Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine
Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine

Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine

Diane Shannon, MD

Overview
Episodes

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In healthcare, burnout rates are higher in women. In fact, forty percent of women physicians have cut back or left medicine within 6 years of completing training. Why? Is it added responsibilities at home? Gender bias at work? Invisible work at work? Mom guilt? Too much self-sacrifice and inability to say no? Poor boundaries, lack of time management skills, lack of self-care? In this podcast, we’ll explore the reasons why women in medicine are struggling—and more importantly, what to do about it. We can banish burnout and thrive as women in medicine.

Recent Episodes

Episode 151: Creating a Superior Work Environment with Dr. Gaurava Agarwal
NOV 25, 2025
Episode 151: Creating a Superior Work Environment with Dr. Gaurava Agarwal
A professional conference this fall, I had a short conversation with a colleague as we went from one breakout to another. Gaurava Agarwal, MD, shared that my social media posts on the challenges that women in medicine face had inspired him to dig into the data at his organization. That was flattering, but what really inspired me was hearing about the steps the organization has taken to help women physicians thrive by addressing the challenges that all clinicians face. Listen in to hear a practical and effective approach that you can take to your workplace.  Dr. Gaurava Agarwal is Chief Wellness Executive/Vice President at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. His area of expertise is organizational and occupational psychiatry.  Connect with Dr. Agarwal on LinkedIn.  Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that. Like what you heard?  Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine Reviews are greatly appreciated. Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive. Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
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28 MIN
Episode 150: Walking Our Way to Wellness with Dr. Rebecca Levine
NOV 11, 2025
Episode 150: Walking Our Way to Wellness with Dr. Rebecca Levine
Work stress can easily spill over to our personal lives, affecting our physical health, mental health, and general outlook on life. Interventions to improve physician wellness can be complex, costly, and challenging to spread.  My guest, Dr. Rebecca Levine, created an alternative: a walking program for clinical staff that has reduced burnout and stress. How did she do it? Listen in to find out. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to create a program yourself! Rebecca Levine, MD, is a Family Medicine physician at Oak Street Health in Chicago, where she also leads educational and wellness programs. Her passion is narrative medicine.  Connect with Dr. Levine on LinkedIn. Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that. Like what you heard?  Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine Reviews are greatly appreciated. Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive. Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon    
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22 MIN