The Physician’s Journey

In the Season 2 premiere of The Physician's Journey Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Lakshman Swamy for a deeply personal conversation about identity, belonging, burnout, and self-discovery. Dr. Swamy is a pulmonary and critical care physician, educator at Harvard Medical School and Cambridge Health Alliance, Chief of Pulmonology at Monogram Health, and creator of Critical Care the Game. In this epis...

In this episode, Dr. Brian Garibaldi, Charles Horace Mayo Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for Bedside Medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, shares his journey from basic science research to becoming a leading voice in clinical education and bedside medicine. We discuss his transformative experience helping establish a medical school in Malaysia and his leadersh...

In this inspiring conversation, Dr. Kaishauna Guidry shares her journey of applying to medical school later in life—and how resilience, family support, and a deep sense of calling helped her overcome setbacks to become a hospice physician. She describes how her life experiences became her “superpower” in caring for patients at the end of life and supporting families through complex dynamics with c...

In this episode, Dr. Andrés Sciolla, Emeritus Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at UC Davis, shares his remarkable journey from a working-class upbringing in Chile to becoming a medical educator and a leader in trauma-informed care. He reflects on facing discrimination for being gay during his early psychiatric training, rediscovering his passion for medicine and teaching, and finding a sense of be...

In this episode, Dr. Indu Partha, a primary care physician and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, reflects on the defining moments that have shaped her career and medical identity. From beginning her first job part-time while pregnant to making a bold leap into academic medicine after a decade in community...

In this episode, Dr. Richard Schaefer, an orthopedic surgeon and educator at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, reflects on his remarkable career and the powerful influence of mentorship. He shares insights from his 30 years in the U.S. Army, his transition to civilian practice, and his passion for medical education. Dr. Schaefer discusses the transformative impact of mentors on his personal and pr...

In this episode, Dr. Megan (pronounced “Meegan”) Gerber shares personal experiences of trauma and loss that shaped her career path, ultimately leading her to focus on improving the health and well-being of trauma-exposed women. The conversation highlights the importance of flexibility in medicine and how moments of crisis can become turning points for both personal and professional growth. Dr. Ger...

Dr. Kopacz is a psychiatrist in primary care at the Seattle VA, with a national position teaching Whole Health and person-centered care to VA staff. He is board-certified in psychiatry and integrative medicine and holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. David has spoken worldwide on self-care and well-being for veterans, staff, and health professional students....

Dr. Eric Last is an internist and Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He serves as an Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and is one of the faculty advisors for the Medical Humanities Journal Narrateur. Dr. Last is also an accomplished writer, with his work appearing in renowned publications such as the American Journal of Medicine, Annals of Interna...

Dr. Jennifer Hartmark-Hill is a Mayo Clinic-trained Family Medicine physician and an award-winning medical educator. She currently serves in many capacities at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, acting as Director of the Faculty Development Fellowship, Director of the Program for Narrative Medicine & Health Humanities, and Director of the Patient-Centered Care curriculum. S...

Dr. Jacek Mostwin is a professor of urology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has been very active in medical ethics and education, with a special focus on the personal and social dimensions of medicine. He completed an MFA in photography related to religious pilgrimage of the sick and he is a member of the International Medical Committee of Lourdes. Dr. Mostwin also serves as a member o...

Suzanne Koven is a primary care physician and the inaugural writer-in-residence at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her writing has appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Boston Globe, and other publications. She is also a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. In 2017, Dr. Koven published an essay describing the challenges faced by female physicians, including her struggle with impost...