I had the pleasure of interviewing Mel, who shared her journey from being an ENT surgeon to becoming a professional coach. We explore her difficult experiences in childhood and in medical training, and how coaching has helped her reclaim her sense of self-worth and empowerment. Mel introduced the concepts of black swans and red swans, highlighting the need for healthcare professionals to recognize the unknowns in a patient encounter in order to be effective

Learn more about Hippocratic Collective: https://hippocraticcollective.org/

Connect with Mel: https://www.melthackercoaching.com/empoweredsurgeon

https://www.instagram.com/the_surgeon_coach/

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

In this episode, I speak with Hannah and Chris, a married couple navigating the challenges of medical residency and parenthood. They share their journey from meeting during medical training to managing the complexities of Hannah's OB-GYN residency while balancing their relationship and impending parenthood. The conversation highlights the importance of communication, expectation management, and the unique challenges faced by couples in the medical field, especially when pregnancy and parenting are involved. The couple emphasizes the significance of community support, the dehumanization often faced in medicine, and the journey of sharing their story publicly to help others.

Connect with Chris and Hannah:

https://www.othersidemed.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theothersidemed/

Learn more about Hippocratic Collective: https://hippocraticcollective.org/

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

In this episode, I discuss the detrimental effects of the culture of overworking in healthcare and present alternatives to the notion of 'pushing through.' I share practice strategies, personal experiences and insights on how these alternatives can lead to better recovery and sustainability in the healthcare profession. There's a reason I can't stop talking about the importance of recognizing your limits - it's a deeply humanizing practice for everyone in healthcare!

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

In this episode, I dive into the common fear of being judged by others while on my commute to work. I share some personal stories and tips on how to face and understand these fears. I talk about why it's so important to accept yourself and how being a bit disruptive can actually be a good thing. Through my reflections, I encourage everyone to embrace their flaws and remember that judgment is something we all deal with.
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

Dr Bryan MacLeod and I discuss the importance of self-compassion in healthcare. Bryan shares his journey from experiencing cauda equina while working rural physician to recognizing the need for self-compassion when facing ongoing health challenges. We explore the three pillars of self-compassion—mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness—and highlight the cultural challenges in healthcare regarding self-care. Bryan emphasizes how self-compassion can improve relationships, mental health, and work environments, and we discuss the need to teach these practices to combat burnout and foster wellness among healthcare professionals.
Connect with Bryan here: https://mscnorth.com/
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

Get ready for a full nerding out in this episode! I discovered the concept "Time Needed to Treat" and NEEDED to share the original article that it came from with all of you fair healthcare humans. It is always so gratifying to learn that others within healthcare are recognizing the need for boundaries around our work in order for us to work sustainably, and even creating academic concepts and math formulas to prove it!
LAST CALL!! Early-bird registration from Creating Space 2025 is opening ONLY for the month of March! Head to⁠ joanchanmd.com/space⁠ to book your connection call and benefit from the early-bird payment plan and bonus coaching session 🌱
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Kristine Woodley, a family physician who has journeyed through several clinical settings to discover her passion for palliative care. Kristine also describes herself as a "woo woo doctor", sharing how her personal exploration into intuition and spirituality have benefited her clinical practice. Make sure you listen to the end, where Kristine shares a simple but powerful grounding practice that has helped her get through some serious health challenges and find her centred in the midst of an overloaded health system.
Early-bird registration from Creating Space 2025 is opening ONLY for the month of March! Head to⁠ joanchanmd.com/space⁠ to book your connection call and benefit from the early-bird payment plan and bonus coaching session 🌱
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

In this episode, I introduce the concept of Spoon Theory, originally articulated by Christine Miserandino, to explore the experiences of individuals living with chronic illness and disability. Through my reflections and the reading of Miserandino's article, I emphasize the importance of understanding personal capacity and the systemic challenges faced by healthcare professionals with disabilities. The conversation advocates for compassion and awareness within the healthcare system, encouraging listeners to recognize their own limits and those of their colleagues.
Early-bird registration from Creating Space 2025 is opening ONLY for the month of March! Head to⁠ joanchanmd.com/space⁠ to book your connection call and benefit from the early-bird payment plan and bonus coaching session 🌱
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd