Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Mentorship and Meaning in Pediatrics at Texas Children’s
Date: September 16, 2025
Host: Chris Sosa
Guests: Dr. Shannon Hayes & Dr. Beverly Lee, Texas Children’s Pediatrics

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the enduring value of mentorship in the medical field, particularly within pediatrics at Texas Children’s Hospital. Host Chris Sosa interviews Dr. Shannon Hayes and Dr. Beverly Lee, pediatricians whose mentor-mentee relationship has flourished into a strong professional partnership. Through personal stories and candid reflections, they discuss how mentorship shapes careers, supports personal growth, and ultimately enhances care for both young patients and their families.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Career Backgrounds & Introduction (00:18–01:24)

• Dr. Shannon Hayes shares her journey, starting at Baylor College of Medicine, completing her residency at Texas Children’s, years in private practice, and then joining Texas Children’s Pediatrics full-time.
• Dr. Beverly Lee also attended Baylor, did residency at Texas Children’s Hospital (including a chief resident year during the COVID pandemic), and has been an attending at the same clinic for five years.

Quote:
“I have loved working with Dr. Hayes since it was eight years of my training with her and now five years out of training. So we've been together for a long time.”
– Dr. Beverly Lee (04:39)

2. The Evolution of a Mentorship (02:03–03:54)

• Dr. Hayes recounts the multiple stages of Dr. Lee's training under her—from first-year med student “learning bread and butter basic physical exam” to resident in the continuity clinic.
• Outlines how hands-on mentoring in a community setting provides practical skills and prepares future pediatricians beyond hospital settings.
• Personal Impact: Dr. Hayes’ advocacy to bring Dr. Lee into her practice highlights the depth of their mentor-mentee bond.

Quote:
“The whole time, as she was nearing towards her finished date, I was harassing my administration to make sure that I could hire her and she could join my practice, because that's all I wanted.”
– Dr. Shannon Hayes (03:32)

3. Meaning & Depth of Mentorship (04:03–06:05)

• Dr. Lee likens her lengthy tutelage to an apprenticeship—calling it “super rare in medicine these days.”
• Emphasizes the power of learning through prolonged observation, both in patient care and in how to build trust and rapport with families.
• Notes the seamless patient care their shared approach enables: “Patients really don't notice a difference when one of us cannot be there.”

4. Defining Mentorship – Professionally and Personally (06:05–09:04)

• Dr. Hayes reflects on her own mentor, Dr. Nancy Byrd, and the importance of being a role model not just in medicine, but in balancing life roles (working mom, wife, physician).
• Describes mentorship as a pillar of support through the demanding nature of medical careers, especially for women juggling multiple responsibilities.

Quote:
“Medicine is absolutely worth doing… but there are many times where you might want to quit because of how hard it is to raise a family and work at the same time… hopefully I'm here to be a pillar for them to go, okay, it can be done.”
– Dr. Shannon Hayes (07:56)

• Dr. Lee expresses that mentorship extends beyond clinical skills to address the whole “personhood” of doctors—how to grow as physicians, parents, and community members.
• Points out mutuality; learners and residents "give just as much back to us. …they keep us fresh with the evidence, they keep us up to date and they keep us accountable.”

5. Culture of Teaching & Momentum at Texas Children’s (12:03–14:02)

• Dr. Lee details a long-standing culture of teaching at Texas Children’s, now celebrating its 30-year anniversary.
• Acknowledges the challenges of incorporating teaching into busy practices, but affirms that patients often appreciate the presence of learners.
• They advocate for other clinics to embrace medical students and residents, emphasizing the rewards of mentorship even amidst heavy workloads.

Quote:
“We hope to continue showing other clinics, those who are hesitant about having a mentorship relationship with students, that it is worth doing.”
– Dr. Beverly Lee (13:41)

6. Personal Lessons Learned Through Mentorship (14:02–14:51)

• Dr. Hayes: The importance of adaptability, recognizing the diverse backgrounds and needs of trainees.
• Continuous self-improvement through interacting with learners.

7. Advice for Aspiring Medical Professionals (15:06–17:04)

• Dr. Lee emphasizes medicine as a path of delayed gratification: “It is long and…hard at times, but in the end it is extremely rewarding.” Urges future physicians to build strong support systems.
• Dr. Hayes views medicine as a “calling,” a meaningful profession that requires wholehearted commitment but brings profound rewards.
• Shares the joy of being a pediatrician: “It's like being a superstar without all the fame...It feels like a rock star every single day of my work.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Apprenticeship:
  “I viewed my time with Dr. Hayes now looking back more like an apprenticeship, if anything. And I think that's super rare in medicine these days.”
  – Dr. Beverly Lee (04:43)

• On Whole-Person Mentorship:
  “Equally important to me is how are you a working mom? How are you a wife?...I hopefully I'm here to be a pillar for them to go, okay, it can be done. We're good.”
  – Dr. Shannon Hayes (07:19)

• On the Rewards of Pediatrics:
  “It's like being a superstar without all the fame… Even when I'm dealing with really difficult situations, I can walk in the next room and just be greeted with this great hug.”
  – Dr. Shannon Hayes (16:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:18–01:24: Guest introductions & career backgrounds
• 02:03–03:54: Story of mentorship evolution
• 04:03–06:05: Dr. Lee on the meaning of apprenticeship
• 06:46–08:44: Dr. Hayes on mentorship philosophy and personal experiences
• 09:04–12:03: Dr. Lee on becoming a mentor and the mutual benefits of teaching
• 12:27–14:02: Building a culture of mentorship at Texas Children’s
• 14:22–14:51: Lessons learned about self through mentoring
• 15:06–17:04: Advice to aspiring medical professionals

Episode Tone & Language

The discussion is warm, collegial, and heartfelt, underscoring the fulfillment and challenges inherent in pediatric practice. Both guests speak with sincerity about the lasting value of mentorship—not just for clinical skills, but for supporting the full personhood of the next generation of doctors. Their stories illuminate the ripple effect of good mentorship throughout healthcare.

Summary prepared for Becker’s Healthcare Podcast listeners and those seeking insights into the value of mentorship in pediatric medicine.