitator, and advocate for women’s wellness.

Dr. Houghton shares her expertise in mental health and her personal journey with the Fair Play Method, offering practical strategies for creating more equitable and joyful lives at home and at work. Together, they discuss how open communication, trust, and small changes can lead to big results for busy professionals and families.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into sharing responsibilities, building supportive partnerships, and lightening the mental load—making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking balance and sustainability in their personal and professional lives.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1.  The Fair Play Method Empowers Equitable Domestic Labor Pip Houghton shares how the Fair Play Method helps families clearly define, distribute, and take ownership of household tasks. This system reduces mental load, prevents resentment, and creates more space for joy, self-care, and professional fulfillment—especially for women physicians.
2.  Open Communication and Trust Are Essential Successful implementation of Fair Play and equitable labor requires honest conversations and mutual trust between partners. Letting go of micromanagement and allowing each person to fully own their responsibilities is key to reducing stress and building a supportive partnership.
3.  Small Changes Lead to Big Results Pip emphasizes starting with one small task—like managing garbage or backpacks—to build momentum and confidence. Gradually, these small wins can transform household dynamics, involve children in responsibilities, and even improve teamwork in professional settings.

Meet Dr. Pip Houghton:

Dr Phillippa "Pip" Houghton is a family physician on Vancouver Island providing addiction, mental health and primary care to adults and youth in her community. Dr Pip completed a B.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria (2011), medical school at The University of Wollongong (2015) and family practice residency through the University of British Columbia in 2019. In addition to her formal education, Dr Pip is particularly supporting families in navigating the many challenges that we all face when it comes to balancing the demands of the three P’s (partner, professional, parent). Dr Pip has pursued additional education in the areas of perinatal Mental Health, digital health and wellness and most recently as a Fair Play Facilitator. In addition to her assigned roles, Dr Pip is also a mother to three boys, wife to an amazing husband, house hippo owner, new-ish CrossFit enthusiast, creative writer, book club enthusiast and cut-flower garden newbie.

Connect with Dr. Pip Houghton:
🌐 Website: www.timeoutmd.ca

🗣️ Speaking & Workshops: Revived Physician Retreat

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**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Becket Mahnke, a pediatric cardiologist and seasoned Chief Medical Information Officer, to explore the evolving landscape of clinical informatics and practical strategies for making your clinical day more sustainable. Together, they dive into the complexities of electronic health record (EHR) systems—especially Epic—and discuss how thoughtful design, team-based approaches, and data-driven solutions can reduce physician burnout, enhance care efficiency, and foster more meaningful patient interactions.

From leveraging AI-powered ambient dictation and chart summarization tools, to reimagining clinic workflows and setting healthy boundaries for clinicians, this conversation is packed with insights to help you reclaim time for yourself while delivering excellent patient care. Whether you’re an EHR power user, an informatics enthusiast, or simply searching for ways to optimize your workday, you'll find actionable tips and a dose of inspiration in today's episode.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Thoughtful EHR Design: Dr. Becket Mahnke emphasized that EHR systems, especially EPIC, are shaped by user requests—leading to many ways to do the same thing, but also plenty of opportunities to streamline workflows by standardizing processes at the organizational level.
2. Teamwork for Efficiency & Wellness: Measuring teamwork (like tracking how many orders are started by team members rather than just physicians) can reveal powerful opportunities for redesigning clinical workflows. Taking a team-based approach relieves cognitive load and enables clinicians to spend more quality time with patients.
3. AI & Ambient Documentation: Dr. Becket Mahnke shared how new AI-driven ambient dictation and chart summarization tools are true game changers, letting providers focus on real patient conversations—benefiting not just the clinician, but also the patient experience.

Meet Dr. C. Becket Mahnke:

Dr. C. Becket Mahnke is the Chief Medical Information Officer at Confluence Health and a practicing pediatric cardiologist. He is board‑certified in Clinical Informatics, an Epic‑certified Physician Builder, and serves on Epic's Physician Advisory Council. Under his leadership, Confluence Health has delivered measurable improvements in clinician experience—reducing EHR burden and after‑hours work, increasing patient portal adoption, and earning top‑quartile ARCH Collaborative EHR satisfaction, AMA Joy in Medicine™ Gold, and the WSMA Apple Award. His current focus is pragmatic, sustainable design and AI that protects clinician attention and improves care.

You can find Dr. C. Becket Mahnke on:

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/cbecketmahnke

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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode?  Click Here

**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.

Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca

**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released.

**** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life.
 
**** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.