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I recently saw an advertisement from Then I remembered my own experience team. I invite Dr. Google into the exam room.
You CAN BCMS announcing a CME webinar featuring with burnout and how I first started to pull We search together, so that I can guide the
Dr. Nora Vasquez entitled, "Reimagining Life myself out of it. I read a story in a throwaway
search. Enlisting staff and ancillary services
in Medicine: Coaching, Renewal and Infinite journal in the "Doctor's Lifestyle" section. It where necessary is another way. Patients want
Teach an Possibilities." I signed up as I had attended a was written by a young woman, Ob/Gyn third- an advocate. Most of them no longer expect
us to be the final authority. Dr. Google has
couple of her previous webinars and they year resident, who was trying to explain her
Old Doc were amazing. I digress, but this entire article own emergence from burnout. She had three seen to that. The power of admitting that you
should be about Dr. Vasquez and what she has children and was about to quit medicine be-
do not know it all and that you are fallible is
essential in gaining our patients' trust. Take it
done for our medical community. Devoting cause of the toll it had taken on her, her family
New oneself to the cause of promoting the well- and her patients. She decided to try a simple from an old doc who has had to do both more
being of fellow physicians is a laudable one. method to make each day better; each en-
often than I care to admit!
But with this session, I was reluctant to sign counter with a colleague better; each opportu-
The concept of a Moral Injury is also one
Tricks up. What could eight young women physi- nity to connect with staff and patients more prevalent in burnout literature. Different than
burnout, it involves the devolution of the
cians teach me, Boomer Geezer, MD, any-
enriching. What was her magic secret? She said
human psyche when there is a disconnect be-
thing about life in medicine? At age 68, I hello and good morning to everyone she saw
hardly have any time left for renewal and in- and addressed them by name. In a crowded el- tween our calling and the reality of our daily
work. This is what we are experiencing — de-
finite possibilities. Nonetheless, I signed up evator, busy hospital hallways, parking lots,
By Tim Hlavinka, MD and attended. doctors' lounges ... she never missed a chance tailing the somber statistics on burnout serves

The webinar was among the best two to say hello. Eventually she came to know most no purpose when we live it on a daily basis. I
hours I have ever spent in medicine. The en- of her colleagues' stories. By sharing their pas- took a TMA CME webinar on childhood and shown the latest plan by management to "deal who turned despair into renewed hopes and
ergy and enthusiasm of the team was over the sion and reason for choosing medicine with sexual abuse, and I was struck by the irony that with burnout." To give healthcare workers dreams. Let us follow the path of the young
top. The effort and intensity necessary for her, she was able to find the courage to pursue the language and experiences cited in that lit- hope for a better work environment that is not women physician coaches who are eminently
these young women to overcome barriers and her dream with reinvigorated fervor. My erature were eerily similar to the relationship substantiated by actions at the highest levels wise beyond their years.
break ceilings in medicine were truly inspira- thought was, "If a busy Ob/Gyn resident with we physicians have with those that control our of system control is an egregious breach of au- I have always wanted to create a meme where
tional. That they had gone beyond sur- three kids can do all that, I have no excuse for healthcare systems. thenticity about self-determination. Once a doc is taking hold of their laptop and throw-
mounting those obstacles to create a not making the effort to pull myself out of my The core principles behind what we have again, they are using our best professional ing it to the floor, smashing it to pieces. The
superlative life and life in medicine is extraor- funk." It was remarkable. Within months, I had achieved as individuals in medicine are empow- qualities and character against us. Think about next scene is that same doc emphatically plac-
dinary. I thought back to what sort of role regained faith in myself and the worthiness of erment, agency and transparency. We all go this: We feel the need to present mountains of ing a stethoscope around their shoulders, walk-
model I had been to younger physicians, and the practice of medicine. through the rigors of the guild-like residency evidence to substantiate our obviously meri- ing into a patient's room and sitting down on
wondered if I had had any impact on their My research identified the commonality of system with gradually acquired skills, experi- torious position on this issue when the C-suite the patient's bed, eyes connected with the pa-
lives, professionally and personally, like these the Imposter Syndrome as a major contribut- ence and responsibility. Anyone who has been can take it all away with the stroke of a budg- tient's eyes. What I am suggesting is not a rev-
young women were affecting the lives of their ing factor in the development of burnout. It the "Guest of Dishonor" at an M&M presenta- etary pen. olution, but an evolution. Sometimes they look
peers. One of the participants had a motiva- seems that what we have here is a case of Im- tion knows exactly how the three interact to Agency, transparency and empowerment the same. To change, there must be a need, a
tional poster on the wall behind her, such poster Syndrome gone amuck. Information promote professional growth. These tenets that create a healthy environment to practice want and action. Thank you, Dr. Vasquez, for
that, every time I read a phrase from it, I im- comes at us at dizzying speeds and we have to must be the core principles for solving problems meaningful clinical care is the solution to showing us a way. Thank you for starting me,
mediately felt more encouraged. balance the needs of patients and our personal and creating meaningful change in healthcare, burnout. The power structure of the health- Boomer Geezer, MD, dreaming again.
lives with the requirement to be on top of our regardless of the scope of the problems or the care system that has evolved has decided that
Some highlights (yes, I took notes!): game professionally. Indeed, managing the depth of brokenness of the institutions them- we as physicians cannot have both financial Tim Hlavinka, MD, is the Medical

knowledge base we need to maintain the level selves. Capacity is the overarching theme. success and provide meaningful clinical care. Director of Vidamor Medical and has
"Burnout is a spectrum, not an on/off switch"
of authority we all feel we must possess to have We can discuss these issues to our heart's We must choose between or become part of been a member of the Bexar County
"Know your why" credibility is crushingly burdensome. Let me content but if we keep going back to an un- management and ownership. Medical Society for three decades. The father of

give you a universal pass on that one. You can- healthy work environment that produces un- I have an alternative. It is said that laughter five and grandfather of four, he firmly believes
"Stop trying to mind read and learn
not do it. If your journal and medical news re- healthy colleagues, we are more than just is medicine, faith is medicine and music is that the mutual power of collegiality among
to communicate"
view is more than a week prior, you are wasting our time. We are perpetuating a prob- medicine. Let me add one. Collegiality is physicians has great potential to bring us lasting
"We forgot why we were dreaming" behind. This is not to induce ill feelings, but lem. This is the source of the eye rolls and medicine. Let us be healers to each other and and effective changes in healthcare. Dr. Tim is
to suggest that the way around it is to create a ennui-laced shoulder shrugs when we are follow the life of that young Ob/Gyn resident anxious to hear your stories.

30 SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • February 2024 Visit us at www.bcms.org 31