NEJM Open Forum: Identifying and Preventing Occupational Burnout

Hey guys, happy Monday!

I've been asked to be a moderator for a New England Journal of Medicine open forum discussion on “Identifying and Preventing Occupational Burnout." I have personally experienced burnout, so it's very important to me to avoid burnout and help my peers do the same. (It's also important to laugh about it.) So I'm honored by the invitation and very excited to participate in the discussion. 

This is actually part 2 of a 6 part discussion. This part is led by the American Medical Women's Association (AMWA) and will focus on the specific challenges that cause female physicians to burn out. As a moderator, I'll be posting some [hopefully] thought-provoking questions and topics and responding to comments. Everyone is welcome to participate (or just lurk, if that's your thing). The topic kicks off tomorrow (Tuesday March 24th) at 6AM EST. Click here to see the conversation!

(There are a lot of other interesting topics already underway, so I encourage you to check those out as well.) 

Please share your experiences with burnout in the comments below!

I'm on iTunes!

My interview with Dr. Ryan Gray, MD of Medical School HQ is now available via their website & iTunes! The interview focused on my personal path to medical school, particularly the non-traditional decisions I made (which you can also read about here).

The Medical School HQ podcast is really great (the whole series! not just my interview), and I highly recommend giving it a listen, especially if you're premed. Dr. Gray interviews a lot of medical and premedical students and explores the issues facing us today. I hope you enjoy!

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A Purposeful Addiction: What I've Learned on Twitter

My Twitter profile

1)  Sarcasm is truly unattractive. Kindness in the face of sarcasm = strength.

2) Anger breeds anger. Trying to understand the "other" side is more difficult but ultimately more productive.

3) Anger, hate & cynicism are the easiest, & thus the weakest, responses to conflict.

4) If I am persistent in treating others with kindness & respect, the same eventually comes back to me.

5) Trolls gotta troll. Sometimes blocking is the kindest response. (In real life, this would probably equate with leaving the room, not answering the phone, etc.)

6) It’s not personal. If I can remember it’s not personal, I can always behave in a way that I won’t regret.

7) I want to share knowledge, laughter, news (sometimes), insights, and beauty with others.

8) There are some happy, brilliant, kind, generous, loving people in the world, and I can find them in unexpected places (like Twitter).

9) Agreement is not the basis of respect. Humility, plus a conscious decision to be respectful, is the basis of respect.

There's a lot more, but I'm constantly surprised by how much I can learn from my experiences on Twitter. Like everything else in life, Twitter can be whatever you make of it. I've (obviously) totally embraced Twitter (you might have noticed my full-blown, Celebrity Rehab-level addiction) & wanted to share these pearls with you all. 

I need help.

I'm not sure how much my readers actually care about Twitter, so please leave comments & let me know! Are interested in learning how I find awesome doctors to follow, what "twitter chats" are (they're often medically-related!), how I learn about specific diseases, etc.?

Who Wants to Contribute to The Health Scout?

Hi, friends, readers & fellow bloggers!

I'm thinking about adding guest posts &/or cartoons to my blog. This can be unique material or re-posts of something great from your existing blog. I'm thinking a somewhat different angle would be a nice addition (maybe a pre-med documenting the application or interview process). However, guest bloggers should still stay within the context of this blog, which is primarily pre-med and med school experiences, with sporadic dives into healthcare, politics, medical practice, etc.

Let me know if you're interested, know of someone who'd be great, or have any other ideas! Comment below or email me: thehealthscout@gmail.com. :)

Check Me Out on Wing of Zock

Hey guys, I'm now an official cartoonist for Wing of Zock, the AAMC blog! They'll be posting one of my cartoons about once a week. So I gotta take a moment to celebrate myself: Yaaaaay!

(If, like me, you haven't read The House of God, you can read the explanation of the AAMC blog name. If, like my parents, you don't know what AAMC stands for, it's the Association of American Medical Colleges.)

Wink of Zock - screenshot

Guest Spot on A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor!

Hey, everyone! Check out my guest spot on one of my favorite blogs, A Cartoon Guide to Becoming a Doctor.

Someone posted some links to her blog on our class Facebook page right before first year started and I just loved it. She's hilarious. Check out her archives, too!

If You Like My Blog, Please Follow Me!

Just see the picture below for where to click.