Doctor Me First with Errin Weisman DO

I absolutely hate the word "resilient." I think it's a term that people use as an easier way to say "suck it up buttercup" with a smack on your ass to send you on your way.

As physicians, I think we know all too well what it's like to just power through some of the hardest times in our studies, careers, and lives. We put our noses to the grindstone and we don't pick them up for years. These habits often earn us a label of resilience, when really it's just a precursor to burnout if we're not careful.

But, there are ways that we can be resilient and tough in our everyday lives, and the approach that you take can look so much different than the one you were exposed to in high school sports or your residency program.

I talk with Steve Magness today about what it looks like to build resilience in a healthy way by listening to our bodies and tapping into our mental well-being to make the best decisions for ourselves, even if those decisions are hard as hell.

Listen in to our conversation where we talk about the main takeaways of Steve's book, Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong And The Surprising Science Of Real Toughness. I guarantee you will walk away with some lovely nuggets of wisdom to help you pave your way to your own definition of resilience.

"You're still writing your story. You still get to choose which direction you go." Steve Magness

In this episode:

[01:42] Welcome to the Show, Steve!

[03:43] Steve's backstory and how he got started in performance coaching.

[05:05] Where the message of his book came from.

[06:01] The misuse of the term "resilience."

[07:58] Some of the history behind resilience messages and why they have been prolonged.

[10:15] The pillars of Steve's book and the main takeaways of his message.

[14:51] The ability to grow from trauma.

[20:24] They share their definitions of real toughness.

[22:31] Building resiliency in your children.

[25:02] Where to connect with Steve and keep tabs on his events.

Links and Resources Connect with Steve:

Steve Magness

Do Hard Things: Why We Get Resilience Wrong and The Surprising Science of Toughness by Steve Magness

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

I talk a lot about the burnout of physicians, and while that is a topic that can not get enough coverage for us as physicians, there is another caveat that we need to be aware of - our presence with our patients and giving them the time and attention they need to avoid misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses.

Amanda Laden shines some light on the perspective of a patient who lived with pain from an undiagnosed condition for years due to doctors who missed the signs and symptoms of a disease that progressed so far that it nearly cost her her life.

The lack of attention of physicians to take the time to listen to their patients and make sure that no stone is left unturned can be attributed to burnout. The frequency at which physicians are required to see patients causes us to be distracted and our attention to be divided which can lead to us missing some pretty big issues with our patients.

We have to take care of ourselves as physicians to ensure that we can pour back into our patients and give them the care and diagnoses that they deserve to avoid long-term suffering at the hands of an exhausted doctor.

In some cases, it's not the physician that lacks empathy and attention, but the office staff that interacts with the patients on a regular basis. When we have people that are coming to us to help with major medical issues and they are relying on our medical expertise, our office staff needs to approach our patients with empathy and perspective to ensure that our patients feel heard and cared for.

Listen in to this episode to hear Amanda share her story and how the lack of diagnoses impacted her. Check out her podcast and what she's doing to bring awareness to physicians about how missed diagnoses and missing links in women's health need to be brought to the forefront of medicine.

"The system is not set up for either patients or doctors." Amanda Laden

In this episode:

[01:42] Welcome to the Show, Amanda!

[02:02] Her background and how she's helping women navigate the medical system.

[02:58] Amanda's experience with Adenomyosis and why she started Period to Pause.

[04:57] Shining light on one of the fundamental reasons that these diagnoses are missed.

[06:48] Removing the shame engrained around speaking about the female body and its functions.

[08:25] Amanda's advice for doctors to adjust their perspective and empathy with their patients.

[09:34] Investigating your medical biases in light of different patient cultures and using appropriate language to bridge the gap for patients.

[11:27] Patients who ask questions aren't always using "Dr. Google."

[12:38] The wellness of the doctor is key to the wellness of the patient.

[14:57] Empathy is important coming from the doctor, but even more so from the office staff.

[19:20] Understanding the backstory of your patients can give perspective into the best way to communicate with them and provide an inclusive diagnosis.

