The Other Human in the Room

I had such a great chat with Olive Von Topp about her journey from being a 'good girl' to a burlesque performer and empowerment coach. We talked about how society pressures women to be perfect and people-pleasers, which often leads to burnout. Olive shares how to unlearn these habits and reconnect with what makes us happy and feel good in our bodies. Connect with Olive: Website: https://www.olivev...

In my conversation with Dr. Dawn Lim, an emergency doctor and life coach, she opened up about her journey through burnout in the medical field and her exploration of creativity through photography and storytelling. Dawn shared the importance of human connection in medicine, her unique role as a Photographer in Residence, and how she now supports fellow physician mothers through coaching. Our discu...

Have you ever struggled to stay connected with someone who holds a very different belief from your own? Growing up in evangelical Christianity and being trained in the dogmatic culture of medicine, I've often felt the pull to either convert others to my beliefs or go along with theirs to keep the peace. Despite these challenges, I've been practicing how to stay connected, kind, and loving, even wh...

The wonderful Pádraig Ó Tuama is on the podcast today! Pádraig shares how his relationship to poetry and theology shaped his work in conflict resolution. We discuss the duality of conflict as both destructive and generative, exploring how conflict can lead to positive outcomes when approached thoughtfully. I share some of the system challenges and ideological conflicts that have emerged in healthc...

In this episode, Joan reflects on the concept of power as a central theme for her year. She explores the distinction between external and internal sources of power, discussing how societal structures influence our understanding of power dynamics. She encourages listeners to reflect on their own sources of power and to choose a theme for the year that resonates with them. Connect on Instagram: http...

In this episode, Joan reflects on the concept of continuity of care in healthcare, discussing its implications, challenges, and the need for a redefined approach. She advocates for a collective responsibility in ensuring continuity of care, moving away from the notion that individual clinicians must bear the entire burden. The conversation highlights the systemic issues that contribute to burnout...

Joan is the only human in her van for the last time in 2024 and sharing a short and sweet dose of humanity for you on this Christmas holiday week. Wishing you all moments of rest, joy and humanity over this holiday season ❤️ Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

In this episode of The Other Human in the Room, Joan and Dr Dale Guenter explore the themes of human-centered medicine, spirituality, and the challenges faced by healthcare professionals. Dale shares his journey into medicine, his experiences with burnout, and the importance of compassion in patient care. They discuss the role of spirituality in understanding patient suffering and the significance...

In this conversation, Joan and Stephanie explore the application of Agile and Scrum principles in the healthcare sector. They discuss the importance of adapting these frameworks to foster innovation, collaboration, and effective problem-solving in complex environments like healthcare. The conversation emphasizes the need for a shift from traditional industrial approaches to more human-centered, it...

I went to the Eras Tour and of course I HAD to talk about it!! My dear friend Caroline, with whom I have had many Taylor Swift conversations, volunteered to come on the podcast to talk to me about the show. Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanchanmd

This episode is the 2nd in a series I have been creating on my family full of physicians. This week's conversation feels particularly personal and tender to me - because it's with my dad! All family relationships are complex, including this one, and we explore the inspiring and emotional realities of being both father-daughter and two physicians with differing views on science & society. Conne...

Joan explores the pervasive fear of forgetting, particularly in the context of healthcare. She discusses how this fear can lead to anxiety and shame, and emphasizes the importance of understanding memory as a dynamic process rather than a static storage system. Joan shares personal strategies for managing forgetfulness, including the use of external resources and the importance of self-compassion....

Today's episode is the first of what I hope will be a series of conversations where I get personal in a brand new way: by interviewing members of my family! One of the interesting facts about my family, especially the Dobsons (my mom's side), are that there are a LOT of doctors. In this first episode, I start with the most senior living member of this medical lineage, and interview my Great Uncle...

Joan discusses the importance of the FIFE questions in patient-centered care, emphasizing their role in enhancing communication and understanding between clinicians and patients. She explains the components of the FIFE acronym—Feelings, Ideas, Function, and Expectations—and how they can be effectively integrated into patient encounters to foster better relationships and save time. Joan shares prac...

In this conversation, Joan and Catherine explore Catherine's journey through medical school, residency, and her transition into family medicine. They discuss the challenges of maintaining work-life balance, the importance of self-care, and the journey of unlearning old habits. Catherine shares her passion for lifestyle medicine and how it has transformed her practice and patient interactions. The...

I'm once again driving as the only human in the van, sharing my experiments with asynchronous patient connection. I have been asking myself this central question over the past years: "How can I still connect with patients in meaningful ways, even if we're not seeing each other in person?" Not only for my patients to feel a better sense of connection to me, but for me to feel more freedom and flexi...

In this episode, Joan interviews Sarah Gower, a rural family physician, who shares her journey into medicine and the importance of human connection in healthcare. They discuss the value of embracing imperfection, the impact of personal loss on professional life, and the significance of community support. Sarah emphasizes the need to recognize what is within our control and encourages listeners to...

Dr. Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and Chief Wellness Officer, discusses the importance of addressing mental health in healthcare professionals and the pre-med culture. She shares her personal journey of experiencing burnout and the need for self-care. Jessi emphasizes the need for healthcare workers to acknowledge and express their emotions, as well as the importance of creating space for self-reflec...

In this solo episode, Joan explores the concept of attention budget and how we spend our attention. She discusses the impact of multitasking and task switching on our mental energy and highlights the importance of focusing on one thing at a time. Joan also examines the role of social media and the internet in consuming our attention and offers strategies for intentional and mindful attention. She...

In this episode, Joan interviews Caitlin Christie, a family physician who shares her journey of realizing she was burnt out and the process of working through it. She discusses the challenges of early practice and the pressure to be perfect. Caitlin also talks about the impact of COVID and becoming a new mother on her burnout. She shares her coaching approach to help physicians find their worth an...

In this episode, Joan explores the concept of arguing with reality and how it can lead to unnecessary suffering. She introduces the idea of questioning our thoughts and default stories to determine if they are helpful or true, and applies them to her own experiences in her personal and professional life. We have a great growing group of healthcare humans that are joining Creating Space, my new coa...

Zayna Khayat, an applied health futurist, discusses the role of futurism in healthcare and the need for organizations to embed futurism into their operating models. She explains that futurism is about understanding the possible futures that might unfold in healthcare and helping organizations make smarter decisions based on those futures. In this conversation, Joan and Zayna discuss the need for a...

In this episode, Joan explores the concept of being a multi-potentialite, someone with many interests and creative pursuits. Joan discusses the challenges and superpowers of multi-potentialites and the importance of supporting and valuing multi-potentialites in solving complex problems and contributing fresh perspectives. Joan invites listeners to explore their own passions and consider if they re...

In this bonus episode, Joan discusses her two favorite movies, Inside Out and Inside Out 2. She highlights the key takeaways from these movies, including the importance of emotions and the concept of toxic positivity. Joan explores how the movies portray emotions as characters and how they interact with each other. She also delves into the themes of belonging, sense of self, and the bittersweet na...

In this episode, Joan shares her experience of taking a summer vacation and the lessons she learned during that time. She emphasizes the importance of creating space, enjoying oneself, and practicing joy and relaxation. Joan concludes by sharing a mini podcast she made with her children! Ready to greate that summer sabbatical feeling in your life, so that your vacations feel even better? I am stil...