by Diane W. Shannon | Sep 7, 2023 | Humanizing Medicine, Identity, Thriving
This summer, my cousin Cindy has been raising Monarch butterflies. Two weeks ago, when I was visiting her for the weekend, she gave me a chrysalis to bring home. She’d already done the bulk of the work, feeding and caring for the caterpillar. I left with a mesh-sided... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Apr 6, 2023 | Humanizing Medicine, Thriving
My husband and I are downsizing; meaning, we are looking to move to a smaller place—a home where the kids won’t have designated rooms. As with past milestones, like turning 40, the day my firstborn left for college or when the youngest learned to drive, I have found... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Mar 2, 2023 | Coaching, Humanizing Medicine
Guilt has a purpose. It reminds me of my responsibility to be the best version of myself that I can be. Shame does not. It only serves to keep me bound up in negative thoughts about who I am—thoughts that block all possibility of being my best self. The research... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Oct 5, 2021 | Gender, Humanizing Medicine
By Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH; Nadia Obaed, Dieula John, MD; C. Elena Cervantes, MD; and Miriam Zylberglait Lisigurski, MD Thirty-five years ago, as a first-year student, I (DWS) wrote an article for my medical school’s student-run newspaper titled, “Sexism in Medical... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Mar 4, 2021 | Culture, Gender, Humanizing Medicine
A month or so ago, I came across a social media post about a new children’s book. My children are young adults, not yet parents—so why did I immediately order the book and eagerly await its arrival? And when I had the slim paperback in my hands, why I place it on the... by Diane W. Shannon | Nov 6, 2020 | Gender, Humanizing Medicine, Thriving
I’ve been speaking with women physicians about the top challenges they face today. I’ve learned there are many—which honestly didn’t surprise me, given that 48 precent of women physicians report burnout symptoms (compared with 37 percent of their male...