August 19, 2024

Episode 83:Thriving in Family Medicine; Strategies for Wellness, Boundaries, & Mental Health Support

49 minutes

Welcome to Episode 83 of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith welcomes Dr. Michelle Chestovich, a family physician from Minnesota, to share her inspiring journey and the strategies she's implemented to create a sustainable practice. Join us as Dr. Chestovich discusses her challenges managing her clinical day with an ADHD brain and the impact of work-life imbalance on her family. Together, they delve into the importance of acknowledging mental health challenges and normalizing seeking help within the medical community.

Dr. Chestovich highlights her personal experiences with burnout, the struggles of balancing work and family life, and the need to prioritize self-care. They also explore the significance of setting boundaries, coaching, and the impact of patient-physician interactions.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

Normalize Mental Health Discussions: It's crucial to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the medical community and seek help when needed. By openly addressing mental health challenges, we can create a supportive environment for physicians and advanced practice providers.

Set Boundaries and Practice Self-Compassion: As medical professionals, it's vital to prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and say no when necessary. Practicing self-compassion and self-validation can help combat the overwhelming pressure to maintain a "game face."

Seek Support and Coaching: Finding someone to talk to and seeking coaching and support from colleagues and friends can make a significant impact on one's career sustainability. Having a support system is invaluable in navigating the challenges of the medical profession.

Dr. Michelle Chestovich Bio:

Michelle Chestovich, MD is a family physician, certified life coach and mom of four. She is using her voice to raise awareness about the high risk of suicide in medicine, in particular for women. She speaks out on the need to implement effective solutions to burnout in medicine and empowers physicians to take care of their needs and mental health through coaching and self-compassion. She is a keynote speaker on the topics of physician burnout and suicide awareness and has a podcast (Re-Mind Yourself) dedicated to wellness topics for physician women.

--------------

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 [email protected]. I would love to hear from you.

...more