The Doctor's Life

Mindfulness is a practice that we all can incorporate into our lives to reduce stress and increase energy, vitality and efficacy. In this episode, Dr. Ansari-Winn and Andy Lee, Chief Mindfulness Officer at Aetna discuss:

• How Mr. Lee went from breakdown to becoming Chief Mindfulness Officer at Aetna
• How mindfulness improves brain function, productivity and engagement at work
• A simple and effective mindfulness practice that you can use in one minute
• How to start a mindfulness program in an organization with an app and a culture campaign

Resources mentioned in the podcast

Research and resources from University of Rochester:

https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/family-medicine/mindful-practice.aspx

http://www.fammed.wisc.edu/files/webfm-uploads/documents/outreach/mindfulness/mindful-practice-epstein.pdf

Apps:

https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

https://www.calm.com/

https://www.stopbreathethink.com/

NY Times Article about mindfulness and physician burnout:

https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/easing-doctor-burnout-with-mindfulness/?_r=2

Our guest today is Dr. Sylk Sotto, Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs and Diversity in the Department of Medicine at Indiana University.

Dr. Sotto discusses how her experiences in higher education lead to her academic focus on underrepresented minorities in medicine, and her paper What Gets Lost in the Numbers: A Case Study about the Experiences and Perspectives of Black and Latin@ Faculty in Academic Medicine.

We also discuss the great value of having a diverse faculty, and ways to promote wellness and connection for underrepresented minorities in academic medicine.

In the past, there was no curriculum, but today's medical students are taught professional skills as part of their education.

Crystal Clay Wright, MD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center, and she provided 8 years of academic guidance and professional development to medical students during her service as Director of Medical Student Education in the Department of Anesthesiology and Director of the Baylor College of Medicine Learning Community in the Undergraduate Medical Education Department.

In this interview, Drs. Ansari-Winn and Wright discuss

--why developing a professional identity is important

--how students develop a professional identity while remaining themselves

--the technique of reflective writing and how it can make one a better doctor

--how everyday mindfulness and self-care are professional development skills

Dr. Charmaine Gregory is a nocturnist ER doc who found her passion in helping others to get fit and healthy after she successfully recovered from burnout through having fun with fitness and nutrition.

In addition to having a successful practice and speaking about wellness, she is a powerful fitness coach and fitness instructor who had the honor of teaching a fitness class at the national meeting of the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Dr. Ansari-Winn and Dr. Gregory discuss her journey through burnout, why it's hard to recognize the signs of burnout, how to assess if you are burned out and how get help with recovery.

http://www.ferventlyfitwithcharmaine.com

You are going to really enjoy this one! Today's podcast is with Dr. Draion Burch, also known as Dr. Drai, who not only practices OB/GYN "on his own terms", but is a media expert on Women's Health with over 250 appearances and mentions on television and print.

He is the founder of Medical Moguls Academy, which coaches physicians wanting to expand their reach and grow a business by delivering products and services that are not only in demand, but in alignment with who that doctor really is and their higher purpose.

Dr. Drai also provides comprehensive health services through Amare Concierge Medicine, an exclusive concierge medicine practice.

Dr. Ansari-Winn and Dr. Drai discuss what it means to practice medicine today and what it means to be a healer in the truest sense, why some doctors NEED to expand beyond the traditional practice of medicine, and how to start on a journey as a media medical expert.

Dr. Ansari-Winn interviews A. Michael Bloom who is a nationally recognized expert in caregiving and caregiver burnout. He shares his own experience as a family and professional caregiver as well as his extensive knowledge from helping hundreds of clients.

Today we discuss:

• The signs and symptoms of caregiver burnout
• How to stay energized and committed to caring for your loved ones
• Why caring for yourself is so important when you are caring for others
• Why you will likely become a caregiver at some point in your life
• What to do when someone says, "How can I help?"

Are you considering divorce, recently divorced, or several years out from a divorce? Do you want some strategies towards living your best life in these stages?

Dianne Ansari-Winn, MD discusses living and finding joy after divorce with Toyin Falusi Adeyemi, MD, author of The Decade After--Thriving After Divorce (www.thedecadeafter.com).

We discuss the 7 habits of highly effective people as related to the divorce process, co-parenting effectively, and how to get the support you need at work and at home.

We also discuss the unique challenges of giving your best to your patients while you are going through a difficult time, and how as a friend or colleague of a divorcee' you can be supportive to them.

Feeling tired?--and not a "good tired" where you feel fulfilled--the cranky exhausted kind of tired? The kind you can't shake?

Better time management is not the answer. It's better ENERGY management.

In this episode, Dr. Ansari-Winn discusses the concept of energy management, the 5 dimensions of personal energy and how to energize your day and your life with managing your personal energy.

www.dianneansari-winn.com

www.physicianvitalityinstitute.com

Today's podcast is with Joanna Jaros, a third year medical student (MS3) at University of Illinois Medical School. She is not only a successful medical student, but is also a fitness instructor and avid proponent of physician wellness. She and Dr. Ansari-Winn discuss what medical education is offering in terms of supporting wellness for students and residents, what medical students and residents are wanting in terms of support around wellness, and practical self-care strategies.

Dr. Vaughn Browne, MD, PhD is an Emergency Medicine physician, leader, and professor at University of Colorado Medical School. He and host Dianne Ansari-Winn, MD discuss how tragedy led him into medicine and his ultimate journey into academic medicine. We also discuss why diversity in medicine, as well as all fields of endeavor, is important and the richness that it creates in our field. They also discuss ways to encourage diversity in medicine, starting at the middle school/junior high level forward not only simply in academics, but by providing mentoring and research experiences for prospective students to help them build a well-rounded and competitive application for medical school.