Post Author: Kim Downey, PT

Kim Downey is a physician advocate and physical therapist.

Kim Downey is a physician advocate and physical therapist.

Fighting burnout with deeper human connections

Physician
September 8, 2024

Kim Downey:

Fostering meaningful connections and building a supportive community has become my mission as I work to stand up for and alongside doctors. I recently connected Dr. Wael Saasouh with Lisa Scardina. During our thought-provoking conversation, Wael said, from his perspective of wearing many hats in business, leadership, clinical, and research, “Once we can collaborate on multiple levels, a solution becomes a lot more attainable!” Lisa and I wholeheartedly agreed. …

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How to support physician wellness during the toughest times

Physician
July 21, 2024

Michael Foti, MD, and Tushar Bhagat, PhD, recently reached out to me, each expressing that we are committed to the same goal: well-being for others, especially physicians. I paired them up for an episode of my YouTube channel, where they poignantly shared their journeys to becoming advocates for physician wellness. Through their work, they are creating synergistic loops of feeling better! Here are their stories:

Michael Foti, MD: 

At a time when …

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It’s time for physicians to reclaim their voice and identity

Physician
July 16, 2024

Kim Downey

Wherever conversations surrounding health care occur, similar frustrations emerge, whether I’m speaking with a physician in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, or New Zealand. I’ve recently been in dialogue with Olivia Morris, co-founder and CEO of Verity Barrington and Doctors Living in Ireland. Olivia has been a global physician advocate for the past ten years. Given that role, along with being married to a doctor, Olivia has acquired …

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Voices for physician mental health

Physician
April 29, 2024

I’ve been honored and privileged to have had recent conversations with two courageous women: Betsy Gall and Pamela Marie Hobby.

Pamela met a medical resident who changed the course of her life on October 28, 2019, and Betsy’s life was forever changed exactly one month later, on November 28, 2019.

Betsy wrote a book to share her family’s story. The title grabbed Pamela immediately, as it aligned with what she was building …

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Revitalize your medical practice: Embrace creativity!

Physician
April 27, 2024

“Creativity is intelligence having fun!”

George Scialabba shared a variation of this quote in a 1984 Harvard Magazine article, though it is often attributed to Albert Einstein.

National Creativity Day is coming up on May 30th. What does that have to do with being a doctor? Everything!

Dr. Amy-Jo Farrow in the U.K. and Dr. Charity Hix in the U.S. speak to the importance of nurturing creativity in our lives. The demands and …

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Ditch the guilt and stress: Embrace your core values like this inspiring doctor mom

Physician
March 12, 2024

Kim Downey:

I recently had an enlightening conversation with Dr. Sarah Wittry. We enjoyed learning about all that we share in common!

As a physical therapist, I was delighted to hear that Dr. Wittry’s medical career began in physiatry/PM&R.

Having friends and relatives who have benefited from hospice care, I have tremendous respect for her current work in palliative medicine and hospice.

We spoke of how it has felt to each of us to …

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How doctors can have successful crucial conversations

Physician
February 10, 2024

One thing that all those years of education, medical training, and textbook studying can never quite fully prepare us for as physicians is crucial conversations with our patients. There’s an element to mastering these conversations that comes with being an attending physician, bearing sole provider responsibility, and having them ourselves. They may start off clunky at first in early practice, but we hope to continually improve with time.

In my practice …

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A patient reached out to a doctor, and they helped each other heal

Physician
February 3, 2024

Kim Downey:

“Each year, almost 400 physicians die by suicide.” That sentence stopped me in my tracks.

I’d been reading all the articles here on KevinMD for almost a year when I came across one written by Dr. Avellino, with the opening line above.

One of my amazing doctors had died several months prior. I was, and in some ways still am, struggling with his death from over a year ago.

I clicked on …

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Why write? Physicians share their stories of healing through writing.

Physician
December 9, 2023

I’ve read countless articles, posts, blogs, and books over the past year and a half, written by physicians, and I’ve learned an incredible amount!

Every physician’s voice is special, distinct, and remarkable.

Why write? Write for yourself. Many articles, including at least one study by the American Psychological Association, speak to writing as being a powerful tool for stress relief and healing.

