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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, Nicholette Kasman, MD, MAPP.

Just as there’s a big difference between the absence of illness and health, there’s a difference between flourishing and simply not suffering. Applied positive psychology is the study of what contributes to flourishing.

It’s a human tendency to have a negativity bias. Although we’re constantly looking to fix ourselves and our problems, our greatest area for growth is to lean into our strengths.

This is all applicable to the lives of physicians. When we strive for excellence, we tend to lean into that negativity bias of trying to fix everything around us. That can lead to people feeling browbeaten. If you instead train someone to look for their own strengths and the strengths in those around them, people start to feel seen and engaged. That is the foundation of psychological safety and exceptional clinical work.

What steps does Nicholette suggest we take to integrate positive psychology into the operating room?

• Step 1 - Develop a vocabulary of strengths. Take a strength survey or use another resource to grow your awareness.
• Step 2 - Start looking for the strengths in other people by noticing what they get excited about.
• Step 3 - Point out those strengths. When you name the strength you see in another person, it makes them feel seen and empowered.

Most importantly, PRACTICE identifying strengths in ourselves and others!

BIO:

Nicholette Kasman, MD, MAPP, is a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Clinical Anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. She holds a master’s degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is a certified coach with additional training as a positive psychology coach. Her work focuses on enhancing well-being, psychological safety, and professional growth in academic medicine. She is a lead author of Team Building Through Positive Psychology Principles in the Pediatric Cardiac Operating Room (NEJM Catalyst) and was recently featured on SurgeonMasters discussing the use of strengths to support thriving in surgery and medicine.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast Professional Certified Coach, Lynn Bagdasian.

Practicing gratitude can make life so much better. There’s so much chaos and stress in the world around us as physicians. Implementing a gratitude practice into our daily lives releases dopamine and can reduce stress.

When we express gratitude as a habit, we transform everyday routines into rituals. Think about something you do every day, like washing your hands, brushing your teeth, or making coffee. We do these so often that they become routine. But if we incorporate a gratitude practice into those behaviors, they become mindfulness rituals.

What steps does Lynn suggest we take to create a daily gratitude ritual?

• Step 1 - Think of 3 things that you’re grateful for. It doesn’t have to be big things, it can be simple things like running water, or sharing a conversation with your kids.
• Step 2 - Think of a routine habit that you do every day (ex. brushing your teeth or washing your hands).
• Step 3 - Incorporate the three things that you’re grateful for into these three routine daily tasks to form a mindfulness gratitude ritual.

Most importantly, PRACTICE a gratitude ritual for well-being!

BIO:

Lynn Bagdasian is the founder of Lynn Bagdasian Life Coaching, LLC, where she specializes in empowering clients to gain insight & clarity and reach their full potential. She earned her Certified Professional Coach (CPC) credential through the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC) and holds a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) accreditation with the International Coaching Federation (ICF). Lynn holds a certification as a Grief Educator from David Kessler+grief.com, and is an iPEC Energy Leadership Master Practitioner.

Lynn serves as a volunteer, training and mentoring Tanzanian Coaches to support the next generation of East African women leaders.

When she's not coaching clients, leading workshops in her community or volunteering, Lynn enjoys spending time with her family & friends, meeting new people and traveling around the world. She is happiest when she is helping others create the life of their dreams.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!

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Pump the brakes on your week and take 10 minutes to make your life as a surgeon just a little better…

Jeff welcomes to the podcast board-certified psychiatrist and performance coach, Ryan Davis, MD.

Ryan works with elite athletes and high-level professionals - most of whom are type A go-getters. While it’s a personality type that can take you far, it doesn’t always lead to a balanced life. Life balance is a bit of a cliche - it’s something we talk about a lot, but not attainable for many of us, and not one we strive to achieve.

One way to think about balancing priorities is like a tripod made up of three key components: self-care, career, and relationships. While these components may differ from person to person, they often represent the pillars of a fulfilling life. As a thought experiment, imagine forming a tripod with your thumb, index finger, and middle finger, connected by a rubber band. When you pull on one finger—putting more time and energy into that area—you increase the tension on the others. This simple exercise illustrates how shifting focus in one part of life can create strain in the others.

There will always be a give and take among our big three components. When we become unaware and the balance is disrupted, it can lead to burnout.

What steps does Ryan suggest we take to bring awareness to our work-life balance?

• Step 1 - Remember, we only have 100% to give. It’s important to realize that we only have so much to give.
• Step 2 - Consider what your “components” are. You don't need to limit yourself to just three; instead, make a list of your top 3-5 areas where you want to spend your time.
• Step 3 - Consider how you want to divide your 100%. How much do you want to allocate to your career, family, self-care, etc.?

Most importantly, PRACTICE your life balancing act!

BIO

Dr. Davis is a Harvard-trained, board-certified psychiatrist with advanced performance coach training. While not at the office Dr. Davis is a 3-time marathon runner, die-hard University of Michigan and Detroit sports enthusiast, and most importantly, an obsessed golfer.

Dr. Davis helps his clients gain insight into their psyche as it relates to their sport and personal life. Dr. Davis’ background allows him to offer unique mental coaching, creating resilient and driven athletes who live more purposeful lives. Dr. Davis provides performance coaching for elite athletes, teams, as well as business executives.

SurgeonMasters is a physician peer community dedicated to improving the personal and professional well-being of physicians.

Join your colleagues online at SurgeonMasters.com for events, resources, and more.

PRACTICE Your Best!