The Expanded MD – Details, episodes & analysis

In this inaugural episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sara Lea shares the origins of her unique journey, from  studying economics in her undergraduate years, to finding her calling in medicine, from growing up in Prince Edward Island to settling down in British Columbia!

Never on a traditional path, Dr. Lea reflects on her time in Dalhousie medical school, transformative rotations in Ghana, and landing in an OBG/YN residency placement in Victoria, BC—against her wishes (at the time)! Her diverse experiences shape her path, taking her to some new and uncharted territory, as we'll find out in the next episode!

Learn more about how Dr. Sarah Lea can support you today in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life at www.drsarahlea.com.

Welcome to The Expanded MD Podcast - where science meets spirituality to transform your thinking and expand your mind. Hosted by Dr. Sara Lea, a family physician, certified executive coach, and keynote speaker, this podcast offers a bi-weekly dose of medical insight infused with spiritual wisdom.

Through storytelling, personal experiences, and expert interviews, we’ll explore the intersection of medical science and spiritual wisdom. Join us as we blend the best of both worlds to elevate your well-being and unlock new possibilities for your health, career, and personal growth.

First episode dropping this Tuesday, April 1st! We would be so greateful for a follow and review.

Check out www.drsarahlea.com to learn more about Dr. Sarah, here to support you in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life!

In this second episode of The Expanded MD, Dr. Sarah Lea takes us deeper into both her personal and professional worlds. From the intensity of OB/GYN residency on Vancouver Island (grueling call schedules and all) to the unexpected twists that led her to family medicine, she shares the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Along the way, she reflects on meeting her husband, juggling mental health while starting a family, and making tough career decisions - because life is never just one straight path. Join us for an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the challenges and rewards of medicine, family, and forging a fulfilling career… or so it seemed.

Until the next and final installement of Dr. Lea's personal journey, learn more about how she can support you today in building a reality where you never have to choose between a successful career & leading a fulfilling life at www.drsarahlea.com.

What does it really mean to be well? Today we're kicking off something a little different, and in our opinion, truly necessary.

In Part I of the Health Is Wealth Mini Series, Dr. Lea introduces Rachel Mark, a registered acupuncturist, integrative health coach, and clinic owner who bridges Eastern and Western approaches to medicine, bringing a truly holistic lens to healing - and a valualbe perspective in the conversation around the interconnectedness of our bodies.

Together, Rachel and Dr. Lea discuss how broad-reaching networks like the nervous system, fascia, hormones, and musculoskeletal structure all work together and therefore must be examined in tandem with any other health concerns. They explore how the interconnectedness of body, mind, and environment empowers healing, and what it means to advocate for your needs in today’s health landscape.

Whether you're navigating your own healing journey or working to support others on theirs, this series is for you.

After working on climbing out of burnout for years, what do we do when we feel it coming on again? We take a moment to reassess, remember what burnout actually looks like, and give ourselves grace as this process is not linear.

In this candid and raw epsiode, Dr. Sarah Lea shares with us that despite searching her way out of burnout for years, she can still find herself looped back in. Burnout has many different looks - depersonalization, cynicism, moral exhaustion - to name a few. Sarah's vulnerability encourages to reflect on your own experiences, while offering resources for managing burnout and underscoring the need for systemic change and self-care in the medical field. Slowing down is not a sabbatical - it's survival.

Additional resources:

• Revive Physicians Podcast | Ep 20: Sharing the Mental Load at Home with Dr. Pip Houghton
• Empowered Time: An Energy Management Guide for Physicians | This workbook is designed to equip you, a physician, with the tools and strategies necessary to reclaim control over your time and feel in control of your life.
• The 2025 Revive Physicians Retreat | Managing The Mental Load Retreat: Reclaim Your Energy at work and at home.
• Physician Health Program in British Columbia
• Ontario Medical Association & Mayo Clinic Burnout Literature

In this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea chats with Jennica Day, a vacation expert, author, and advocate for intentional rest and recovery. After experiencing burnout while living and working in Cancun, she dedicated herself to understanding the science of vacationing and work recovery, developed the "Vacation Hero Method," and authored the book You Need a (Better) Vacation, where she shares evidence-based strategies to help individuals and organizations optimize time off for improved well-being, performance, and happiness.

Jennica shares some of her best tips on today's podcast, and together with Sarah discusses why vacations matter, why you don't need money to take one, and practical tips for how you can maximize your time off today!

The Vacation Nerd Instagram | The Vacation Nerd Website | You Need a (Better) Vacation

In this enlightening episode of The Expanded MD Podcast, Dr. Sarah Lea hosts her first guest - Dr. Lawrence Yang, a family physician, quality improvement coach, and fellow expanded MD. Dr. Yang shares his personal journey through burnout, exploring how unconventional, whole-person approaches helped him heal and reconnect with his work and wellbeing. Their conversation delves into the pressures of clinical life, the impact of trauma (especially those from being a child of refugee immigrants), and alternative practices like Reiki, holotropic breathwork, and the significance of self-compassion.

This episode is a must-listen for healthcare practitioners and anyone grappling with burnout, offering a new perspective on resilience, self-care and ultimately - self-acceptance. If you'd like to connect with Dr. Yang or Dr. Sarah Lea directly, you can reach them at:

• Dr. Lawrence Yang on X
• Dr. Lawrence Yang on Instagram
• Dr. Sarah Lea on Instagram
• Dr. Sarah Lea's website

How do you define perfectionism? Is it an inherent trait, or a learned behaviour? Is it something to be fostered, or could it be  fear masquerading as high standards?

Dr. Sarah Lea muses on these thoughts and more, on this episode of The Expanded MD Podcast. She reflects on her own journey, how embracing vulnerability and authenticity has shaped her life, and how redefining her relationship with her own perfectionism has created psychological safety and connection for herself and others. She reflects on the benefits she's experienced with this approach in her parenting, professional life, and friendships - and by the end of this episode you may just also be inspired to do something radical - embrace imperfection.

www.drsarahlea.com

In this third and final installement of the opening series about "Who is Dr. Sarah Lea," we close the loop on what brought Dr. Lea to face away from medicine in order to better see herself. Navigating a demanding panel of positions within family practice, maternity care, addictions medicine, multiple leadership positions, entrepreneurship - and the collective trauma brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic to top it all off - Dr. Lea realized that at this phase in her life, what she cared most about was also the most neglected.

 Too many of us take the best of ourselves to work, and leave the rest at home. Sarah is seeking to end that by exploring multiple paths, both within and without. From the significant decision to close her family practice, to discovering the benefits of physician coaching, exploring alternative healing modalities like meditation and sound healing, and her commitment to a balanced life prioritizing her role as a mother, join Dr. Lea as she seeks to bridge the gap between medical science and spiritual wellness, advocating for integrative approaches to healthcare - for herself, and for you. www.drsarahlea.com