Yesterday I woke up and I felt instant STRESS. I am not sure how this happens, but when I have put myself under undo pressure, I can literally wake up in a panic. I had deadlines looming, emails flooding in, and the pressure felt relentless. I started doing everything FAST and hard   (even brushing ...

You know spring cleaning, but for me, summer cleaning is a thing too. We made it past the Chaos that was May, and have navigated the shift in routines that summer brings... now we are settled into summer, and it’s time for a little purging. 

What’s Out This Summer? 

Perfectionism 

Perfec...

We made it!  

We are officially past the halfway mark of the year, and you know what? I think we deserve a treat for that. 

Take a moment to look back at the beginning of this year compared to today and celebrate all of the baby steps and progress that you’ve made. Are you proud of yourself? You s...

I'm Back In My Safe Space

After 13 months of living in a rental home 30 miles from our home because our house was destroyed in a tornado, we are BACK in our rebuilt home. I cannot tell you how much better I feel being back in my safe space. Truly, it is remarkable what being in my happy place has d...

Spinning in Circles 

Do you remember that old song that goes, “This is the song that never ends, yes it goes on and on, my friends. Some people started singing it, not knowing what it was, and they’ll continue singing it forever just because this is the song that never ends...” The song goes around...

You Are Not Meant to be Alone 

Ladies, I’m going to be real with you - making friends has never been difficult for me (if you haven’t noticed, I’m a bit of an extrovert). I look forward to a good networking event, but I realize that is not the case for many of you.  

Some of you identify as introv...

It’s been two nights since the last time I was awake in my house.  

My partner comes into my operating room at the end of my 24-hour shift. I do a 5-minute change and rush home, switching into mom mode. I call on the way and put out sibling fires, rallying the sleepy preteens over the phone.  

Whe...

What is Burnout? 

Everyone has bad days. A challenging patient management issue. Being short-staffed. A hard coworking interaction. And then, at the end of the day, you find yourself late to the sporting event/dance recital/basketball pickup. Stressful days are a normal part of life. But sometimes,...

Are You Dealing With Burnout?  

Women are so strong. We are resilient and have thick skin that helps us handle difficult situations with grace and compassion. But this strength, if not cared for, can also put us on a fast track to burnout. As a woman physician, I’ve seen this firsthand in my col...

I’m a Physician and a Mom 

Several years ago I was on my way to pick up my son from preschool before doing an overnight shift at the hospital. As I approached a stoplight, a car sped through the intersection and struck a pedestrian walking his dog. I knew instantly the man was seriously injured, so...

The Next Generation of Women Physicians

At this point in my career, I have a lot of young physicians come to me for advice. I have to say, giving back to the next generation of women physicians is one of my greatest joys.  

I love answering questions like: How do I balance my home life with ...

As a woman in medicine, where the odds for pay, promotion, and leadership are stacked against me, I strive to light the path for younger women who come behind me.   

It has taken me a while to be comfortable with my style of leadership, own my own voice, be able to regroup after rejection, and t...