Shame thrives in silence, especially in medicine. In this episode, we’ll explore how perfectionism and secrecy quietly fuel burnout and emotional exhaustion. You'll hear practical tools for self-compassion, courage, and connection. If you've ever felt pressure to hold it all together alone, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• How shame shows up in medicine and what makes it so harmful
• When professionalism becomes perfectionism and leads to hiding
• The double burden and cultural pressures facing women physicians
• Five practical ways to recognize and work through shame
• The antidote to shame: courage and compassion

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Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

Physicians are trained to care for others, but often struggle to care for themselves. In this episode, Dr. Chrissie Ott shares how pursuing joy can help shift the culture of medicine and reduce burnout. Listen in to discover why joy and a little job polyamory might be exactly what you need right now.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• What “solving for joy” really means for physicians
• Common blocks to joy in medicine, including cognitive distortions
• The importance of in-person connection and retreat-style learning
• The “Four Vs” framework to realign with personal values and mission
• Coaching as a complement to therapy and psychiatry for total well-being

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• 132. Breaking The Silence: The Truth About Suicide In The Medical Field

About Chrissie Ott MD, FAAP, PCC
Dr. Chrissie is a dual board-certified internist and pediatrician with additional training in integrative medicine. She serves as medical director of a long-term care facility for medically complex children and young adults in Portland, OR. With a background in medicine, wellness, and the arts, she helps physicians and creatives reconnect with joy and purpose.

Connect with Dr. Chrissie

• Website: Chrissiett MD
• LinkedIn: Chrissie Ott, MD, FAAP, PCC
• Facebook: Chrissie Ott
• Instagram: @chrissieottmd
• Podcast: Solving For Joy

Join us November 6- 8 at Civana Wellness Resort & Spa in Carefree, Arizona, for the 2025 Physician Coaching Summit, a powerful gathering focused on connection, growth, and bringing more joy to medicine. Learn more and register at Physician Coaching Summit

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

Anxiety isn’t always obvious. It can show up as perfectionism, over-functioning, or feeling like you can’t slow down. In this episode, we will break down what anxiety really looks like for women in medicine and share practical ways to reset your nervous system. Listen in for small, supportive steps that can make a big difference.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• What anxiety really is and why it’s so common today
• Why women in medicine are especially vulnerable to chronic anxiety
• Practical tools to calm the nervous system when you're overwhelmed
• How to build support systems and rituals that help you feel safe
• A personal story from Joanne on self-compassion during transition

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• 62. End Sleepless Nights with These Expert Strategies for Better Rest with Diane Luzny
• 133. Physician Suicide, Stigma & Hope in Healthcare: Corey Feist Speaks Out
• 134. Holding Pressure on the Wound: Dr. Stefanie Simmons on a New Way to Treat Physician Burnout
  

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

Physicians are trained to care for others, but often discouraged from caring for themselves. In this episode, Dr. Stefanie Simmons shares how stigma and outdated systems contribute to burnout and why systemic change is essential. She also reminds us that self-compassion isn’t optional; it’s necessary. Tune in to learn how you can help change the culture of medicine.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• How Dr. Simmons’ personal journey led her to clinical well-being advocacy
• What has changed since the passage of the Lorna Breen Act
• Six "first bites" from the CDC’s Impact Wellbeing Guide
• Bright spots in healthcare where systemic solutions are working
• Why compassion without self-compassion is incomplete

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• 133. Physician Suicide, Stigma & Hope in Healthcare: Corey Feist Speaks Out

About Stefanie Simmons, MD, FACEP
Dr. Stefanie Simmons is the Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation and a board-certified emergency physician. A national advocate for clinician well-being, she works to eliminate barriers to mental health care and create healthier work environments in healthcare. Prior to this role, she led patient and clinician experience efforts for one of the nation’s largest medical groups, supporting more than 26,000 providers. Dr. Simmons trained at the University of Michigan and brings expertise in coaching, medical education, and organizational psychology.

