199: How One Doctor’s Burnout has Inspired an International Conversation

DocWorking: The Whole Physician Podcast

“It took me several years of going down that path to really realize that trauma healing is a journey, it's not a destination, and to have grace and compassion with myself. And when I was able to do that, I think my impact as a physician changed.”
-Dr. Katie Cole, D.O.

Burnout in health care is real and we would just like to let everyone know upfront that we will be discussing suicidal ideations in physicians, as well as trauma healing for physicians and health care professionals. We have Dr. Katie Cole who shares with Jill Farmer what inspired her to pursue a healthcare career. Her father was in the medical field and struggled with depression and mental illness, which then led her to study and practice psychiatry. She received a PTSD diagnosis due to childhood abuse and also lost her father to suicide, which led her down a path of deeper self-discovery.

Dr. Cole & Jill discuss the stigma and shame around struggling with mental illness as a practitioner and how it impacts your approach to working in the field. Trauma healing is a journey, not a destination, and keeping that in mind helps you foster compassion for yourself and be a better caregiver. Dr. Cole believes that burnout in the medical community needs to be an international conversation and it’s her mission to be a voice and an advocate for physicians and healthcare providers.

Dr. Katie Cole is known as “The Healer’s Healer.” She’s an award-winning holistic psychiatrist, organizational well-being consultant, and change agent. Her passion for physician and medical practitioner well-being is fueled by her own struggles and feeling burned out in her career. This led her to identify unique solutions for burnout and to find her true passion in medicine, which is helping healers to heal themselves. Dr. Cole is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has pursued post-training in functional and integrative medicine, spiritual medicine, transformational coaching, and physician leadership. She is also a Reiki master and energy healer.

What’s Inside:

• Dr. Cole’s journey and how her personal experience shaped her career.
• Why trauma healing is a journey, not a destination.
• How working with a coach and changing your perspective can help against burnout.
• What’s in store for the future of healthcare and well-being.
• Information on the Lorna Breen Initiative.

Mentioned In This Episode:

Dr. Katie Cole on LinkedIn
Dr. Katie Cole’s Website
Addressing Health Worker Burnout

Find full transcripts of DocWorking: The Whole Physician Podcast episodes on the DocWorking Blog

The past few weeks have been busy at DocWorking! We have been working behind the scenes to add even more CME credits to the THRIVE memberships.

Let your CME budget help you prioritize your own wellness so you can get on with living your best life on your own terms, as defined by you, with DocWorking THRIVE.

You can take the first step today by taking our 2 Minute Balance to Burnout Quiz! Where are you on the Balance to Burnout Continuum? Take the quiz and find out today!

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