Author's posts
Why so many physicians struggle to feel proud—even when they should
In medicine, we were taught to value humility over pride. To downplay our successes. To “just do our job.” Even as we achieve remarkable things, we rarely pause to acknowledge them, let alone celebrate. Pride feels risky. Many physicians wo…
Why physicians deserve more than an oxygen mask
In medicine, we’ve long relied on the oxygen mask analogy to justify self-care: “Put your own mask on first before assisting others.” It’s a powerful image—but it’s not enough. Oxygen masks drop in emergencies. Putting the…
Why self-care must become medicine’s new standard
We were taught that sacrificing ourselves is noble. That resilience is enduring. And that suffering and struggling are valiant. We were taught rest is optional, complacent, lazy—something for other, less busy, less important people. We were also taught…
The broken health care system doesn’t have to break you
Practicing medicine today is not what most of us envisioned when we chose it as a profession. We still love science. We still love health. We still love helping patients and being healers. But the practice of medicine has changed—and continues to evolv…
Stop absorbing the chaos: How doctors can reclaim their well-being
Are you absorbing the system’s dysfunction? Do you find yourself absorbing the collective frustration of health care dysfunction? Taking on the role of savior? Overextending to compensate for broken processes? Feeling personally responsible for g…
Learning to trust your body again: Healing the hidden wounds of medical training
In medical training, we were taught to trust protocols, patients, and data—but not our own bodies. The body was something to overcome. Tired? Push through.Hungry? Ignore it.Sore? Work harder.Sick? Keep going. This way of being seeps so deeply into us t…
Why physicians find negotiating challenging—and what they can do to negotiate better
For many physicians, the word “negotiation” conjures up stress. Most of us weren’t taught that negotiation is something we do every day—at work, at home, and in nearly every human interaction. Whether we’re persuading a patient …
What if we stopped sacrificing ourselves to practice medicine?
What if the cost of being a “good doctor” didn’t have to be your well-being? For many physicians—especially those drawn to lifestyle medicine and whole-person care—this question feels quietly radical. We’ve been conditioned to g…
Physician wellness is a strategic imperative—not a moral crusade
To advocate effectively for physician well-being, we must be strategic rather than reactive. In today’s ever-evolving health care landscape, transformation is not driven by passion alone but by thoughtful alignment with the priorities of those wh…
Physicians are feeling betrayed. How do we protect our peace when health care is under siege?
Many physicians are feeling profoundly betrayed right now. We dedicated our lives to medicine, science, and healing. We sacrificed. We put our patients first, often at great personal cost. The current political and public health landscape makes many of…
