Navigating Possibility

  Burnout isn't just making you tired—it may actually be changing the way your brain functions. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , Dr. Christina Adams explores the fascinating neuroscience behind physician burnout and why so many physicians say, "I don't feel like myself anymore." Drawing from the article "Physician Distress and Burnout: The Neurobiological Perspective"  by Amy...

  Most physicians believe contract negotiation is about salary—but that's only one small part of the equation. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , Dr. Christina Adams shares the lessons she wishes she had known before signing her first physician employment contract. Drawing from her own career journey through academic medicine, private practice, and private equity acquisition, she exp...

What happens when the job you're doing no longer resembles the job you accepted? In Part 2 of this series about contract negotiation, we're discussing a phenomenon many physicians experience but rarely name: contract drift. It often starts innocently enough. One extra patient. One additional call shift. A temporary staffing shortage. A request to "help out just this once." But over time, those tem...

Have you ever looked back at a physician employment contract and thought, "I should have negotiated"? If so, you're not alone. In this episode of Navigating Possibility, we're exploring why so many physicians—especially women physicians—struggle to advocate for themselves during contract negotiations. The issue often isn't a lack of knowledge. It's years of training in a culture that rewards compl...

  The Version of You That Existed Before Burnout Have you ever looked in the mirror and wondered what happened to the person you used to be? The version of you who entered medicine full of curiosity, compassion, purpose, and hope? In this reflective episode of Navigating Possibility , we explore one of the most painful and often overlooked consequences of physician burnout: losing connection...

  Why Physicians Feel Trapped Have you ever looked at the life you've built and wondered why you still feel stuck? Many physicians find themselves trapped between what they've worked so hard to achieve and what they truly want next. The career, income, status, and security that once felt like success can sometimes begin to feel more like a cage. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we'...

   The Anger Phase of Burnout   Anger is one of the most misunderstood phases of physician burnout. Not because physicians are “bad people.” Not because they’ve stopped caring. But because chronic stress, emotional overload, and nervous system exhaustion eventually change how we experience the world. In this episode, we’re talking honestly about the anger phase of burnout: the irrit...

  What Am I Carrying That’s Not Mine to Carry? The Emotional Weight OBGYNs Were Never Meant to Hold As physicians—especially in obstetrics and gynecology—we carry a tremendous amount of responsibility. But sometimes… we carry more than is actually ours. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we’re talking about the emotional burden many OBGYNs silently hold when patients decline recommen...

  Courage Over Certainty: The Mindset Work of Starting a Business  What does it actually take to start a business as a physician? Not just the logistics— but the identity shift required to step outside of clinical medicine and build something of your own. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we’re diving into the real, often unspoken side of entrepreneurship for physicians. Becaus...

 If you’ve ever told yourself, “I should journal more”… and then immediately avoided it—you’re not alone. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we’re unpacking the real reason high-achieving women physicians resist journaling and meditation —and it’s not about time, discipline, or productivity. It’s your nervous system. Drawing on concepts from Polyvagal Theory and insights from The Bod...

Burnout in medicine isn’t just about long hours, difficult patients, or broken systems. It’s also about what happens after those moments. In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we explore the powerful Buddhist concept of the second arrow —and how it quietly contributes to physician burnout, emotional exhaustion, and chronic self-doubt. The first arrow is unavoidable. It’s the reality of pract...

 What does it mean to have courage as a physician right now? In this episode of Navigating Possibility , I’m sharing reflections from my 10th year attending the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Congressional Leadership Conference (CLC) in Washington, DC — a meeting where nearly 800 OB-GYNs from across the country come together to advocate for patients, physicians, and the f...

 What do you do when patients cross the line? When frustration turns into disrespect… When your staff is treated poorly… When you’re expected to tolerate behavior that feels completely unacceptable? In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we’re talking about one of the most emotionally charged—and rarely discussed—parts of practicing medicine: Unrealistic patient expectations and abusive...

  Episode Description Across the United States, rural obstetric units are closing and the number of physicians providing maternity care continues to decline. When physicians retire, move, or leave clinical medicine, hospitals often struggle to recruit replacements. Instead, the physicians who remain are frequently asked to take on more call, more responsibility, and more risk—often without ad...

  Call anxiety is one of the most common – and least discussed – experiences in medicine. For physicians who take call, especially those in high-acuity specialties like obstetrics, emergency medicine, surgery, and critical care, there is often a persistent fear in the background: What if something happens that I can’t handle? The night before call. The quiet moments between pages. The adrenal...

 Women physicians are often expected to take on unpaid leadership roles—department chair, quality work, committees—in exchange for “influence” or visibility. In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of unpaid physician labor, why these expectations persist in hospital systems, and how to determine what your time is truly worth. Learn how to evaluate leadership opportunities, advocate for c...

Breaking the Cycle: Healing the Culture of Medicine from the Inside Out Why does toxic culture persist in medicine—even among compassionate, dedicated physicians? In this episode of Navigating Possibility , we explore how the culture of medical training—long hours, emotional suppression, and self-sacrifice—has been passed down through generations. Most physicians were trained by mentors who were t...

What To Do When Your Job Leaves You: Grieving, Grounding, and Moving Forward with Intention (For Women Physicians Navigating Job Loss, Burnout, or Career Transition) What happens when the job you gave everything to… leaves you? Whether you were laid off, non-renewed, pushed out, or quietly edged aside, job loss as a physician hits differently. It’s not just a paycheck. It’s identity. It’s purpose....

  In this episode we discuss Fierce Self  Compassion - based on Kristin Neff's book by the same name.   Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power  Navigating Possibility is the podcast for women physicians who feel burned out, overwhelmed, or stuck at a crossroads—ready for change, but not sure what’s next. Whether you're questioning y...

  In this episode, I talk about insights about burnout from the book "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle" by Emily and Amelia  Nagasaki.  This book frames stress as a chronic condition that comes from not completing the stress cycle - not signaling to your body physiologically that you are safe, and the stressor has passed. Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women...

  In this episode, I talk about what to do when you tell yourself "I'm just done" and start to try to figure out how to make a change as a woman in medicine.  And we talk about why the first thing to do is NOT dust off your resume and start applying for a new job.   At the end of this episode, I talk about setting up a coaching consultation call with me, and here's the link to do th...

 In this episode, I discuss how getting involved in changing the system through advocacy can help build community, increase agency, and increase personal confidence to help heal from burnout and prevent future episodes of burnout.  I'll also discuss specific strategies to get involved in legislative advocacy for physicians.  Link to my blog post about advocacy:   read...

 In this episode, I discuss how reading the book "Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away" by Annie Duke can help you reframe the idea of "quitting" something that is no longer serving you and start to look at it as strategic reallocation of energy rather than failure.   Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power  Navigating Possib...

In this episode, I discuss why I named this podcast "Navigating Possibility" and three different categories of possibilities I help women physicians navigate.   Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power  Navigating Possibility is the podcast for women physicians who feel burned out, overwhelmed, or stuck at a crossroads—ready for change, but not...

In this episode, we discuss why reading your online reviews as a physician is just "shopping for pain", and how to set boundaries if you can't avoid reading them.    Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power  Navigating Possibility is the podcast for women physicians who feel burned out, overwhelmed, or stuck at a crossroads—ready for chang...