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BackTable / ENT / Podcast / Episode #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).

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The Human Side of Surgery: Confronting Burnout Together with Dr. Herdley Paolini, Dr. Julie Wei and Dr. Anthony Sheyn on the BackTable ENT Podcast
Ep 166 The Human Side of Surgery: Confronting Burnout Together with Dr. Herdley Paolini, Dr. Julie Wei and Dr. Anthony Sheyn
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2024, April 9). Ep. 166 – The Human Side of Surgery: Confronting Burnout Together [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

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Podcast Contributors

Dr. Herdley Paolini on the BackTable ENT Podcast

Dr. Herdley Paolini is the founder / president at The Institute for Physician Integration and the Co Director for Health and Health Care at the Center for Courage & Renewal in Orlando, Florida.

Dr. Anthony Sheyn on the BackTable ENT Podcast

Dr. Anthony Sheyn is a practicing pediatric otolaryngoligist at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and assistant professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Dr. Julie Wei on the BackTable ENT Podcast

Dr. Julie Wei is a pediatric ENT surgeon, professor, clinical researcher, author, and speaker.

Synopsis

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.

Timestamps

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

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

The Materials available on BackTable are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

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