Create Meaning in Medicine

Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley
  • 5.0 (35)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Semiweekly

Are you a woman in medicine looking to rediscover joy and balance in your career and personal life? Welcome to "Create Meaning in Medicine," the podcast where women physicians come to rewrite the rules and reclaim their fulfillment. Hosted by Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley, this podcast offers a sanctuary for candid discussions on the tough topics no one else is talking about, such as burnout, mental health, and the intricate balance of relationships and professional obligations. Each episode brings insights from expert guests, offering you strategies to overcome the unique challenges faced by women in healthcare. Subscribe to our podcast to navigate the complexities of your career with greater clarity and intention. Join us and explore actionable steps to enhance your well-being and achieve a sustainable, fulfilling lifestyle. Your path to creating meaning in medicine starts here!

  1. 6d ago

    200 Episodes Later: Celebrate, Collaborate, and Stop Waiting to Live

    This podcast started with a different name, four hosts, and two episodes a week. Some of that worked, and some didn't. Instead of just pushing through, the team paid attention, got honest about what was working, and made changes. That's how the show reached its 200-episode milestone. Drs. Hurley and Sotelo look back at the lessons that have shaped them. Joanne tells how her biggest retreat so far only worked once she let go of hyper-independence and leaned on a team. Erin talks about how being a breast cancer survivor taught her to live with no regrets. Along the way, they share the "sparkle journal," explain why collaboration multiplies results instead, and challenge the arrival fallacy that keeps so many women in medicine putting off their own joy. Key Takeaways To Listen For Celebrating wins, big and small, recharges you. Skipping it drains the fuel you need to build momentum for what comes next A sparkle journal captures compliments, wins, and positive moments as concrete evidence you can return to when you're strugglingMany women physicians treat hyper-independence as part of who they are. Asking for help frees you to be present where it matters mostWorking alone, you're limited. Collaboration allows you to multiply your impactStop waiting for life to become easier before making room for joy; protecting even small spaces for what matters can change how you experience the present Resources Mentioned Episode 172 with Dr. Todd Otten: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/172-dr-todd-otten-suck-it-up-buttercup-and-the-fight/id1752701820?i=1000761689443  “Don't wait for some time in the future to start living; the journey is today.” - Dr. Erin Hurley “We are allowed to do other things and expand, and we have endless possibilities.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    200 Episodes Later: Celebrate, Collaborate, and Stop Waiting to Live

  2. Sep 22

    199. CLASSIC REWIND - Breaking The Silence: The Truth About Suicide In The Medical Field

    Physician suicide isn't just a statistic; it's a crisis impacting the heart of healthcare. In this episode, we explore why so many doctors suffer in silence and what's finally being done to change that. Learn the risk factors and how small actions can make a big difference. Tune in to break the silence and be part of the solution. Key Takeaways To Listen For According to many sources, roughly 300 to 400 U.S. physicians die by suicide each yearFemale physicians carry a higher suicide rate than non-physician womenSuicide is one of the leading causes of death among U.S. medical residents. It takes about six months for medical students to join the ranks of depression and burnoutPhysicians are uniquely exposed through licensing fears, access to lethal means, chronic trauma exposure, perfectionism, and workload; several risk factors usually stack at onceAsking someone directly about suicide will not plant the idea or make it worse; it is quite the opposite, and it's how connection begins Resources Mentioned 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline - Dial or text 988 (https://988lifeline.org/)Physician Support Line - 1-888-409-0141 (free, confidential, staffed by volunteer psychiatrists)NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - https://www.nami.org/ Dr. Lorna Breen Foundation - https://drlornabreen.org/  Episode 27: Helpful Tips to Recognize and Respond to Physician Burnout and Depression - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/27-helpful-tips-to-recognize-and-respond-to-physician/id1752701820?i=1000761689692 Episode 28: Stop the Silence: Urgent Steps for Preventing Physician Suicide Now - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/28-stop-the-silence-urgent-steps-for-preventing/id1752701820?i=1000761689580 Episode 119: Physician Burnout And Hope For Change With Kim Downey - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/119-physician-burnout-and-hope-for-change-with-kim-downey/id1752701820?i=1000761689636 Episode 131: The Better Physician Life: Dr. Michael Hersh On Creating A Career You Love - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/131-the-better-physician-life-dr-michael-hersh-on/id1752701820?i=1000761689446 Episode 133: Physician Suicide, Stigma & Hope in Healthcare: Corey Feist Speaks Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/133-physician-suicide-stigma-hope-in-healthcare-corey/id1752701820?i=1000761689635  “We need to stop the suffering in silence. Silence costs life.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    199. CLASSIC REWIND - Breaking The Silence: The Truth About Suicide In The Medical Field

  3. Sep 15

    198. When High Functioning Hides High Risk: Dr. Joanne Sotelo on Women Physicians and Suicide Awareness

    Physicians are trained to recognize crisis in everyone except themselves. Drs. Erin Hurley and Joanne Sotelo explore how competence, productivity, and the pressure to keep going can hide serious distress, especially among women physicians. Burnout, depression, and suicidal thoughts require different forms of support. The episode examines when coaching or psychiatric care may be needed, the fears that keep physicians from seeking help, and how simply asking, staying present, and offering support can make a difference. Key Takeaways To Listen For Women physicians lose the protective gap seen in the general population, where men complete suicide at higher rates than women; in medicine, that disparity disappears entirelyBurnout, depression, and suicidality sit on a spectrum that requires distinct interventions; offering a meditation app to someone with severe depression is as mismatched as yoga for a myocardial infarctionThe invisible responsibilities women carry, like caregiving, relationship maintenance, hormonal load, and the "second shift" at home, compound professional stress through pathways that mimic chronic traumaFear of licensing disclosure, credentialing repercussions, and being labeled "impaired" remain powerful, solvable barriers that institutions and policy are only beginning to addressAsking someone directly whether they are having suicidal thoughts does not increase their risk; isolation and unspoken pain do Resources Mentioned Episode 133: Physician Suicide, Stigma & Hope in Healthcare: Corey Feist Speaks Out - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/133-physician-suicide-stigma-hope-in-healthcare-corey/id1752701820?i=1000761689635 The Harmonized Healer - https://reset.theharmonizedhealer.com/  “Just because someone else has it worse doesn't mean that your pain is any less.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    198. When High Functioning Hides High Risk: Dr. Joanne Sotelo on Women Physicians and Suicide Awareness

  4. Sep 8

    197. People Pleasing in Medicine: Why Saying Yes Too Often Costs More Than You Think with Dr. Joanne Sotelo

    People-pleasing is more than a boundary issue, especially for women physicians. This episode explores how conflict avoidance, perfectionism, and self-sacrifice can become deeply wired responses shaped by socialization, professional culture, and the nervous system. The conversation offers practical ways to break the pattern through self-compassion, greater awareness, and intentional pauses, helping physicians make choices that protect their energy, peace, and well-being. Key Takeaways To Listen For People-pleasing is not just being nice; it is often overriding your own needs, limits, and values to manage someone else's reactionMany physicians are trained to confuse self-sacrifice with professionalism, which makes unhealthy overgiving feel normal and even admirableThe pattern can be partly understood as a nervous system response, especially when conflict avoidance and approval-seeking feel automatic rather than fully chosenA better question than "Can I do this?" is "What will this cost me if I say yes?"Change happens through awareness, safety, clarity, and repetition, not through judging yourself for how deeply the pattern is wired “People pleasing is when we override our own needs, our limits, our values, what's important to us, our truth, to manage someone else's reaction.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    197. People Pleasing in Medicine: Why Saying Yes Too Often Costs More Than You Think with Dr. Joanne Sotelo

