Ep. 166 The Human Side of Surgery: Confronting Burnout Together with Dr. Herdley Paolini, Dr. Julie Wei and Dr. Anthony Sheyn

In this episode, pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Julie Wei (Akron Children’s Hospital) and psychologist Dr. Herdley Paolini discuss surgeon burnout with guest host, pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Anthony Sheyn (Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital).

First, Dr. Paolini reviews causes of surgeon burnout, drawing on three decades of experience working in physician wellness. Then, Dr. Sheyn and Dr. Wei discuss steps they’ve taken to combat burnout. Dr. Wei illuminates challenges unique to female surgeons, including higher levels of emotional exhaustion, fertility struggles, and ‘mom guilt.’ Then, the discussion shifts to address the roles that healthcare administration and medical education play in surgeon burnout. The podcast concludes with Dr. Wei’s experience advocating for needed changes in her hospital’s call policies.

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SHOW NOTES

00:00 - Introduction

03:18 - Operating Through Challenges: Dr. Wei’s Experience with Burnout

06:02 - Exploring Causes of Surgeon Burnout with Dr. Paolini

16:03 - Squashing the Stigma: Embracing Vulnerability in Surgery

25:37 - The Power of Advocacy and Building a Case for Wellness Programs

31:06 - Early Interventions and Transforming Medical Education

34:10 - Balancing Professional & Personal Life As A Surgeon

42:47 - Initiating System Changes for Physician Well-being

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RESOURCES

Dr. Anthony Sheyn’s Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital Profile:

https://www.lebonheur.org/doctors/anthony-sheyn

Dr. Julie Wei’s Akron Children’s Hospital Profile:

https://akronchildrens.org/people/Julie-Wei.html

About Dr. Herdley Paolini:

https://www.physicianintegration.org/about

“Safeguarding Physician Wellbeing” by Dr. Julie Wei:

https://www.routledge.com/Safeguarding-Physician-Wellbeing-Using-Checklists-for-Personal-Professional-and-Psychological-Safety/Wei/p/book/9781032589893

“Inside the Mind of a Physician: Illuminating the Mystery of How Doctors Think, What they Feel, and Why they Do the Things They Do” by Dr. Herdley Paolini:

https://www.amazon.com/Inside-Mind-Physician-Illuminating-Publishing/dp/0982040903