182: To the Brink and Back: Burnout to Balance with Dr. Tammie Chang

DocWorking: The Whole Physician Podcast

Warning: This episode discusses the topic of physician suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the suicide hotline: [phone]

“That’s what we pledged to do when we started medical school, and that’s what I thought I was dedicating my life to. And yet…I was one step away from an awful end.”

- Dr. Tammie Chang, M.D., Board-certified Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Physician, Co-founder of Pink Coat MD

Author Tammie Chang, M.D. speaks with Cohost and Lead Coach Jill Farmer about her journey through severe burnout to recovery. Dr. Chang shares that she speaks openly about her story so that others can identify and feel less isolated. Along with cohost of the podcast Master Certified Coach Jill Farmer, Dr. Chang discusses the foreboding steps toward intense physician burnout, and how a combination of therapy and coaching turned that around for her. Dr. Chang reveals how coaching helped her to assess her own needs and set boundaries in order to now be in a better place than she has ever been. Author of the book, Boundaries for Women Physicians: Love Your Life and Career in Medicine, Dr. Chang helps listeners understand the importance of understanding the toxic culture of medicine, setting the right boundaries, and self-compassion.

“I think I’m much more myself now than I have been in my whole life. I’m even that much more on fire to be an advocate for change than I have ever been in my whole life. I’m truly grateful for that rock bottom place because I would never be here had it not been for that.”

- Dr. Tammie Chang

Tammie Chang, M.D., is a board-certified physician in pediatric hematology/oncology and co-founder of Pink Coat MD, an uplifting community to empower women physicians. Using her expertise in coaching, leadership and consulting work, background in wellness and work as a physician, Chang guides women physicians to become the best version of themselves and protect their well-being by helping them achieve greater balance, prevent burnout and live healthier lives.

Her new book, Boundaries for Women Physicians: Love Your Life and Career in Medicine (Feb. 3, 2022)https://www.tammiechangmd.com/book, focuses on the understanding that to heal and serve others, one must first focus on having a healthy body, spirit and mind. Tammie highlights the importance of good self-care habits and boundaries in a physician’s life to avoid burnout, stress and exhaustion. She shares her story and that of three other physicians, acknowledging her struggles and the ways she broke the barrier of shame many physicians have when it comes to mental health and self-care. The goal of Boundaries for Woman Physicians is to equip women physicians with tools and advice to create healthy boundaries so they can thrive and love their practice. Tammie also published a companion workbook to help women physicians with time management and setting boundaries. Download her free workbook here.https://view.flodesk.com/pages/614e97b6337f1c2aacf52b33

Tammie leads personal coaching sessions, group programs and career consultations with the goal of empowering others to create the lives they want and become better leaders. She supports women physicians early in their careers by holding group consultations where they can share their experiences and vulnerabilities, as well as career sessions to tackle specific areas such as setting boundaries and time management.

She is the co-founder and co-CEO of Pink Coat, MD, a safe community and digital platform that provides support and resources for women physicians to help reduce burnout and improve personal well-being so they can achieve professional success. https://pinkcoatmd.com/

Partnering with leading experts across a variety of fields, the goal is to build a platform of supportive, self-compassionate female leaders to revolutionize medical culture. Previously, Tammie co-authored the Amazon #1 bestseller How to Thrive as a Woman Physician https://www.amazon.com/How-Thrive-as-Woman-Physician-ebook/dp/B09L8NNZH9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Q5Y4LXKER3VI&keywords=tammie+chang&qid=1638286450&sprefix=tammie+chang%2Caps%2C242&sr=8-1with Pink Coat MD co-founder Luisa Duran, MD.

Tammie serves as the medical director of Provider Wellness for her healthcare system and the director of her hospital’s Pediatric Cancer Survivorship Program. She also co-founded the Cool Chicks in Medicine community and the Women of Influence Network (WIN) at her healthcare system. Tammie serves as the program director of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) ELEVATE Leadership Development Program for Women Physician Attendings, and as the President of the AMWA Washington State Physician Branch.

Tammie earned her bachelor’s and medical degree from Brown University in Providence, R.I. She completed her residency training in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts and completed her fellowship in pediatric hematology/oncology at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

Tammie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their two golden retrievers, and she spends her free time playing piano and being active in the beautiful outdoors with her family. She practices pediatric hematology/oncology in Tacoma, Washington. For more information, please visit: www.tammiechangmd.com.https://www.tammiechangmd.com

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.

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