Episode 9 - Behind The Stethoscope

In part two of a two-part episode, we reconvene with Dr. Charlie Chen.  Hear the rest of his story.  Spoiler alert:  Charlie navigates how to integrate the management of an illness, within one's whole self, to find true wellness.  

We meet Dr. Charlie Chen, both a friend and favourite palliative care physician of ours.  Charlie has managed a relapsing chronic disease for nearly 15 years.  He is invaluable to our community as a clinician, wellness advocate, leader and educator.  He openly shares his story of how he has navigated an illness that interrupted his career momentum.  This is part one of a two-part episode.

Today Drs Gerald Da Roza and Samir Malhotra check in with three UBC internists in training from the resident wellness committee.  The residents share their wisdom on positive perspectives and self-care as well as how they created a peer network in the year of COVID.  Together, the panel explores how physician staff can best support the wellbeing of learners in these unseen times.

Photography is a pastime and passion of our local cardiologist, Dr. Richard Vandegriend. He discovered his interest and aptitude toward the end of his residency and pursued extensive self instruction.  Sit down with Richard in conversation with Dr. Joelle Bradley today and be sure to check out @behindthestethosocpe  on Instagram for a few photos to go with the show and www.richardvandegriend.com to see more of his collections. 

Infertility in female physicians is prevalent, yet its spoken about so little. On today's show Dr. Gerald DaRoza sits with his colleague, Dr. Sawyer Huget-Penner. She openly shares her journey to conceive, where in her final year of her endocrinology fellowship she developed a constellation of symptoms that signified her fertility, with reproductive technology or not, was approaching zero. 

It is just over two months since COVID-19 arrived in western Canada.  In today's episode, we bring together Dr. Gerald Da Roza and Dr. John SJ Bradley to discuss the experience of what it is like when you hold a leadership role in these uncertain times and your colleagues look to you for guidance and action.  Join Joelle Bradley who brings this unique pair of leaders together  for their perspective and reflections.

In this episode, Dr. Samir Malhotra is joined by parents Dr. Gerald Da Roza, Dr. Robert Kyskan and Dr. Lindsay Van Tongeren to discusses their experiences of being both a physician and parent. The group touches on their own methods of achieving a good work life balance. 

Episode 4 is a book club of sorts.  Drs Joelle Bradley, Mark Matishak and Pat Malette discuss an old favourite, Eckhart Tolle's, "Power of Now".   In Mark’s kitchen, over a cup of coffee, they reflect on how being in the moment improves their perspective and agency in their medical practice and personal lives. 

Episode 3 presents Gerald De Roza in conversation with Howie Lim and Ben Leung at the BC Cancer Agency.  This discussion includes personal stories surrounding symptoms, affect, recovery and ideas related to the topic of physician burnout.  

This episode presents Joelle Bradley in conversation with family physician Gary Hayes, discussing his realization of impending burnout and what actions he took.