The Worthy Physician

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We explore how a well-seasoned pediatrician, Dr. Joe Sherman, MD, shifted into coaching after recognizing a life mismatch and burnout, and how self-awareness, discernment, and self-compassion can restore a sustainable life in medicine. We share practical reflection habits, identify transferable skills, and highlight peer support that reduces isolation.

• vocation versus role identity beyond the white coat
• discernment as a daily practice 
• small, workable habits for reflection and awareness
• structure versus mindset when assessing job fit
• moral injury from insurance and systemic pressures
• courage to pivot and learn from less-than-ideal workplaces
• transferable physician skills across non-clinical work
• team culture, shared mission, and belonging at work
• mentorship, coaching, and global peer support options
• self-compassion as the base for sustainable service

Contact Dr. Sherman:  joshermanmd.com or email [email protected]

Check out Physicians Anonymous; it’s free, confidential, and open to medical students, residents, and physicians worldwide.

The book that Joe mentioned in the podcast: Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer.

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who'd love it too.

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

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We explore how chasing titles and external approval can erode health, relationships, and self-worth, and how to realign work with core values. Jillian shares a candid story of leaving surgery, surviving an eating disorder, and rebuilding a life by borrowing hope, setting boundaries, and reclaiming identity.

• arrival fallacy and the myth of enough
• moral injury in medicine and corporatization
• identifying core values through friction and ease
• grief, regret, and the cost of sleep deprivation
• sensitivity as strength when paired with boundaries
• comparison traps and self-compassion practices
• therapy, EMDR, somatic tools, and spiritual grounding
• agency versus learned helplessness in career pivots
• practical steps to reset, rest, and redesign roles
• redefining success as connection, presence, and joy

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who'd love it too! Don't forget to follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram for more updates and insights

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

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We explore gratitude that doesn’t silence our pain, and how to protect peace during a heavy holiday season. We name the invisible load physicians carry and practice small, honest ways to feel thanks without a performance.

• difference between gratitude and guilt 
• holiday expectations that drain energy 
• invisible labor and emotional load at home and work 
• how Thanksgiving magnifies stress, grief and transition 
• why boundaries make gratitude real 
• three tools: microgratitude, privacy, protecting bandwidth 
• letting go of one thing to change the day 
• guided practice to ground safety, nourishment and release

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves it too
Don't forget to follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram for more updates and insights

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

Send us Fan Mail

We explore how fear hides in perfectionism, avoidance, and imposter syndrome, and show how to turn it into values-based action. A brief breath exercise and practical prompts help you name the fear, reframe it, and choose the next right step.

• fear as information, not instruction
• perfectionism and avoidance in clinical life
• amygdala and the physiology of fear
• identity threats and imposter syndrome
• values mapping to transform fear into action
• a simple breath practice and self-talk
• practical micro-steps for clarity and courage

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who'd love it too
Don't forget to follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram for more updates and insights

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

Send us Fan Mail

We rethink surrender as a skill for physicians: not quitting, but aligning with reality to protect energy, clarity, and compassion. We share the serenity prayer, simple pauses, and the “just be” mindset to loosen the grip of control and reduce anxiety.

• redefining surrender as strength, not defeat
• the serenity prayer as a practical lens
• medicine’s culture of control and its costs
• how overplanning fuels anxiety and fatigue
• micro-practices to pause, reflect, and reset
• accepting limits, asking for help, resting without guilt
• moving from comparison to presence and alignment
• stillness as a gift that restores focus
• choosing ease without abandoning effort

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

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We explore how curiosity, play, and presence restore our humanity in medicine and keep clinical work meaningful. A bluegrass afternoon becomes a real-world reset that shows why fun isn’t optional for resilience, empathy, and good care.

• losing curiosity under stress and paperwork
• presence as a clinical skill and reset
• bluegrass day as a model for restorative play
• recharging through family, community and music
• reframing appointments as human meetings
• laughter as medicine for brain and body
• three takeaways: micro-curiosity, scheduled fun, permission to be silly
• a weekly challenge to try one curious question or one fun act

As always, if you have found this episode helpful, like, share with a friend

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

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Dr. Corrigan, co-founder of Physicians Anonymous, shares his mission to provide global peer support for physicians struggling with burnout, mental health issues, and addiction through anonymous, safe spaces where doctors can be vulnerable without fear of judgment or professional consequences.