  5. Sep 1

    196. When the Lawsuit Comes: Dr. Gita Pensa on Shame, Survival, and Physician Support

    Malpractice litigation is one of the most feared and least discussed realities in medicine, yet for many physicians, it is not a remote possibility but an eventual risk of practice. Dr. Gita Pensa joins Drs. Joanne Sotelo and Erin Hurley to explore the psychological toll of being named in a lawsuit, from shame, isolation, and identity threat to burnout, trauma, and even suicide risk. Drawing from her own experience surviving a 12-year malpractice case and facing litigation again, Dr. Pensa shares how support, self-compassion, legal understanding, and practical preparation can change the way physicians move through these cases. The conversation is both deeply human and highly actionable, offering a needed call to replace silence with openness, skill-building, and culture change in medicine. Key Takeaways To Listen For Malpractice litigation is often experienced as an identity threat, not just a legal event, because it attacks a physician's sense of competence, purpose, and worthShame and silence make the experience far more dangerous, pushing physicians toward isolation at a time they most need supportEmotional support matters, but physicians also need concrete litigation skills and a working understanding of the legal process to move from catastrophe into preparationLetting trusted people in can be protective on every level, helping physicians stay grounded in who they are rather than what the lawsuit impliesChanging the culture around litigation will require peer support, education, institutional leadership, and more honest public conversation about the realities of medical risk "What I know is that emotional preparedness and skill preparedness goes a long way in terms of how it is that you can rise to meet the challenge." — Dr. Gita Pensa About Dr. Gita Pensa: Gita Pensa, MD, FAAEM, is an emergency physician, Adjunct Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine at Brown University, and a nationally recognized expert on malpractice litigation stress and physician litigation support. She is the creator and host of the open-access podcast curriculum Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, widely used in medicine, law, and the medical liability insurance industry. Dr. Pensa consults with insurers, hospital systems, and defense attorneys, and maintains a national coaching practice preparing and supporting medical defendants through litigation. She is also the creator of the LEAP (Litigation Education and Performance) courses, licensed by numerous hospital systems and medical liability insurers. Dr. Pensa is a managing editor at EM: RAP (Emergency Medicine Reviews and Perspectives), a former editor of the Academic Emergency Medicine research podcast, and a consultant for the second season of Emmy-winning medical drama The Pitt. Her work has been featured in Time, NPR, SXSW, and the PBS documentary A World of Hurt: How Medical Malpractice Fails Everyone.  Connect with Dr. Gita Pensa: Website: http://doctorsandlitigation.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gita-pensa-m-d-693557189/  Use coupon code MEANING100 to save $100 on the LEAP for Clinicians (Litigation Education and Performance) course. Eligible for 16 hours of Category 1 CME while learning the legal process, skills, and mindset to understand healthcare litigation. Enroll here: https://www.doctorsandlitigation.com/offers/r68JPnuD?coupon_code=MEANING100  Organizations interested in licensing or group discounts can learn more at: https://www.doctorsandlitigation.com/  Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    196. When the Lawsuit Comes: Dr. Gita Pensa on Shame, Survival, and Physician Support

  6. Aug 25

    195. Beyond Shame and Silence: Dr. Michelle Singer on Women's Health, Confidence, and Capacity

    Women are often taught to push through pain, discomfort, and other symptoms they assume are simply part of aging. Dr. Michelle Singer, a board-certified OB-GYN and cosmetic gynecologic surgeon, joins Drs. Erin Hurley and Joanne Sotelo to discuss women's health, anatomical education, and creating psychologically safe spaces where women can speak openly and without shame. Dr. Singer also shares her journey of leaving traditional practice to build a career aligned with her values, while expanding into speaking, women's health education, leadership, and voiceover artistry. She explores why women in medicine don't have to choose just one identity or stay in one lane. Key Takeaways To Listen For Many women normalize symptoms like pelvic pain, urinary leakage, brain fog, heavy bleeding, and menopausal changes even when those symptoms are disrupting their livesPsychological safety and patient education can transform deeply intimate medical care into an experience of trust, relief, and empowermentCosmetic gynecology is not only about appearance. For many patients, it intersects with comfort, sexual function, healing, and reclaiming confidencePhysicians do not have to stay confined to one identity, one role, or one version of a medical careerPracticing medicine with heart sometimes means creating a new path when traditional systems no longer allow you to care for patients the way you know they need "Not just because it's common doesn't make it normal, and that's what I want women to understand." — Dr. Michelle Singer About Dr. Michelle Singer: Dr. Michelle Jones Singer is a board-certified gynecologist, cosmetic gynecologic surgeon, and keynote speaker on a mission to change the conversation around women’s health. For more than 20 years, she has helped women navigate topics that are too often misunderstood, dismissed, or never discussed at all. Through her clinical expertise and engaging storytelling, she empowers women with accurate, evidence-based information that replaces embarrassment with confidence. As a speaker, Dr. Jones Singer helps audiences understand that women’s health isn’t just a medical issue. It directly influences leadership, confidence, relationships, and performance at work and at home. Her goal is simple. To make conversations women have whispered about for generations feel normal, empowering, and impossible to ignore. Connect with Dr. Michelle Singer: Website: https://www.indianapolis-cosmetic-surgery.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejonessingermd/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmeticsurgeryindianapolis/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michellejonessingermd5733  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michellejonessing  Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    195. Beyond Shame and Silence: Dr. Michelle Singer on Women's Health, Confidence, and Capacity

