Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir MD

How does perfectionism impact organizational well-being? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Carrie Adair to unpack the toxic link between organizational wellness, perfectionism, burnout, and mental health. Dr. Adair draws on cutting-edge research and real-world experience from healthcare to explain why perfectionism may actually be sabotaging your success, happiness...

What if perfectionism isn't just a mindset problem but a neurological one? In this transformative episode of Success Reimagined, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Romie Mushtaq as they unravel the hidden connection between burnout, anxiety, and perfectionism and how to heal from the inside out. Dr. Romie introduces the concept of "busy brain", a state driven by neuroinflammation and chronic...

What happens when you chase perfection in a world that demands flawlessness, especially as a South Asian woman? In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, host Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Nishat Uddin, founder of Brown Girls Health and South Asian Care, to unpack the cultural, personal, and professional layers of perfectionism. Nishat shares her journey of veering off the traditional career...

What if your greatest impact as a physician isn't inside the exam room but beyond it? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Kevin Pho, the founder of KevinMD.com, one of the most influential healthcare platforms in the world. Together, they explore the hidden cost of perfectionism, the cultural roots of overachievement, and what it means to redefine success as a clinician....

You’ve worked so hard to be successful, but do you actually know how to enjoy it? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Hala Sabry—ER physician, mother of five, and founder of the Physician Moms Group (PMG) and the National Women Physicians Day—to explore the complex relationship women have with perfectionism, identity, and success. Dr. Sabry opens up about her journey from being a people...

What if the most powerful thing you could say is simply, “I don’t know”? In this inspiring and deeply honest conversation, Amanda Hill, JD—healthcare attorney and advocate for physicians—joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to share her journey with perfectionism. From striving to be the perfect mom and professional to realizing the price of always needing to “get it right,” Amanda opens up about the toll that...

What does it take to fail the right way? In this high-energy conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with powerhouse motivational speaker and sales coach Larry Long Jr. to unpack what it really means to "Lead Loud." Together, they dive into how leaders can unlock joy even in the middle of burnout, foster deep human connection in high-performing environments, and find personal healing in the act o...

How do you continue to show up in medicine after you've been hit with a $28 million malpractice lawsuit? In this powerful and deeply vulnerable conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir is joined by Dr. Gita Pensa, an emergency physician, Brown University faculty member, podcast host of Doctors and Litigation: The L Word , and fierce advocate for physician well-being. Dr. Pensa shares the raw truth of what i...

“I have a license to practice medicine, but I don’t have a degree in martyrdom.” In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Dr. Laura Vater, a gastrointestinal oncologist, TEDx speaker, and creator of the SMILE Scale, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unmask the hidden costs of perfectionism in medicine. Together, they navigate the often-unspoken emotional toll of striving, sacrificing, and surviving in a...

Have you been striving for apathy? In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Dr. Abby Spencer, Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair for Education, and Director of the Academy of Educators at Washington University, joins Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the high cost of perfectionism, the reality of burnout in medicine, and what it means to lead with heart. Together, they explore: ✅Compassionate lea...

“The most important thing you can remember is your humble beginnings.” In this powerful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir speaks with Geoffrey M. Roche , healthcare workforce expert, Forbes Business Council member, and proud advocate for inclusion, as he opens up about the life-changing moment that forced him to redefine success, step away from perfectionism, and lead with greater authenticity and im...

What happens when the profession you love ends up taking everything from you? In this deeply moving episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Betsy Gall , author of The Illusion of the Perfect Profession , to talk about physician suicide, the hidden cost of perfectionism, and the very real pain that’s often buried beneath a white coat. Following the tragic death by suicide of her husband, Dr. Matth...

"You don’t have to apologize for taking up space or for wanting more." In this empowering episode of Success Reimagined, Dr. Amna Shabbir welcomes Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, tenured professor, cardiac anesthesiologist, author, and founder of Brave Enough, for a powerful conversation on boundaries, burnout, and bold leadership. Together, they explore: ✅ The invisible toll of over-functioning in high-str...

"Perfectionistic behaviors make life easier for other people— but often harder for ourselves."   In this insightful episode of Success Reimagined , Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Clarissa Ong, co-author of The Anxious Perfectionist , to explore the hidden emotional costs of perfectionism, the psychological trap of coherence, and how high achievers can begin to shift from performance to presen...

What if we’re telling healthcare workers to be perfect, then punishing them when they break under the pressure? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Stefanie Simmons , Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation , to unpack the cultural, psychological, and policy-level forces that make it nearly impossible for healthcare workers to ask for help. A natio...

What if we’re grooming our future doctors for burnout before they even start training? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Stuart Slavin , Vice President for Well-Being at the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and a national leader in physician mental health, to explore how maladaptive perfectionism begins long before medical school—and how the...

Your smartphone isn’t just a tool—it’s controlling your attention, your focus, and your success. In today’s hyperconnected world, notifications, alerts, and endless distractions are pulling you away from your biggest goals. But what if one small change to your smartphone habits could make all the difference?  In this Solo Episode, Dr. Shabbir Dive's into:  ✅ Why your smartphone home screen is “pr...

What if your drive to be perfect is rooted in shame? In this powerful episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir sits down with Dr. Will Bynum , a leading expert on the psychology of shame, to explore how perfectionism and shame are deeply intertwined—especially in high-achieving fields like medicine. Together, they explore: ✅How Perfectionism and Shame are connected ✅Shame vs. Guilt ✅Why shame thrives in high-...

Does perfectionism truly drive success—or is it quietly working against you? In this compelling episode, Dr. Thomas Curran , world-renowned perfectionism researcher and author of The Perfection Trap, joins Amna Shabbir, MD to expose the hidden costs of perfectionism and why it’s time to rethink our relentless pursuit of flawlessness. Together, they break down: ✅ What perfectionism really is (hint...

Guest: Jennifer B. Wallace, Journalist & Bestselling Author of Never Enough  In this insightful episode I sit down with Jennifer B. Wallace, award-winning journalist and author of the New York Times bestseller, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It. Jennifer and I dive deep into the pressures of high-achievement culture, how it affects our mental heal...

Dropping this Special Announcement for You. The next episodes for Season 1 of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD center on one powerful theme: Unmasking Perfectionism.  These are not just conversations—they are part of my larger book project on perfectionism , diving deep into what it really is and how it shapes our lives. Join me as global thought leaders, researchers, and high achievers sh...

"If you’re never fully unplugged, you’re also never fully in the zone." In this episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, is diving into Psychological Detachment—the essential, research-backed strategy for avoiding burnout, boosting productivity, and sustaining long-term success. We live in a culture where work is always on—where emails, unfinished charts, and notifications follow us ho...

 Do you ever feel like your inner critic is holding you back? I know I’ve been there, and in today’s episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m sharing why self-compassion is the ultimate strategy for achieving success. We often think being hard on ourselves will push us to do better, but research shows the opposite. Self-criticism leads to procrastination, burnout, and lower confide...

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter in your life? I recently had a moment like that when I realized I was only using 20% of my wardrobe. The other 80%—clothes that didn’t fit, things I was holding onto for “someday”—was just sitting there, causing visual and mental overwhelm. That’s when it hit me: the things we hold onto, especially in our closets, can hold us back from achieving true s...

Do you ever feel stuck, even though you’re working hard to create something new in your life? Here’s a question to consider: What am I willing to give up to create space for the success I truly desire? In today’s episode of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, I’m diving into the power of letting go. Whether it’s breaking old habits, setting boundaries, or even leaving behind a safe but unful...