by Diane W. Shannon | Apr 12, 2022 | Burnout, Thriving, Understanding Burnout
Sam and I, Falmouth, Winter 2022 Our profession often sends the message that we are invincible heroes. Here’s my vulnerable and honest admission: I lapped that up. There was something so seductive about denying pesky human requirements, like sleep, regular exercise,... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Jan 8, 2020 | Gender, Understanding Burnout
Burnout prevalence is 20 to 60 percent higher among women physicians than their male colleagues. Understanding why women physicians are burning out is important for identifying effective ways to address the problem. Here’s my take on the underlying causes: 1. Women... 
by Diane W. Shannon | Feb 5, 2019 | Understanding Burnout
Health care organizations are moving to address clinician burnout with a real sense of urgency. It is now commonly accepted that burnout is widespread among health care professionals and has serious repercussions for patient safety and the quality of care.... by Diane W. Shannon | Apr 19, 2018 | Tools for Preventing Burnout, Understanding Burnout
This post was co-authored with David Brendel, a psychiatrist and executive coach who blogs at Leading Minds Executive Coaching. It appeared on KevinMD on April 9, 2018. Physician burnout rates hover around 50 percent and the adverse consequences are serious. Burnout... by Diane W. Shannon | Dec 7, 2017 | Humanizing Medicine, Understanding Burnout
I realize today that shame, and the stigma about needing help if you’re a care provider, profoundly affected my career path and even my sense of identity. When I was overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed, and scared, did I reach out for help? No, I kept going until I hit a... by Diane W. Shannon | Sep 26, 2017 | Leadership, Understanding Burnout
When I speak to groups or write about physician burnout, I often hear back from clinicians who are thankful someone is validating their experiences. As one young physician wrote me: “I went into medicine for the right reasons, but find myself, after only six years,...