Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving

Contemplation in Action: Rewiring Burnout from the Inside Out with Dr. Lia Antico | FIM Podcast #37

Today, we are joined by Dr. Lia Antico, a neuroscientist, educator, and contemplative scholar whose work explores the neural and behavioral mechanisms underlying burnout, empathy, and compassion in health professionals. Dr. Lia Antico is an Assistant Doctor at the Medical School of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Brown University School of Public Health. Her research investigates the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying various states of mind and body, focusing specifically on burnout and anxiety. She develops and tests interventions based on mindfulness aimed at preventing or alleviating burnout and fostering well-being and flourishing at work, especially among healthcare professionals. She is a strong advocate for Contemplation in Action, emphasizing the integration of mindfulness into daily life and relationships to build communities grounded in authenticity and trust. In the conversation, Dr. Antico shares how her early volunteer experiences in hospitals and her Christian contemplative tradition shaped her path into neuroscience and clinician wellbeing research. We also cover: * The development of a brief app-based mindfulness intervention at Brown University that reduced burnout by 30% and anxiety by 40% in clinicians * The neuroscientific distinction between empathy and compassion and why understanding this difference matters for sustainable caregiving * Her vision for creating spaces in hospitals and universities where clinicians can pause, breathe, share experiences, and reconnect with meaning in their work Dr. Antico concludes by emphasizing the importance of building communities grounded in authenticity and trust. Links: Dr. Lia Antico LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-antico-phd-2082ab56/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lia-antico-phd-2082ab56/] Unwinding by Sharecare App: https://unwindingbysharecare.com/ [https://unwindingbysharecare.com/] Clinician Burnout Course (Free): https://drjud.com/clinician-burnout-course/ [https://drjud.com/clinician-burnout-course/] EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ [https://www.myempro.com/] EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ [https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/] Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ [https://www.physiciansupportline.com/] Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ [https://mickkrasnermd.com/] Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ [https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/] Chapters: (00:00) Empathy and Compassion (02:30) Introduction (04:00) Wellbeing and Wisdom (05:00) Early Fascination (06:00) Volunteer Experiences (08:00) Contemplative Practices (09:00) The Pediatric Unit (12:00) Neural Mechanisms of Burnout (15:00) Mindfulness Intervention at Brown (18:00) Research Findings (21:00) Empathy vs. Compassion (29:00) Current Opportunities (32:00) Contemplation in Action (34:00) Faith Informing Professional Life (38:00) Bridge Between Personal and Professional (41:00) Breathe and Share (44:00) Conclusion

Mindfulness, Self-Compassion, and the Future of Healthcare in Singapore with Dr. Virginia Lien | Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving #36

Today, we are joined by Dr. Virginia Lien, a physician, psychotherapist, and mindfulness teacher from Singapore who has been caring for others for four decades. Dr. Virginia Lien is a physician, psychotherapist and mindfulness teacher caring for others for four decades in Singapore. Since retiring from clinical medicine after a serious accident 12 years ago, she has recovered to start The Mindful Compassion Project in 2017. This is a not-for-profit partnership offering mindful compassion programs and retreats to promote well-being and flourishing among local professional caregivers in medicine and healthcare. Working with many gifted clinicians and medical educators locally and internationally, she is passionate about promoting Mindfulness and Compassion in Medicine to effect holistic changes both at the personal and the organizational leadership level. She believes that, together, we can bring healing back to healthcare, beginning by caring for ourselves and our dedicated colleagues. In the conversation, Dr. Lien shares how a traumatic burn injury transformed her understanding of both patient and caregiver experience, leading her to create circles of connection that ripple outward to influence healthcare culture in Singapore and beyond. We also cover: * The rapid evolution of Singapore's healthcare system and the escalating pressures on students and clinicians * Three key programs: Mindful Self-Care, Self-Compassion for Healthcare Communities, and Mindful Practice in Medicine * How small circles of practitioners create ripple effects of kindness and humanity in healthcare systems Dr. Lien concludes by emphasizing the importance of bringing mindfulness and compassion to leadership levels, noting that compassionate leadership actually strengthens resilience and connection rather than creating weakness or inefficiency. Links: The Mindful Compassion Project: https://www.themindfulcompassionproject.com/ [https://www.themindfulcompassionproject.com/] EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ [https://www.myempro.com/] EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ [https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/] Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ [https://www.physiciansupportline.com/] Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ [https://mickkrasnermd.com/] Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ [https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/] Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (05:28) Why Medicine (06:40) Childhood Illness (10:12) Healthcare Journey (11:30) Patient Experience (12:00) Discovering Mindfulness and Self-Compassion (13:58) Healthcare in Singapore (16:55) Pressures on Healthcare Professionals (19:15) The Mindful Compassion Project (22:24) Transformation During COVID (24:21) The Power of Connection (25:25) Scaling Programs in Singapore's Healthcare System (28:14) Community, Practice, and Regional Vision (30:00) Opportunities in China and Asia Pacific (32:22) Bringing Compassion to Leadership (34:24) Conclusion

Relational Leadership in Healthcare with Dr. Sarah Smithson and Jane Cooper-Driver | Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving #35