Connect with Dr. Stefanie

• Website: Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation
• LinkedIn: Stefanie Simmons, MD FACEP
  

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

Physician burnout and suicide are silent crises threatening the healthcare workforce. In this episode, Corey Feist shares how the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation is working to break down barriers to mental health support. You'll hear what is contributing to the problem and what is being done to address it. Tune in to discover how real change is possible through practical action.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• Why the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation was created
• The root causes of burnout and the myth of resilience
• Credentialing stigma and the Champions Challenge
• The “All In for Mental Health” campaign and six core actions
• How small organizations can start culture change now

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• All In for Mental Health
• Call or text 988 for Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States)
• Call 1-888-409-0141 for Physician Support Line

About Corey Feist, JD, MBA
Corey Feist is the co-founder and CEO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation, a nonprofit focused on improving mental health and well-being for healthcare workers. With 20+ years in healthcare law and administration, he played a key role in passing the first federal law dedicated to clinician mental health. Corey now leads national efforts to reduce stigma, increase access to confidential care, and drive systemic change across the healthcare industry.

Connect with Corey

• Website: Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation
• LinkedIn: J. Corey Feist, JD, MBA

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

Physician suicide isn’t just a statistic; it’s a crisis impacting the heart of healthcare. In this episode, we explore why so many doctors suffer in silence and what’s finally being done to change that. Learn the risk factors and how small actions can make a big difference. Tune in to break the silence and be part of the solution.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• Why physician suicide is a growing crisis in the U.S.
• The unique risk factors physicians face and the culture of silence
• Stories of hope, legislative changes, and rising advocacy
• Why vulnerability and connection are essential to healing
• Where to find confidential, immediate mental health support

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

• 27. Helpful Tips to Recognize and Respond to Physician Burnout and Depression
• 28. Stop the Silence: Urgent Steps for Preventing Physician Suicide Now
• 74. The Impact of 'Magic in the Mail' on Medical Professionals
• 119. Physician Burnout And Hope For Change With Kim Downey
• 131. The Better Physician Life: Dr. Michael Hersh On Creating A Career You Love
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
• Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation
• Call or text 988 for Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (United States)
• Call 1-888-409-0141 for Physician Support Line

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

What if the rules you’ve followed in medicine are actually keeping you stuck? Dr. Michael Hersh shares how coaching helped him set boundaries, reduce burnout, and find fulfillment without changing his job. Small mindset shifts created big results. Tune in to hear what happens when you finally ask, “What do I need?”

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• What changed when Dr. Hersh stopped trying to escape medicine
• The surprising ROI of coaching for his career and his home life
• Why a simple lunch break became his boldest boundary
• The lie we tell ourselves about being a “good doctor”
• How Dr. Hersh found meaning by protecting the profession he almost left

About Dr. Michael Hersh
Dr. Michael is a practicing gastroenterologist and physician coach who helps doctors find balance, reduce stress, and reconnect with the meaning behind their work. After years of leadership in clinical medicine, the arrival of his children shifted his perspective. He began questioning the pace and pressure of his career and turned to coaching as a way to reclaim control. Through his coaching practice and his podcast Better Physician Life, he now supports physicians who want to create a more intentional and fulfilling career on their own terms.

Connect with Dr. Michael

• Website: Better Physician Life Physician Coaching
• Podcast: Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career - Podcast
  

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine

What if burnout isn’t about doing too much but about losing who you are in the process? In this episode, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt joins us to explore how reclaiming self-agency, setting boundaries, and creating space for solitude can help women in medicine reconnect with their purpose. You’ll hear honest reflections on guilt, identity, and the pressure to always serve others. Tune in and discover what it means to lead from a place of clarity, wholeness, and choice.

Key Takeaways To Listen For

• Why women resist investing in themselves and the cost of self-sacrifice
• How constant giving leads to identity loss and burnout
• The hidden pattern of waiting for permission and how to break it
• A bold boundary at work and the surprising reaction it got
• The one daily habit that protects against burnout and overload
  
  

About Sasha Shillcutt, MD
Dr. Sasha is a cardiac anesthesiologist, tenured professor, author, and national speaker who helps women in medicine take control of their time and lead with confidence. She is the Founder and CEO of Brave Enough, a community and platform that equips women to set boundaries, protect their energy, and thrive both personally and professionally. Dr. Shillcutt currently serves as Vice Chair of Strategy in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Through her books, coaching programs, and annual conferences, she has helped thousands of women reconnect with their purpose, prioritize wellness, and show up fully in their lives.

Connect with Sasha

• Website: Brave Enough

BE 2025 Women’s CME Conference
Reignite: Light the Fire Within
Location: Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Arizona
Register at: becomebraveenough.com/be25-cme-conference

Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the ladies of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!

▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine