In this episode of Full Plate, Liz Ellis speaks with Dr. Rhea Liang, a trailblazing breast surgeon, medical educator, and champion for cultural change within medicine. For nearly thirty years, Dr. Liang has broken barriers—including serving as the first woman in her surgical department—while navigating the profession as an autistic woman. She reveals how her neurodivergence fosters the intense hyper-focus required in the operating room, and shares the realities of navigating motherhood and exhaustion early in her career within a rigid medical system.

Because her autism affects how she perceives internal cues like hunger and thirst, Dr. Liang relies on meticulous daily routines and specific physical indicators to stay refuelled. Beyond the clinic, she mentors senior medical students through profound milestones like their first patient death. For Dr. Liang, sharing food or a cup of tea is the primary language of her mentorship, creating a deliberate pause for young doctors while offering a comforting ritual that helps ease the pressure of masking her neurodivergence. Together, they explore the evolution of medical culture and the deeply human reality behind the traditional surgeon's persona.

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CREDITS:

Host: Liz Ellis

Guest: Dr. Rhea Liang

Group Executive Producers: Naima Brown & Courtney Ammenhauser

Video Producer: Marlena Cacciotti

Social Producer: Keeley Mercieca

Audio Producer: Thom Lion

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