Do you ever feel like you’re pulled in so many different directions and your energy is spread so thin that something has to give? Join me and my guest, Cindy Van Praag, MD, as we explore the myth or mirage of “having it all.” Dr. Cindy Van Praag is an anesthesiologist and physician coach who founded Inspired Mom MDs. Her passion is helping physician moms take back control and find time for what matters most so they can thrive at work and home. You may connect with her at InspiredMomMDs.com or on...
Jul 08, 2025•23 min•Ep. 42
Let’s face it: for many physicians taking time away from work to recharge is challenging and stressful in its own right. Concerns about coverage, the onslaught of work when you return, the financial implications make taking PTO less than optimal. Join me and my guest, Dr. Jill Jin, as we delve into ways to make time fully off duty a reality. Jill O. Jin, MD, is a clinical associate professor of Internal Medicine at Northwestern Medicine and a senior physician advisor in professional satisfaction...
Jun 24, 2025•31 min•Ep. 41
Research has shown that women in academic medicine, who are often in junior positions, receive less administrative support. For this reason, they may spend time doing these tasks themselves, leaving less time for professional advancement. If this sounds familiar, listen to my conversation with Dr. Ashwini Nadkarni as she shares her insights and suggestions for getting the support you need. Hint: her recommendations also apply to women in non-teaching settings. Ashwini Nadkarni, MD, is an Assista...
Jun 10, 2025•29 min•Ep. 40
If there is one thing that is certain about our world today, including our work in healthcare, it is uncertainty. How do we manage? How can we navigate uncertain times with more groundedness and well-being? Join me and my guest, Dr. Kerri Palamara, as we explore these questions. Don’t miss out on her very sage advice! Kerri Palamara, MD, is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Center for Professional Well-Being at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her ex...
May 27, 2025•28 min•Ep. 39
Are you leading your career or is it leading you? In this episode, my collaborator, Gretchen Rickards, MD, and I share our inspiration for our transformational retreat coming this Fall. Too often women in medicine feel stretched thin, wonder if their path in medicine is sustainable, and want to grow professionally but feel pulled in different directions. If this resonates, listen in to hear why our retreat is meant for you! More information about the retreat is here . Or feel free to contact eit...
May 13, 2025•23 min•Ep. 38
We receive messages in our medical training about what it is to be a physician. One message many of us receive is that we must be superhuman, hiding our feelings and needs. Join me and my guest, Charu Gupta, MD, as we talk about being vulnerable. What are the potential benefits? What does being vulnerable as a physician look like? Dr. Charu Gupta is a clinical assistant professor of cardiology in Chicago. She has a special interest in heart failure and women’s health. Connect with Dr. Gupta at c...
Apr 29, 2025•28 min•Ep. 37
Overfunctioning. In training it is often rewarded, leading many of us to continue this way of being until we hit a wall or become stuck. Join me and my guest, Sarah Webber, MD, as we look at the costs of overworking and potential solutions, including owning our choices, values, and preferences from an inner authority. Dr. Sarah Webber is an associate professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin and a Physician Development Coach. Her passion is shifting the healthcare culture to be a he...
Apr 15, 2025•23 min•Ep. 36
Many physicians today report feeling they aren’t valued by their organizations. New research by Dr. Amy Young and others shows a direct connection between leadership behavior, specifically communication, physicians feeling valued, and increased risk of burnout. Dr. Amy Young is a professor of Business Communication at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her expertise is leadership communication, positive organizational culture, and workplace well-being. She’s also my siste...
Apr 01, 2025•30 min•Ep. 35
How many hours per week are you charting outside the clinic day? How often do you feel caught in clinic visits that go on too long or portal message volleys that sap both time and energy? If you’re looking for an alternative, listen in as my guest, Dr. Sarah Smith, shares her expertise on how to improve your clinic day and leave work at work. Sarah Smith, MBBS, is a rural family doctor and clinical day advisor. Her passion is creating sustainability in clinical medicine. Connect with Dr. Smith a...
Mar 18, 2025•34 min•Ep. 34
Being the only one like you in a room can be an added challenges to whatever your work entails. How about being the only one in the building? Dr. Florence Ene experienced bias and a pressure to outperform as she progressed through her education and professional career. Listen in as she shares about life-changing benefits of having a mentor and the strategies she’s used to thrive and achieve her professional goals. Florence Ene, MBBS, PhD is a physician-scientist and medical editor based in Toyko...
