Well-Developed: Bridging the gap between well-being and professional development

WashU physical therapists Alyssa Skala, PT, DPT, and Leigh Wilson, PT, DPT, CHT, take on one of our most requested topics: how to work and move better in clinical environments. From wearing lead and choosing supportive work shoes to improving hand efficiency and optimizing desk setup, they share practical, body-smart strategies to reduce fatigue and protect your body over the long term.

In this episode, we explore wellbeing in medical education and the workplace with Douglas Larsen, MD, examining the balance between personal responsibility and system-level support. We unpack what personal wellbeing truly means and discuss the changes leaders and organizations can make to build sustainable, supportive environments. From individual habits to structural reform, this conversation hig...

This episode explores how to support yourself and others through career exploration, uncertainty, and change. Linda Yun, business director for the Department of Anesthesiology, and Julian Magee, PT, DPT, share honest reflections on career pivots and professional reinvention. Together, they discuss reframing your skillset, identifying transferable strengths, and broadening your perspective on roles...

Dr. Angela Clark, PhD, RN, president of the Goldfarb School of Nursing, joins us to discuss navigating change.  In this episode, we explore the “Change Curve” and how it helps us understand the emotional and behavioral responses people experience during periods of change. We’ll share strategies—both personal and organizational—for navigating transitions, and highlight the resources available at Go...

This episode explores how to reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth rather than a threat. We discuss how remaining curious and open, teams can more effectively navigate disagreements and uncover underlying issues. We have a special focus on fast-forming teams often seen in healthcare and ways to develop rapid trust and communication.

In this  episode, we unpack the difference between growth and fixed mindsets, highlighting how persistence and embracing challenges support long-term professional success. You will learn strategies to develop your own growth mindset and how to guide learners to reframe mistakes as opportunities for learning, resilience, and continuous improvement in any professional setting.

This episode explores trust in the workplace and with patients—how it's built, how it's broken, and why it matters. We dive into the five domains of trust: credibility, reliability, integrity, sincerity, and engagement, and discuss how strengths in each area can enhance professional relationships, leadership, and personal growth.

Molly McCormick, MD, joins us to discuss all things coaching. We break down what coaching is, why it matters, and how it supports personal and professional growth. We explore different types of coaching, key tools coaches use, how coaching differs from mentorship and sponsorship, as well as how to grow and develop a coaching relationship.

Stephen Gregory, MD, and Ben Fiori, RN, join us to discuss their hobbies and explore how hobbies like baking and mountain biking can fuel professional growth. We discuss how personal passions build transferable skills—like problem-solving, patience, and stress management—that enhance performance at work.

Alicia Ott, a staff therapist at WashU, joins us to discuss stress management and coping. We discuss strategies for becoming more self-aware of your stress levels and ways to “name it and tame it!” We examine actionable strategies and skills like mindfulness, movement, EMDR, polyvagal theory, and cognitive behavior therapy techniques to find ways to start to thrive instead of survive.

Alicia Ott, a Staff Therapist at WashU, joins us to discuss emotional labor and indivisible load, specifically emphasizing women. Alicia shares some work-life balance strategies and actionable approaches to help you find more equitable balance in your relationships and professional life. We examine how emotional labor impacts mental health and burnout.

Steve Taff, Professor of Occupational Therapy and Medicine and Assistant Dean of Faculty Leadership Development, joins us to discuss how ableism impacts our mindsets and environments and strategies or considerations we can make to be more inclusive in our didactic, clinical, and learning environments. We address ways to be more inclusive regarding instruction, curriculum, learner and program asses...

Heather Hageman, Director of the Center for Interprofessional Education at WashU, discusses why relationships are critical to team function. We also discuss interprofessional conflict management, relational leadership, and the principles of interprofessional education.

Moving your body has many advantages besides getting you "shredded" or losing weight. Join us as we talk with Kate Walton and Stephanie Scott from Personal Space Fitness about the many benefits of exercise and simple movement- like increased creativity, improved balance, better sleep, more energy, and positive changes to your mental health. Learn some great tips and motivation techniques...

Do the words revise and resubmit strike fear into your heart? Like it or not, failure and disappointment are part of life! Dr. Kristina Dzara joins us as we explore the concept of resiliency, how we can foster resiliency in ourselves and our teams, and why developing resiliency is vital to your well-being, overcoming disappointment and professional success.

Dr. Nicole Defenbaugh joins us to explore why mattering , matters so much! We discuss simple, yet incredibly important ways you can make your teammates feel like they matter and the amazing impact of gratitude.

Allision Johnson, a WELL-certified architect, joins us to discuss WELL-certified spaces and evidence-based ways to enhance your physical space to improve your health and well-being.  From lighting and sound to FAKE plants, Allison has some incredible and accessible tips to upgrade your surroundings to enhance your wellness!

Join us as we explore psychological safety with Dr. Jenny Duncan. We dive deep into tangible ways to improve the psychological safety of our teams and workspaces, with a specific focus on methods to help trainees and learners improve their learning experiences, enhance performance, feel safe to ask questions, and feel valued and important team members, all through improving psychological safety!

Are cognitive distortions playing a role in your thinking? Cognitive distortions are thoughts that cause individuals to perceive reality inaccurately. Join us as we discuss common cognitive distortions with Alicia Ott and ways to identify and overcome their effect and influence!

Guest speaker Alicia Ott joins us again to discuss all things sleep. We dive deep into strategies for rotational shift workers on how best to develop healthy sleep habits and cycles. Learn what sleep hygiene means and small steps you can take to improve your sleep so that you can learn and perform at your best. Whether you are a great sleeper, a terrible sleeper, a new parent, or a night shift wor...

Join guest speaker Alicia Ott, a licensed therapist at Washington University in St. Louis, to explore boundaries and why they are so important for well-being and professional growth. Learn how to best respect, evaluate, and set boundaries for yourself at work and in your personal life!

Explore and discuss imposter syndrome and why it affects so many of us! Learn the many ways that imposter syndrome can manifest and ways to overcome it! 

Explore where you fall on the introvert/extrovert spectrum and how you can best capitalize on those traits personally, professionally, and on teams. Understand the unique ways your brain works and how understanding how you “tick” leads to better well-being!