[20:37] The trauma and implications of anti-abortion laws and how they will impact women's health.

[22:05] The scoop on The Period to Pause podcast and events Amanda is involved in.

Links and Resources Connect with Amanda:

Period to Pause

Period to Pause Podcast

Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

Financial security is something that we talk about a lot on the show, typically as it relates to our practices and how stepping away in the face of burnout can be very scary when we don't know what the financial future may hold with that decision on our shoulders.

But, it doesn't always have to be a scary thing!

If you have someone on your side who can help you navigate the financial aspects of life from your savings account to your debts to your financial goals - it makes a world of difference in what is actually feasible for you.

I chat with my financial advisor and good friend, Jeffrey Berger, this week about how he approaches financial plans and goals for his clients and what that process looks like. Financial planning is a custom process that looks at each person individually and helps them develop the best plan for their future by meeting them where they're at, which is an amazing way for anyone in any field with any salary to start building their wealth.

If you haven't taken the time to consider a financial planner in your life, you'll want to listen in to this episode to see what it's all about and how it can be a game changer for your pocketbook and your possibilities when you're ready to make a big change in your life and career.

"Investing is all about time. It's not about what investments you pick." Jeffrey Berger

In this episode:

[01:42] Welcome to the Show, Jeffrey!

[02:55] Jeffrey's background as a financial advisor and his involvement with physicians.

[05:00] How Jeffrey caters to everyone's individual money plans.

[06:43] Meeting people where they are and approaching finances with an air of honesty to achieve desired financial goals.

[07:34] Having plans, insurances, and proper healthcare documents in place are also key to financial security.

[10:55] Why emergency funds are important to have.

[16:19] Damage control plans are important to have when making career changes or facing burnout.

[18:02] Check-ups with your financial advisor are almost like check-ups with your patients.

[18:49] Wealth management for entrepreneurs and side hustles.

[21:23] Developing a plan to manage the debts accrued from student loans and graduate degrees.

[24:19] Different tools and types of investments that you can incorporate into your financial portfolio.

[25:40] Real estate as a diversifier in your financial portfolio.

[29:33] Off-the-beaten-path types of ways to add to your financial portfolio.

[33:19] Starting off simple for financial security.

Links and Resources Connect with Jeffrey Berger:

Berger Wealth Services

LinkedIn | Email

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

So many of us wear busyness as a badge of honor without realizing how damaging it can be to be as busy as we are. When we constantly rush through life, cramming in as much as we possibly can to be "successful," we miss what it really means to be successful and how we might be leading ourselves right down the road to burnout and failure.

So how do we stop it? What's the secret?

Setting firm boundaries for the world around you is always one step to cutting down on how busy you are, but a far more difficult step is setting firm boundaries for yourself. Staying present with your thoughts and taking the time to be still and look inward is one hell of a task if you're used to keeping your mind spun up.

I got the fantastic opportunity to talk with Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay this week and she sheds so much light and wisdom on what it means to find your calm and be still with your thoughts to bring yourself the peace you've been longing for.

Listen in as she shares some beautiful insight into blocking off white space for yourself and sticking with it. If you're feeling like you've been running yourself ragged for years, this episode will speak to your weary soul and give you the permission you've been looking for to put yourself first.

"If you're going to be too busy, be busy with something that you love." Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay

In this episode:

[01:42] Welcome back to the Show, Dr. Alley-Hay!

[02:13] What is Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay up to these days?

[03:59] Dr. Alley Hay's history of being busy.

[06:11] What can busyness look like?

[06:50] The definition of white space.

[08:06] Starting small with white space is the key to being successful with it.

[09:27] It may take time before you feel the benefits of practicing white space.

[11:37] Some "off the wall" white space ideas.

[15:44] The red flags of being too busy.

[17:42] Sitting with your own thoughts and recognizing when you need to ask for help.

[19:03] If you're struggling with white space, it may not be your fault. Be aware of your mental health.

[20:45] Dr. Alley-Hay's book.