Mar 04, 2025•28 min•Ep. 33
Women physicians continue to be paid less than their male colleagues. If you’re looking to negotiate fair pay in your current or future job, what can you do? Join me and my guest, Dr. Janice Werbinski as we consider underlying factors and key steps to take. We’ll also dip into the importance of crafting a job in medicine around your passion.. Janice Werbinski, MD, FACOG, is an Associate Clinical Professor Emerita at Western Michigan University School of Medicine. She teaches courses in sex and g...
Feb 18, 2025•35 min•Ep. 32
Physician moms often experience a double whammy of the message that giving of yourself entirely is required. Without intention and support, this can lead to overwhelm, burnout, and cutting back or leaving clinical practice. Join me and my guest Dr. La Toya Luces-Sampson, MD, MPH-C, as we explore strategies physician moms can use to thrive more and strive less. Dr. Luces-Sampson, known as Dr. Toya, is a board-certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist, a Perinatal Mental Health specialist, and a coach f...
Feb 04, 2025•26 min•Ep. 31
Many physicians today report feeling they aren’t valued by their organizations. New research by Dr. Amy Young and others shows a direct connection between leadership behavior, specifically communication, physicians feeling valued, and increased risk of burnout. Dr. Amy Young is a professor of Business Communication at the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. Her expertise is leadership communication, positive organizational culture, and workplace well-being. She’s also my siste...
Jan 21, 2025•31 min•Ep. 30
The “hidden curriculum” in medicine is powerful. You won’t find it in a textbook yet it teaches all of us in the profession how to behave, what to prioritize, what’s okay to do, and what’s not. Some aspects of the culture in medicine are positive; some are not. Join me and my guest, researcher Emilie Banse, as we explore the detrimental effects of the culture in medicine–and what we can do to minimize the damage. Emilie Banse is a research fellow in psychology in Brussels, Belgium. Her research ...
Jan 07, 2025•26 min•Ep. 29
Women are socialized to have certain strengths. Caregiving and relationship-building are two important ones. Issues arise, however, when the value of these strengths is not fully recognized in clinical care. As my friend and colleague, Dr. Laura Garelick put it, “You can’t code for chatting.” Join us as we dig into the strength of women’s relationships and how we could more fully realize their power in clinical practice and in our personal lives. Laura Garelick MD is a family medicine physician ...
Dec 24, 2024•38 min•Ep. 28
Funding your work through grants. Competing deadlines for grant applications. Existing bias that shows up as the “motherhood penalty.” In this episode, we focus on the specific challenges that scientist mothers face. My guest, Amery Treble-Barna, PhD, PC, is an executive coach and founder of MasterMind Executive Leadership. She’s also an NIH-funded Principal Investigator at the University of Pittsburgh and the mother of two young daughters. Her passion is empowering scientist mothers toward grea...
Dec 10, 2024•26 min•Ep. 27
In past generations women were largely shut out of professional life. Then we were told that we could have it all–a full, vibrant career and a super full family life, all at the same time. Too often, this has led women physicians to feel overwhelmed and to blame themselves. What’s the alternative? Listen in to my conversation with Dr. Laura Zimmerman to find out! Laura Zimmerman, MD, MS is a primary care internist, board-certified lifestyle medicine physician, and division chief of General Inter...
Nov 26, 2024•27 min•Ep. 26
Parenting is challenging, especially for busy physicians returning to work after adding a child to their lives. Dr. Josephine Li and Dr. Laura Dichtel, both endocrinologists at MGH and assistant professors at Harvard Medical School, lead the Mass General Brigham (MGB) Parental Wellness Program, which provides faculty navigating new parenthood with mentorship, financial support for lactation, and centralized resources. Listen in to learn more about how they developed and are spreading this innova...
Nov 12, 2024•36 min•Ep. 25
Maybe you’ve heard of the Glass Ceiling? How about the Glass Cliff or the Broken Rung? While women make up more than half of medical school matriculants, they are not advancing through their careers at the same rate as their male colleagues. Join me and my guest Dr. Helen Burstin as we dig into why–and what individuals and organizations can do about it. Helen Burstin, MD, MPH, is CEO of the Council of Medical Specialty Societies. If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Burstin, contact her at link...
Oct 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 24
Do you tend to see potential growth opportunities then find yourself leaning away? Join me and my guest Dr. Lida Turner as we dive into how to take advantage of those fortuitous openings when they occur. She did–and it led to a professional side gig that she loves. Lida Turner, MD, is a psychiatrist in Seattle, currently in transition from medical director at a large medical system to a private practice of her own. Her passions include caring for the whole person, working on functional outcomes,...