• Alarming statistics reveal 300-400 physician suicides annually in the US with burnout rates reaching 60-80% depending on specialty
• Female physicians have suicide rates up to four times higher than the general population
• "Microtraumas" accumulate through medical training and practice without adequate processing mechanisms
• Medical culture teaches physicians to compartmentalize emotions and avoid showing vulnerability
• The system, not individual physicians, bears primary responsibility for the burnout crisis
• Financial pressures from medical school debt (often $200,000-$400,000) trap physicians in toxic environments
• Licensing and credentialing questions about mental health create barriers to seeking help
• Physicians Anonymous provides free, confidential peer support where doctors can connect as human beings first
• Recovery from burnout requires multiple approaches including therapy, medication, peer support, and systemic changes
• Physician well-being investments yield returns through reduced errors, malpractice, and turnover costs

Find support through physiciansanonymous.org or connect with Dr. Corrigan on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

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Dr. Kaur takes us on a deeply personal journey from traditional healthcare settings to founding her own direct primary care practice, which she calls her "professional nirvana." After nearly a decade in corporate medicine, including positions at prestigious institutions, she found herself facing a critical realization: her mental health was suffering in ways that hadn't happened even during profound personal tragedy.

"When my mental health started to get affected by my job, that's when I realized – this is just a job," she reflects. This moment became the catalyst for a four-year process of introspection that ultimately led her to launch her own practice. The transition wasn't easy – it required draining retirement accounts and facing significant financial uncertainty. Yet despite these challenges, she describes being happier than ever because she can finally practice medicine aligned with her values.

Through candid conversation, Dr. Kaur dismantles the notion that physician happiness should be secondary to patient care. She explains how direct primary care enables her to have meaningful conversations with patients about all aspects of their health – discussions that often surprise patients accustomed to rushed healthcare encounters. "I can actually give care in the amount and to the degree which care is needed and be fulfilled that I did my best," she explains.

Perhaps most poignantly, she shares that one of her father's final reflections was regretting that he spent his life working to meet others' expectations rather than pursuing what truly made him happy. Whether you're considering a similar path or simply seeking greater fulfillment in your current role, this conversation offers a valuable perspective on creating a sustainable, joy-filled medical career. Connect with Dr. Kaur on Instagram @drkkaurmd or via email at [email protected].

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

Send us Fan Mail

What happens when physicians feel more like data entry specialists than healers? In this deeply reflective conversation, neonatologist Dr. Stephen DeMeo reveals how rediscovering meaningful human connections can transform both patient care and physician well-being.

The NICU offers a unique healthcare environment where cutting-edge critical care intersects with deeply personal family journeys. Dr. DeMeo explains how sitting with families during their most vulnerable moments—whether celebrating tiny victories or navigating heartbreaking decisions—often clarifies clinical situations more effectively than any technological intervention. "Sometimes the most difficult conversations I have with parents are ones where I actually know that the baby's going to be just fine," he shares, highlighting how each family experiences medical events through their unique emotional lens.

Beyond patient care, Dr. DeMeo addresses systemic challenges facing today's physicians: the documentation burden that steals time from meaningful interactions, the tendency toward depersonalization when burned out, and the delicate balance between medicine as calling versus occupation. His refreshingly practical solution to burnout? Going deeper into patient connections rather than withdrawing. "If I committed more to the reconnection of medicine...put the computer on wheels to the side, sit down in your patient's room, talk to them...all of that connection has been really restorative for me."

Looking toward medicine's future, Dr. DeMeo expresses optimism about technology's potential to free physicians from administrative burdens while advocating for more humane training environments for medical students. His perspective offers a hopeful vision where AI and other innovations might actually help doctors return to medicine's fundamental purpose: humans caring for humans during life's most challenging moments.

Topics covered:

• Technology should enhance human connection, not replace it
• Reconnecting with patients is the antidote to physician burnout and depersonalization
• Evidence-based medicine must be balanced with understanding what matters to families
• Creating a supportive environment for medical trainees breaks the cycle of toxic education

Connect with Dr. DeMeo on LinkedIn.

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal

Send us Fan Mail

Burnout recovery expert Scott Anderson shares counterintuitive approaches to overcome physician burnout and find a sustainable path to high achievement without sacrificing wellbeing.

• Burnout involves oscillating between hypervigilance and avoidance, similar to patterns seen in PTSD
• Traditional approaches like vacations and sabbaticals often worsen burnout rather than resolving it
• The R&R technique offers a simple 5-second practice to interrupt stress cycles by noticing physical sensations
• Most burned-out professionals spend 80% of their time on activities that generate only 20% of their value
• Complete disengagement—even for just minutes at a time—is essential for burnout recovery
• Community support helps combat the isolation that often accompanies burnout
• Life beyond burnout can lead to greater achievement with less strain and more fulfillment
• Recovery doesn't require abandoning medicine but rather recalibrating one's relationship to work

For a free burnout assessment and personalized interventions, visit fastfixcall.com. You can also find Scott's book "You're Not Toast" and more resources at burnoutbreakthrough.com.

Though I am a physician, this is not medical advice.  This is only a tool that physicians can use to get ideas on how to deal with burnout and/or know they are not alone.  If you are in need of medical assistance talk to your physician.


Learn more about female physicians' journey through burnout to thriving!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/books

Let's connect for speaking opportunities!
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/dr-shahhaque-md-as-a-speaker

Check out the free resources from The Worthy Physician:
https://www.theworthyphysician.com/freebie-downloads

Battle of the Boxes

21 Day Self Focus Journal