Links and Resources

Meditations For Women Physicians Who Do Too Much by Dr. Robyn Alley-Hay

Connect with Dr. Alley Hay:

Dr. Alley-Hay

LinkedIn | Facebook

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

Whether a physician or not, everyone is trying to make enough money to allow financial independence from the daily grind of a full time job. But, we typically find that while we're so involved in the grind, we are slowly burning out which can feel like such a setback from the financial goals and dreams that we've envisioned for ourselves.

Dr. Elisa Chiang found herself in this same situation as an attending physician answering calls on her vacation, heading straight for burnout town. Her dabbling in investments and real estate opened the doors for her to achieve financial independence and shift the way she was working as a physician.

With her newfound knowledge of financial literacy, she began to give back to other physicians by offering resources that could help them obtain the same financial freedom that she was experiencing.

Listen in as she shares all of her knowledge surrounding investments in real estate, the different options that are available in that venture, and how it can be a better option than saving for retirement with conventional methods. If you're tired of the daily grind and you're ready to find your way to financial freedom, you won't want to miss this episode.

"Money is a great tool." Dr. Elisa Chiang

In this episode:

[01:42] Welcome to the Show, Dr. Chiang!

[02:06] Dr. Elisa Chiang's background and what she does.

[05:56] Her experience with burnout.

[08:15] How she developed a plan to be financially independent within 15 years of being a practicing physician.

[09:53] What she does to offer financial literacy to physicians and residents.

[11:10] Adapting personal finances as a physician to ensure appropriate savings.

[15:57] The different types of real estate investments and investors.

[19:14] Some of the different ways you get paid as a real estate investor and risks associated.

[23:24] Real estate funds as passive investments.

[25:10] The Grow Your Wealthy Mindset Podcast.

Links and Resources Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! By Robert T. Kiyosaki Connect with Dr. Chiang

Wealthy Mindset Life and Money Coaching for Physicians

Grow Your Wealth Mindset Podcast

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

Who do you call when you or your practice is getting hit with lawsuits? A lawyer. One of my favorite lawyers is Amanda Hill, JD. She has spent 20+ years helping doctors and practices change how they operate to better serve their patients and their communities. Listen as she shares her story and how she's branching out to serve more physicians than ever.

Amanda hasn't always been in medical law. She's worked in a variety of different fields and had many different experiences. All of which have made her better in her calling.

As she states it, she has felt called to help physicians navigate the legal waters of the system. She has a ton of knowledge in her brain and what's the point if she doesn't share it? That's why she's created Guard My Practice, a membership community and ever evolving content library to help physicians all over America to be better prepared for legal issues.

Listen as she shares some of that invaluable knowledge and why so many patient issues can be handled by using just a little bit of empathy. Amanda is brilliant and this conversation was so much fun. If you've been dealing with legal issues of any sort, you'll definitely want to listen in.

"It's powerful to know when to walk away from a job." Amanda Hill

In this episode:

[01:27] Say "Hi" to Amanda! (and learn a bit more about her and her work)

[03:09] Why Amanda chose the word "protection" for her episode.

[05:54] How she helps physicians to make protecting themselves easy.

[08:13] What made her decide to do bite sizes of information week after week?

[09:42] Why she started talking to the patients and shadowing doctors.

[12:15] Amanda shares a story about a phenomenal surgeon with crummy satisfaction scores.

[16:09] If you're not getting any bad reviews, that's just as bad as getting too many.

[18:41] Hard conversations are important to have all the way around.

[22:00] Don't stay in a job because you feel stuck. There are other opportunities.

[22:36] Learn how Amanda is helping physicians all over the country.

[25:47] How the content drips out for Guard My Practice members.

Links and Resources Connect with Amanda Hill

Hill Health Law

Guard My Practice

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

One thing that I've really embraced throughout my own burnout journey and helping other physicians through burnout is that guilt is a 4-letter-word (I know it's actually 5, but work with me here).

As women and as physicians, the amount of guilt we feel can feel pretty suffocating and there are some changes that we can make in our own lifestyle and mindset to help change how we look at situations that bring us feelings of guilt.