Oct 15, 2024•24 min•Ep. 23
Feelings are what make us human. Yet, in medicine, we get the message that we need to ignore, deny, or repress our feelings.This comes at a cost, a high cost sometimes. There is another way. Join me and my guest Dr. Jessi Gold as we investigate feelings, and especially feelings in medicine. Jessi Gold, MD, MS is the Chief Wellness Officer of the University of Tennessee System and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. She is passionate about he...
Oct 01, 2024•29 min•Ep. 22
In medicine, we get the message early on that perfect is the standard. But perfectionism takes a toll on our mental health, our self esteem, and our personal life. It’s a trap that’s the polar opposite of joy. Join me and my guest Dr. Katie Jobbins as we investigate the causes, costs, and solutions for perfectionism. Katie Jobbins, DO, MS, FACP, is an Associate Program Director and Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School-Baystate, with a passion for coachin...
Sep 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 21
If there is one thing that healthcare professionals learn early on, it is “at all costs, self-sacrifice.” It’s the water we swim in. What are the costs? How do we begin to “see” the water? What can we do to shift so that we get our basic needs met? And, how does Maslow’s hierarchy of needs fit in here? Find out by listening in on my conversation with my friend and colleague, Dr. Jennifer Clark. Dr. Clark is an allopathic physician who has practiced Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Palliative Medic...
Sep 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 20
Are women physicians paid less because they work fewer hours? It’s a justification we’ve heard before. What does the research say? Ishani Ganguli, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Medicine, health services researcher, and practicing primary care internist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her research focuses on primary care payment, delivery, and policy; the use and consequences of low-value care; innovation and tradeoffs in ambulatory care for older adults; and ge...
Aug 20, 2024•27 min•Ep. 19
Mary Beth Miotto, MD, MPH is a pediatrician at a community health center in Boston and president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians. Her passion is child health advocacy and policy. In this episode, you’ll learn why focusing on managing time misses the boat and how to own our energy instead. Contact Dr. Miotto at madocforkids@gmail.com . Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine...
Aug 06, 2024•30 min•Ep. 18
Lisa Rotenstein, MD, MBA, MSc is an assistant professor at the University of California—San Francisco and Director of the Center for Physician and Practice Excellence. Her passion is ensuring the well-being of the healthcare workforce with particular focus on women in medicine. In this episode, you’ll learn why we should be emulating the work patterns of women physicians rather than trying to “fix” them. Contact me at diane@dianeshannon.com for a list of citations from this episode. Contact Dr. ...
Jul 23, 2024•19 min•Ep. 17
Many of us have times in our lives where we feel stuck. Rather than sink, with the right approach we can use these times to pivot to something even better. Dr. Tricia Wooden has some amazing insights and tips for how to do just that. Tricia Wooden, MD is a family physician and system director for clinician well-being at a large health system. Her passion is creating spaces where clinicians can flourish. Contact Dr. Wooden at Tricia@wooden.com . Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with D...
Jul 09, 2024•27 min•Ep. 16
Do you have a tendency to fill any time slots that appear with more “productive tasks”? While it feels like this moves us ahead in our professional lives, there are associated costs. Join my conversation with Dr. Virginia O’Hayer as we dive into creating pockets of down time: why we should and how to do it! Virginia O’Hayer, PhD is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Her passion is empowering women in medicine to live their most effective, fulfilling, a...
Jun 25, 2024•28 min•Ep. 15
The journey to become a physician can lead us to focus on achieving, sometimes to our own detriment. In fact, many clinicians miss getting basic needs met (think Maslow’s hierarchy) as they try to meet perceived expectations. How can we begin to set boundaries around those expectations so that we can preserve our energy and be our best selves? Listen to our conversation to find out! Diane Sliwka, MD, is a Hospital Medicine Physician and Chief Physician Experience Officer at UCSF. Her passion is ...
Jun 11, 2024•27 min•Ep. 14
At first glance, you might not see the parallels between predicting the potential damage of climate change and improving the retention of clinicians. I didn’t either–until I spoke with Dr. Sisi Hu. She helped me understand the value of predictive modeling and the power of data to help leverage change in our clinical workplaces. Intrigued? Listen to our conversation! Dr. Sisi Hu is an economist at Harvard University and co-founder and chief well-being economist of Atalan, a mission-driven startup...
May 28, 2024•27 min•Ep. 13
