Today, we are joined by Dr. Susy Stirling, a Public Health Physician and Associate Dean based in Yorkshire & Humber, and Dr. Sandy Miles, a GP and Medical Educator in Devon, both from the United Kingdom.

Dr. Susy Stirling MBChB, MSc, MPH, DCH, FFPH trained in medicine and after early career jobs in hospital medicine in the NHS, worked as a General Medical Officer in rural South Africa for 2 years. She returned to the UK to train in Public Health and was previously Lead for Migrant, Asylum Seeker and Refugee Health across the Yorkshire & Humber region.

Dr. Sandy Miles is a GP and Medical Educator in Devon. Alongside her clinical role as a GP, she works in Postgraduate GP training, was Clinical Director of Eastleigh Primary Care Network and, together with Dr. Sam Powell, established popular retreats for doctors.

In the conversation, Dr. Miles and Dr. Stirling share their journeys from early medical careers through personal challenges and discoveries that led them to focus on supporting healthcare professionals through storytelling, coaching, and addressing shame in medical practice.

We also cover:

• How personal experiences with inequality, family history, and burnout shaped their paths toward supporting healthcare professionals
• The transformative power of medical humanities education and its impact on professional identity
• Their collaboration on the National Health Stories experience, creating platforms for healthcare workers to share narratives of hope and humanity

Dr. Sandy Miles’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-miles-4552a294/

Dr. Susy Stirling’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susy-stirling-469976146/

Relevant Publications:

Miles S. Addressing shame: what role does shame play in the formation of a modern medical professional identity? BJPsych Bulletin. 2020;44(1):1-5. doi:10.1192/bjb.2019.49

Podcast Interview:

https://youarenotafrog.com/episodes/152/

Website Links & Phone Numbers:

EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/

EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/

Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141

Physician Support Line Website:  https://www.physiciansupportline.com/

Dr. Krasner’s Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/

Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction

(03:00) Origin Stories: Why Medicine?

(08:00) Susy's Path from Medicine to Medical Education

(11:00) Sandy's Journey Through Burnout and Recovery

(17:00) The Transformative Power of Medical Humanities

(31:00) Understanding Shame in Medical Identity Formation

(38:00) The Genesis of National Health Stories

(43:00) Using Shame as a Compass for Core Values

(51:00) The Importance of Connection in Healthcare

(59:00) Envisioning a Future Healthcare System

(01:07:00) Conclusion