Doctors Making A Difference

Conflict Resolution in Medicine: From Avoidance to Transformation with Dr. Lee Sharma | DMD#86

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In this episode of Doctors Making a Difference, Dr. Peter Crane sits down with Dr. Lee Sharma, a practicing OB/GYN in Auburn, Alabama, and host of the Scalpel and Sword podcast. Dr. Sharma opens up about her unique path into medicine, influenced by her physician parents, her early love for women’s health, and the burnout that led her to pursue a master’s degree in conflict resolution. Together, they explore why conflict is a “vital sign” in healthcare, practical techniques for de-escalating tension, the power of curiosity and storytelling, and how addressing conflict proactively preserves relationships and mental energy.

Episode Highlights
  • Double major in music performance and pre-med; choosing OBGYN after falling in love with women’s health
  • Growing up with a surgeon father and pathologist mother who exposed her to medicine early
  • The shift from conflict avoidance to embracing conflict as transformative after completing a master’s in conflict resolution
  • Launching the Scalpel and Sword podcast to help physicians navigate conflict more effectively
  • The powerful technique: “Tell me your story”  reducing defensiveness with patients and colleagues
  • Why repairing relationships (apologizing after difficult interactions) is worth the courage
  • The hidden “mental cost” of avoiding conflict vs. investing a few minutes to truly listen
  • Building trust by starting with shared values and common ground
  • Balancing clinical practice with mediation, consulting, and thought leadership
    • Top 3 Takeaways
    • Conflict is a vital sign, not an illness. It signals something important that needs attention and, when handled well, can lead to creative solutions and stronger relationships.
    • “Tell me your story” is one of the most effective ways to lower defenses and create understanding, far more powerful than asking “Why do you feel that way?”
    • Investing a small amount of time to listen and repair relationships saves far more mental energy in the long run and reduces the likelihood of escalation, including patient complaints or lawsuits.
      • About Dr. Lee Sharma

      Dr. Lee Sharma is a board-certified OB/GYN practicing in Auburn, Alabama. After completing her residency at Parkland Hospital in Texas, she moved to Auburn in 1997. A former music performance major, she brings creativity and empathy to her work. Facing dissatisfaction in practice, she earned a master’s degree in conflict resolution and now works as a mediator and consultant helping hospitals and healthcare systems manage conflict. She is the host of the Scalpel and Sword podcast.

      Website: rleesharma.com

      Podcast: Scalpel and Sword

      Email: [email protected]

      About the Host:

      Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch.

      Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible.

      About the Show:

      Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine.

      In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole.

      Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com

      LMC Series Note:

      Living with Metastatic Cancer (LMC) explores the science, decisions, and day-to-day realities of life with advanced disease—through candid physician–patient conversations.

      The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.


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      Doctors Making A DifferenceBy Peter M. Crane, MD