Today’s conversation is about physician burnout, survival mode, emotional exhaustion, communication strain, leadership pressure, boundaries, career sustainability, and what it actually takes to stay connected to yourself in medicine.

What happens when physicians stay in survival mode for too long and slowly begin losing connection to the parts of themselves that once felt grounded, present, and alive?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Anne Hirsch, retired internal medicine physician, physician career advisor, coach, and healthcare leadership and clinician communication strategist.

We talk about:
• The subtle signs of burnout physicians often miss
• How stress shows up in communication, relationships, and team dynamics
• Why so many physicians quietly withdraw instead of reaching for support
• The role of shame, awareness, and boundaries in burnout recovery
• How coaching can help physicians identify blind spots, reconnect with their values, and create a more sustainable way of living and practicing medicine
• Why community, support, and honest reflection matter so much in physician well-being and leadership

Whether you are personally considering coaching, supporting physicians as a coach, or simply wondering why medicine has started feeling harder to sustain, this conversation offers a deeply human look at what physicians are carrying beneath the surface and what actually helps.

If you’ve been feeling disconnected from yourself…

If you’ve been operating in survival mode for longer than you want to admit…

Or if you’ve simply been longing to feel a little more human again…

This conversation is for you.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:
• Maslach Burnout Inventory
https://www.mindgarden.com/117-maslach-burnout-inventory-mbi

• Positive Intelligence by Shirzad Chamine
https://www.positiveintelligence.com

• The Business of Friendship by Shasta Nelson
https://shastanelson.com/book/

• DISC Behavioral Assessment
https://www.discprofile.com

Learn more about Dr. Anne Hirsch & Connect:

Stay Connected:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissieottmd
Podcast Website: https://www.solvingforjoy.com
Chrissie’s Website: https://www.chrissieottmd.com
🩺 For Physician Coaches & Healthcare Leaders
Physician Coaching Collective:
https://www.physiciancoachingcollective.com
Physician Coaching Summit:
https://www.thephysiciancoachingsummit.com