Some physicians write as part of a gratitude practice, some write …

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Physicians turn feelings of frustration and powerlessness into purpose and hope

Physician
December 4, 2023

Every physician has a story to tell, about their medical training, about their clinical work. Every story is unique. Simultaneously, there are common shared themes about the joys and the difficulties. These experiences are universal, regardless of gender, specialty, or geographic location.

I asked two physicians, a female ER doctor on the East Coast in the U.S., and a male trauma-informed physician-coach in the U.K., to tell us how their experiences …

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10 things to know about your doctor that will get you better care

Physician
November 29, 2023

During a recent conversation with Dr. Dawn Sears, I mentioned that I was working on a presentation I wish to give locally, speaking on “How caring for your doctor gets you better care.”

Our discussion revealed some important insights all patients should be aware of, which we share here:

1. Let the pilot fly the plane. Passengers generally don’t walk onto an airplane and start complaining to the pilot about their seat …

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Pivot from clinical work? Sometimes the answer is yes, and that’s OK.

Physician
October 15, 2023

“All I know is how to be a doctor.” That’s the story many physicians tell themselves when they feel pulled to pivot from direct patient care. Through working with a coach, therapist, or mentor, doctors see there are always other possible paths forward. Sometimes, it’s what you need to do to take care of yourself, short or long term, and there is nothing more important than that…

Charity Hix, MD

I knew …

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Doctors rediscover joy in practicing medicine, on their own terms

Physician
October 3, 2023

Challenging and frustrating are two words describing what it feels like to be a doctor today. Yet numerous physicians are sharing their journeys as to how they moved through difficult times and have been able to find joy again by practicing medicine on their own terms.

The following doctors describe how they have continued seeing patients while incorporating additional pursuits that help them feel balanced and fulfilled.

Be sure to watch their …

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Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

Physician
September 23, 2023

What is working?

I often encounter variations of this question on social media. The response is frequently met with silence or lackluster positivity.

I’ve engaged in conversations with numerous inspirational physicians who have shared their tales of burnout and recovery.

As part of their healing journeys, in addition to their active medical practices, the physicians below have all obtained coaching certifications. These doctors are now even busier than before, but they find fulfillment …

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A message of hope for physicians

Physician
September 17, 2023

Physicians are struggling with challenges navigating the health care system while trying to provide the best possible care for their patients. Sometimes, struggles at work are compounded by struggles at home as we all face stressors during our travel through life; doctors are no exception.

Many physicians who went through a period of burnout have sought and are seeking help. They are feeling hope for the future. I asked three physicians …

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The struggle is real for patients and doctors

Conditions
July 21, 2023

If you are a patient, we all are at some point. Undoubtedly, you have experienced some of the difficulties patients face today in getting approved for and receiving medical care in a timely fashion. From scheduling doctor visits to undergoing tests, procedures, obtaining medications, and even surgeries, the process can be challenging.

It’s easy to be tempted to blame your doctor for the long wait times to schedule an appointment, the …

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Surviving multiple cancers: a tale of blessings and exceptional doctors

Conditions
June 21, 2023

Although it could be said that I’ve been very “unlucky” over the past couple of years due to surgeries and treatments for three separate cancers, I feel blessed by how “lucky” I have been to have had a combination of outstanding doctors.

Dealing with ongoing medical issues, as a health care professional, I fully appreciate the challenges facing patients and physicians alike in the current health care climate.

Thank you, doctors, for …

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The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

Conditions
May 28, 2023

Upon reading numerous articles referencing physician coaching, most have been written by physicians who were transformed by coaching and then became coaches themselves. (Thank you.  Your work is so needed in this area!) At least once or twice, I’ve seen coaching referenced in a derogatory manner or deemed unnecessary. In those instances, the premise was that “the system” is the problem and coaching is not the answer. In reality, this …

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An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

Conditions
May 11, 2023

“He had an intuitive gift as a physician in diagnosing and managing breast cancer. His expertise helped countless patients, and he was deeply appreciated by those he cared for. He felt an enormous sense of gratitude to be able to help his patients and be an integral part of their care.”

I didn’t want to have cancer again, and who would? It was December 29, 2021, just over a year since …

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