I Didn't Go Into Medicine To Become This | Ep6 cover art

I Didn't Go Into Medicine To Become This | Ep6

I Didn't Go Into Medicine To Become This | Ep6

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 “I didn’t go into medicine to become this.” It’s a quiet thought. But most of us have had it at some point in our careers. We start with purpose, with energy, with an eagerness to help. And then… the years add up. Patient after patient. Room after room. The tragedies and the hard conversations. The exhaustion of being everything for everyone else. We hold it together with a thin veneer—until it cracks. And somewhere along the way, we notice we’ve become someone we barely recognize. The snapping. The shutting down. The quiet retreat inside ourselves.In this episode, host Dr. Michael Hersh and guest Dr. Kemia Sarraf, dive into the unseen toll of medical training and practice. Reflecting on their shared journey through residency, they discuss how unprocessed stress compounds into burnout and disillusionment. Dr. Sarraf introduces powerful tools like co-regulation—how connection with colleagues disrupts trauma—and the importance of "resourcing" to prevent embodiment of harm. This episode blends personal storytelling with actionable strategies, offering physicians a path to heal, reconnect with their purpose, and lead with compassion in their demanding roles.Top 3 TakeawaysAcknowledge and Name Trauma – Recognize that trauma in medicine is not a personal failure but a systemic issue; naming it opens the path to healing.Practice Co-Regulation – Build connections with colleagues to disrupt traumatic stress; shared experiences and support are powerful tools for resilience.Prioritize Resourcing – Identify and access what you need (e.g., time, community, self-compassion) to prevent stress from becoming embodied trauma.About the ShowCreated for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest: Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals.Connect with Dr. Sarraf:🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia📸 Instagram: @drkemia📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaSAbout the HostDr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.
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