Becoming A Sage Physician

Pizza parties and yoga don't make up for a broken healthcare system.

You went to medical school to be a healer. You studied your a$$ off, agonized about the MCATs, and earnestly wrote in your personal statement that you wanted to "help people."

How's that going?

If you're like me, you learned in med school, and again in residency, that your needs come second, if at all. You probably got the message that you don't need to eat or sleep or pee, and you'd certainly better not cry. And as an attending you're dealing with EMRs, endless administrative tasks, and time-consuming documentation requirements.

No wonder physicians are exhausted.

Yet getting stuck in the muck of it all doesn't help your patients, and it certainly doesn't help you.

Being a 'medical martyr' will make you burnout crispy in no time, and becoming disconnected and numb is simply heartbreaking.

There is no doubt that the system needs fixing and we all have a part in that. Yet, I propose that we don't wait until it is all fixed to actively pursue a more satisfying path.

We can become Sage Physicians right now. What is a Sage Physician?

Sage Physicians are:

• Skilled at integrative symptom management
• Willing to be open, vulnerable, and self-reflective
• Comfortable with courageous conversations
• Able to set boundaries & manage time effectively
• Clear about their values and needs and make career choices that honor them
• Committed to both teaching and practicing wellbeing skills
• Able to manage stress with a neutral or positive mindset
• Skilled at guiding patients and families through chronic or serious illness

Let's support each other in becoming Sage Physicians.

I'm happy to be on the journey with you.

Delia Chiaramonte, MD | Integrative Palliative Institute