In this episode of Creative Careers in Medicine (CCIM), host Dr Dana Phang is joined by Dr Jason Lam, who shares his compelling career journey from ballet to medicine. Dr Lam discusses his struggles during residency, experiencing isolation and burnout, which led him to take a year off to pursue a Masters in Sports Medicine and a Diploma in Child Health. Initially contemplating a return to plastic surgery, he ultimately chose GP training and focused on sports medicine.

Dr Lam speaks about the emotional challenges of transitioning from plastics to GP training, and the process of rediscovering his passion for dance and teaching. His journey included completing essential paediatric/ED terms in Darwin and receiving the prestigious Crichton Dance Medicine Fellowship in Melbourne. This fellowship provided him with invaluable experience and the opportunity to work closely with top professionals, leading to his contribution to a textbook chapter on the foot and ankle.

Clinically, Dr Lam practises with a special interest in sports and dance medicine, utilising a broad skill set that includes skin cancer management and ultrasound. He emphasises the complexities of treating dance-related injuries, particularly in ballet dancers, leveraging his own background as a dancer. Discussing the rigorous schedule of the Australian Ballet and the importance of conditioning and load management.

He shares personal advice on self-care and the importance of reassessing goals to prevent burnout. He recounts his post-sepsis recovery, which deepened his empathy for patients with chronic conditions.

They also touch on lighter topics, such as Dr Lam's interest in an alternate career as a chef and his pandemic hobbies of barbecue and coffee. Listeners will find Dr Lam's resilient and adaptable career path both inspiring and educational.

Visit Dr Jason Lam’s website here: https://www.drjasonlam.com.au/

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