  7. Aug 18

    194. Your Body Is Always Communicating, Are You Listening? with Brooke Erickson

    Many high-functioning women appear to be doing everything right, eating well, exercising, staying productive, and showing up for everyone around them, yet still feel exhausted, disconnected, or unwell. In this conversation, Drs. Erin Hurley and Joanne Sotelo speak with Brooke Erickson, a functional nutritionist, about the foundational pillars that are often overlooked, which are circadian rhythm alignment, nervous system regulation, sleep, energy management, and authentic living. Together, they explore how small daily shifts like morning light exposure, meal timing, outdoor time, and honoring personal limits can create meaningful change, especially for women in medicine who are used to pushing through and performing at a high level. Key Takeaways To Listen For High performance can hide dysregulation, and as Brooke explains, productivity alone is not a reliable measure of health or wellbeingThe body responds not only to food and exercise, but also to safety, rest, light exposure, stress levels, and emotional alignmentSmall, repeatable practices like getting outside in the morning, eating consistently, and reducing artificial light at night can have a powerful cumulative effectHealing often begins with paying attention to symptoms as signals instead of treating them as inconveniences to push pastSustainable wellbeing requires understanding personal capacity, protecting energy, and making choices that feel authentic rather than performative, a core theme in Brooke’s Quantum Nourishment approach "I want to instead teach people to trust and listen to the wisdom of their body. I want them to believe that their body has infinite wisdom in its ability to heal itself when we just give it the right conditions." — Brooke Erickson About Brooke Erickson: Brooke Erickson, MS, CN, is a functional nutritionist with more than a decade of clinical experience specializing in functional nutrition, circadian rhythm science, and nervous system regulation. She is the founder of NOURISHTHRIVE and creator of the Quantum Nourishment Framework, a whole-body approach to healing that integrates functional nutrition, circadian biology, nervous system support, and Human Design to help clients restore energy, improve resilience, and reconnect with their body's innate wisdom. Through her work, Brooke helps people uncover the deeper patterns behind fatigue, hormone imbalances, digestive issues, and burnout, empowering them to work with their bodies instead of against them and create lasting, sustainable wellbeing. Connect with Brooke Erickson: Website: https://thrivewithbrooke.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookeaerickson/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrive_with_brooke/  Circadian Product Guide. https://thrivewithbrooke.com/product-recommendation/  Circadian Rhythm Masterclass: https://thrivewithbrooke.com/circadian-rhythm-masterclass-sleep-energy-hormones/  Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    194. Your Body Is Always Communicating, Are You Listening? with Brooke Erickson

  8. Aug 11

    193. Emotional Hangover: The Hidden Cost of Difficult Patient Encounters with Dr. Joanne Sotelo

    Some patient encounters end when the visit is over, but their emotional impact often doesn't. This episode explores the hidden emotional weight physicians carry and why it often goes unrecognized. Through discussions around medicine, caregiving, and emotional well-being, the episode examines why women physicians may be especially vulnerable to carrying this emotional load into their personal lives, how unresolved stress can affect mood, sleep, relationships, and connection, and why self-compassion is a more sustainable approach than simply pushing emotions aside. The conversation also shares practical ways to process difficult encounters, from naming the experience and creating intentional transitions between patients to seeking supportive debriefs and building small moments of regulation into the day. Key Takeaways To Listen For Some clinical encounters leave behind emotional, mental, and physical residue even when a physician appears calm and composed on the outsideStrength is not the absence of emotional impact; it is the ability to notice it, process it, and respond with self-compassionWomen in medicine often carry a double load by bringing the emotional weight of patient care home into ongoing caregiving responsibilitiesBrief transition rituals between patients can help interrupt accumulation and make it easier to stay grounded throughout the dayIgnoring emotional hangovers does not make them disappear; it often shifts the burden into burnout, tension, disconnection, or other downstream effects “There is a tool in coaching that's pretty universal. That it's learning to name our emotions, and I would transfer that here to naming the encounter before you move on.” - Dr. Joanne Sotelo Connect With Us Find every episode at https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820

    193. Emotional Hangover: The Hidden Cost of Difficult Patient Encounters with Dr. Joanne Sotelo
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out of 5
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About

Are you a woman in medicine looking to rediscover joy and balance in your career and personal life? Welcome to "Create Meaning in Medicine," the podcast where women physicians come to rewrite the rules and reclaim their fulfillment. Hosted by Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley, this podcast offers a sanctuary for candid discussions on the tough topics no one else is talking about, such as burnout, mental health, and the intricate balance of relationships and professional obligations. Each episode brings insights from expert guests, offering you strategies to overcome the unique challenges faced by women in healthcare. Subscribe to our podcast to navigate the complexities of your career with greater clarity and intention. Join us and explore actionable steps to enhance your well-being and achieve a sustainable, fulfilling lifestyle. Your path to creating meaning in medicine starts here!

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Joanne Sotelo and Dr. Erin Hurley
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    202
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026
  • Show Website
    Create Meaning in Medicine

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