I spoke with Dr. Jennifer Reid this week about guilt and how we can adjust our mindset to shift how we interpret guilt. The key to navigating situations that bring us feelings of guilt is to understand what expectations we have set for ourselves or the expectations that have been impressed upon us by society.

By nailing down where we are getting our expectations, we can dissect that ideology and decide if those expectations are realistic or if we are giving ourselves credit for the things we are accomplishing or that we are doing well.

Another component that comes with navigating guilt is to approach it with self-compassion. Set the bar for yourself like you would set the bar for a loved one - with grace, flexibility, and understanding.

Tune in to our discussion to see where you can find the grey area in your life to flip the script on guilt and give yourself the understanding you deserve as a busy mother, physician, spouse, and friend.

"Guilt equals expectations minus reality." Dr. Jennifer Reid

In this episode:

[01:28] Welcome to the show Dr. Reid!

[01:37] Dr. Reid's background and what she's up to.

[02:17] Recognizing the symptoms of burnout or depression

[04:13] Clarifying the feelings behind guilt.

[06:36] Managing unrealistic expectations of yourself.

[07:58] Setting expectations with self-compassion in mind.

[09:35] Embracing the grey area of expectations and allowing room for grace.

[11:23] How to manage you expectations to be the perfect parent or partner.

[14:47] Balancing parenthood with being a physician and understanding that you can't do the perfect mom gig while doing the perfect physician gig.

[17:18] How to use "if-then" statements to relinquish control over things that don't serve you

[18:28] Go into situations knowing that you're going to do it imperfectly. It's ok to be "good enough."

[19:17] Nobody is perfect and there is relief in sharing your flaws.

[20:12] One failure does not negate all of your successes.

[21:55] The awesome things that Dr. Reid is bringing to the world to help widen the perspective on guilt.

Links and Resources

Witch, Please Podcast

Episode 308: Fierce Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristen Neff

Connect with Dr. Reid

The Reflective Doc

The Reflective Doc Podcast

Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

Caterpillars go through a process called metamorphosis where they dissolve into a complete pile of goo before they can bust out of the chrysalis as a beautiful butterfly. Sometimes, when we're going through the roughest times of our lives, we don't realize that we're actually just a pile of goo that's getting ready to spread our wings in our true purpose.

When we get plunged into hard times, we are often put there by our own inability to set boundaries and take care of ourselves. Dr. Lamia Katbi and I discuss what it's like being in the darkest of the dark hours and how we can go from burnout to mindfulness.

Coming out on the other side of burnout is no easy feat, but once you emerge from the suffocation and weight of perfectionism and unrealistic expectations, you begin to experience your life in a way that makes you feel stronger, better, and more confident.

Ultimately, it all comes back to the fact that we cannot serve others as physicians if we are not taking care of ourselves and loving ourselves in the way that we would love and care for others.

Listen in as we chat about the various ways that we can put ourselves first so we can show up and serve our patients in the way that they deserve and need to be served.

"We are perfectly imperfect." Dr. Lamia Katbi

In this episode:

[01:50] Welcome to the show, Dr. Katbi!

[02:13] Dr. Lamia Katbi's background

[03:34] The scoop on Dr. Lamia's new book.

[06:23] Experiencing the darkest times of burnout is what gives us the strength to correct our course.

[08:28] Implementing self-care and setting boundaries as a physician

[10:57] Trial and error for finding what helps with burnout.

[17:51] Sleep is key to health.

[19:20] What is Human Giver Syndrome?

[21:44] Self-love and self-care are not Narcissism.

Links and Resources

The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear

YouTube - Dr. Wayne Dyer

Episode 308: Fierce Self-Compassion with Dr. Kristen Neff

Connect with Dr. Katbi

Dr. Lamia Katbi

Just What the Doctor Ordered: The Five Pillars of Optimal Health

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

Everyone has taken the path to shed a few pounds at some point in life and we all know how frustrating and exhausting that road can feel sometimes.

I spoke with Dr. Siobhan Key who specializes in weight management for physicians and we had a wonderful conversation about a lot of the misconceptions about weight loss. Our conversation centers around how we can conquer those misconceptions while looking damn hot and being happy and healthy - I promise you won't want to miss it.

