Episode 142: The Power of Coaching and Reflection in a Physician’s Journey

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Pam Pappas, a seasoned psychiatrist based in Scottsdale, Arizona, whose passion for supporting physicians through burnout has shaped a unique and impactful career. Drawing on her extensive background in psychiatry, integrative medicine, homeopathy, and spiritual wellness, Dr. Pappas shares her personal journey through multiple cycles of burnout and the hard-won wisdom that emerged from those experiences.

Together, Dr. Smith and Dr. Pappas explore the realities of working in high-pressure medical environments, the myth that changing jobs will always solve burnout, and the deep cultural expectations in medicine that can make doctors feel isolated and inadequate. Dr. Pappas discusses how coaching—still a novel concept for many in healthcare—became a lifeline for herself and now forms the cornerstone of her work with colleagues seeking more sustainable and fulfilling clinical lives.

Listeners will gain insight into the importance of self-reflection, tapping into one’s inner wisdom, and making authentic choices—whether that means reshaping your current position or making a courageous transition. This conversation offers tangible hope and guidance for clinicians who are craving real change and a more balanced, joyful path in medicine.

Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:

1. Real Healing Goes Beyond the Surface: Burnout isn’t just about toxic environments—it’s also about how we process and integrate our experiences as clinicians. Coaching can help us ask deeper questions, like “What do you truly want?” instead of just “How do you cope?”
2. Mentorship Isn’t the Same as Coaching: Traditional medical mentorship often models unsustainable work habits, while coaching creates space for reflection, self-discovery, and personalized pathways to change—something most doctors have never been asked to do.
3. Your Wisdom Is a Hidden Superpower: Dr. Pappas highlights the importance of tapping into our own innate wisdom—beyond intellect and rote skills—to guide us toward more aligned, joyful, and sustainable careers in medicine.

Meet Dr. Pam Pappas:

Pam Pappas MD, FAPA is a highly experienced psychiatrist and physician coach who helps physicians cultivate clarity, compassion, wisdom, and FUN in their personal lives, medical practices, teams, and organizations. She lives and works from a psychospiritual understanding that takes excess worry and stress off our minds, and revives hope, insight, autonomy, and sense of purpose. This "Wisdom-Informed" orientation allows more natural, fulfilling, and effective action in the world -- transforming burnout into wholehearted living, working, and leading.

You can find Dr. Pam Pappas on:

• Facebook: @TheAHADoctor
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pampappasmd/
• Website: https://www.thehappymd.com/physician-coach-pam-pappas
• Website: https://drpampappas.com/

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