A big component of success in your weight loss journey is understanding that a routine that you hate isn't going to be fruitful. Finding a routine that you enjoy is key as well as being kind to yourself while you navigate the hills and valleys that come with weight management.

Negative self talk can be an ugly side effect the we often experience on our journey to weight loss. Sometimes tough love isn't the way to go when you're trying to improve yourself. You need to love yourself in the body that you're in before you can love yourself in the body that you want.

Tune into this episode to hear about the different ways we as physicians can approach weight management with our patients and ourselves with a heart of compassion and encouragement while still remembering that we are all human and we should be treated, and treat ourselves, as such.

"I'm an adult and I'm allowed to eat whatever I want." Dr. Siohban Key

In this episode:

[01:33] Welcome back to the show, Dr. Key!

[02:57] Sustainable change doesn't come from hating your body or forcing a routine you hate.

[05:18] How to have conversations with your patients surrounding their weight.

[08:06] Being aware of and overcoming weight bias in your own practice as a physician.

[13:18] Helping patients develop a weight loss plan with a healthy mental approach.

[15:13] Weight management vs weight loss.

[17:26] What to do when you "go off the rails" on your journey to weight loss.

[19:45] Weight management is not just a matter of will power.

[22:16] When you feel as though you've failed, it's important to remember what has worked in the past.

[24:50] Finding true unconditional love for yourself without being perfect.

[27:59] The path to consistency is self-compassion.

[28:42] Flipping the script on the rules of weight loss.

[36:05] Diet and exercise should be about making everything in your life better, not just losing weight.

Links and Resources Connect with Dr. Key

Thriving As A Physician: How to Lose Weight & Love Your Life - Podcast

Thrive Academy for PhysiciaThrivephysicians.cans

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.
3. Come sit with me in the Badass Collective Slack Group.

On the road to becoming a doctor, we spend hours and hours studying and learning all the things books tell us we need to know. But, even though we bury ourselves in knowledge, there are some things that aren't discussed in the textbooks.

What we learn about women's health in medical school leaves out the struggles women face in their health journey while navigating a career. You know, those little things like being pregnant, giving birth, and breastfeeding all while holding down a job? You won't find that in your textbook index.

In my talk with Dr. Erika, she discusses how empathy changed how she practices medicine and how approaching the difficulties that women face with compassion can change the way we practice medicine.

The difficulty of being a woman is not only limited to patients but extends to the doctors in med school as well. Even though women make up the majority of medical school students, there is a lack of space for the responsibilities that women face.

The focus needs to shift in the face of new medical students who are told they need to delay parenthood to achieve residency in prestigious programs. Success doesn't have to be limited to parenting or a career, you can have both. It's about what makes you happy.

Ultimately, It all comes back to taking care of yourself. We have to find our passions and hold on to them through our journey with medicine to avoid burning out. The happiness and energy level of doctors impact every single patient we see and our mental and physical health have to come first before we can care for anyone else.

"What I'm trying to bring to the scene is positivity in medicine, cheerfulness in medicine but also raising the voices of women who need to be celebrated." Dr. Erika Aragona

In this episode:

[02:12] Welcome to the show, Dr. Aragona!

[03:04] She shares her background and what she is passionate about.

[06:06] She believes that women need to see other women succeed and stand up so they know what's possible.

[08:10] They talk about the bias women face in medical school.

[12:37] Going home happy and healthy from work is a definition of success.

[15:01] Women physicians want to know that they are being heard and be happy.

[16:03] "A happy doctor is a productive doctor."

[17:59] She talks about why starting the conversation is so important.

[21:13] She shares what she believes you need to do to come from a empowered place.

[23:42] "We are here to live!"

[24:52] Find out where to connect with Dr. Erika

Links and Resources Connect with Dr. Aragona

Dr Erika Aragona

Email | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TikTok

3 WAYS TO GET INCREDIBLE HELP AT A LOW-COST!!!

1. Buy my Kindle Book,Doctor Me First, on Amazon
2. Join us for our Monthly Burnout Masterclass Series.