Today, we are joined by Dr. Sarah Smithson, MD, MPH, and Jane Cooper-Driver, co-founders and co-CEOs of Relational Leadership Partners. In the conversation, Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver explore relational leadership as a human-centered approach that cultivates connection, collaboration, and belonging while addressing how traditional hierarchical models in healthcare leave authenticity, innovation, and quality on the table. We also cover: * How relational breakdowns contribute to burnout and why healthcare has become transactional rather than relationship-centered * Practical, teachable relational practices that transform conflict into creativity and build psychological safety within teams * Why these skills are not optional extras but foundational to patient care, team resilience, and organizational sustainability Dr. Smithson and Cooper-Driver conclude by envisioning a healthcare system where team members feel part of something greater, where resilience lives within the collective, and where both staff and patients experience genuine care and belonging. Links: Relational Leadership Partners: https://rlpconnect.com/ [https://rlpconnect.com/] Dr. Sarah Smithson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smithson/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-smithson/] Jane Cooper-Driver LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-cooper-driver-01000b6/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-cooper-driver-01000b6/] EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ [https://www.myempro.com/] EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ [https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/] Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ [https://www.physiciansupportline.com/] Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ [https://mickkrasnermd.com/] Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ [https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/] Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (02:00) Relational Leadership (03:00) Sarah's Origin Story (06:00) The Cadaver Lab Experience (08:00) Jane's Cross-Cultural Journey to Leadership (11:00) Defining Relational Leadership (14:00) Traditional vs. Relational Leadership Models (17:00) The All-Knowing Leader Myth (18:00) Common Relational Breakdowns in Healthcare (21:00) Conflict, Communication, and Trust (24:00) The New York Driving Analogy (25:00) Conflict Transformation vs. Resolution (27:00) Can Relational Skills Be Taught? (29:00) Intentionality in Practice (32:00) Integration vs. Compartmentalization (34:00) The Patient Experience Connection (36:00) Envisioning a Relationally Grounded Future (39:00) Love and Collective Resilience (41:00) Conclusion

Treating the Wounded Healer with Dr. Stefanie Simmons | Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving #34

Today, we are joined by Dr. Stefanie Simmons, emergency medicine physician, national leader in clinician wellbeing, and Chief Medical Officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation, for a conversation about service, systemic change, and reimagining healthcare workers as emotional and intellectual athletes. In this conversation, Stefanie reflects on her unexpected path into medicine. Originating from a family ethic of service and her father's repeated message: our duty is to use our talents to make the world a better place. She traces how her historian's eye for systems and change, combined with early experiences of misalignment between medicine's ideals and realities, led her to focus on the interpersonal, cultural, and systemic dimensions of healing. We also cover: * The tragic story of Dr. Lorna Breen and the foundation's mission to dismantle structural barriers to mental healthcare for clinicians, including invasive licensing and credentialing questions about past mental health treatment * How personal struggles with unaddressed mental health needs and stigma shaped her commitment to changing medical culture and treating healthcare workers with the same care they provide to patients * The foundation's comprehensive work across research, education, collaboration with national organizations, and accelerating solutions through the impact badge program that recognizes institutions removing stigmatizing questions * Her vision for the future: treating healthcare workers as emotional and intellectual athletes who deserve proper training, rest, coaching, and supportive systems designed to help them thrive rather than injure them Throughout, Dr. Simmons embodies moral clarity, vulnerability, and hope—grounded in systems thinking, dedicated to cultural transformation, and committed to a more humane medical profession. She closes with a powerful reframe: in order to reach a state where our healthcare workforce is healthy and thriving, we need to treat ourselves and each other as the intellectual and emotional athletes that we are. Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefsimmons/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefsimmons/] Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation: https://drlornabreen.org/ [https://drlornabreen.org/] EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ [https://www.myempro.com/] EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ [https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/] Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ [https://www.physiciansupportline.com/] Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ [https://mickkrasnermd.com/] Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ [https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/] Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:15) Welcome and Overview (01:21) Path into Medicine (03:19) Dr. Simmon’s Origin Story (04:00) Family Service Ethic (06:00) Her Father's Influence (07:45) Personal Evolution (23:10) Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation (24:30) Dr. Lorna Breen (25:00) Finding the Foundation (26:15) Future Vision (27:00) Physicians as Athletes (29:15) Designing for Wellbeing (29:50) Closing Reflections (30:00) Mindfulness Exercise (32:07) Conclusion

Belonging & Mindfulness Across Medicine with Dr. Ross Carne | Flourishing in Medicine: From Surviving to Thriving #33

Today, we are joined by Dr. Ross Carne. Dr. Ross Carne MBBS, FRACP, MD(Melbourne), MMEd (Dundee), FASLM, LMusA is a neurologist and clinical neurophysiologist who is American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine Certified and a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Certified Teacher through MTIA. He holds a Doctorate of Medicine investigating brain imaging in epilepsy and a Masters in Medical Education. He is currently an Affiliate Professor at School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. In this conversation, Ross reflects on the formative experiences that drew him into medicine and how these shaped his lifelong desire to relieve suffering and make complexity understandable to others. We also cover: * How mindfulness transformed both his clinical practice and personal life, opening space for authenticity, deeper presence, and creative exploration * His "Belonging in Medicine" program, which helps clinicians reconnect with intention, beauty, and collegial connections across individual, interpersonal, and organizational dimensions * How contemplative practices like attentive listening, acknowledging emotional content, and sharing experiences with colleagues directly counter the components of burnout: depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, and professional inadequacy Throughout, Dr. Carne embodies a creative, curious spirit—open to possibilities, grounded in presence, and dedicated to helping clinicians discover and rediscover meaning, connection, and humanity in their work. He closes with a reminder from Rumi: "On a day when the wind is perfect, the sail just has to open and the world is full of beauty. Today is such a day." Links: Mindfulness Training Institute Australia New Zealand: https://www.mtia.org.au/search-results/teacher?id=51 [https://www.mtia.org.au/search-results/teacher?id=51] EmPro Website: https://www.myempro.com/ [https://www.myempro.com/] EmPro Peer Support Program: https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/ [https://www.myempro.com/peer-support/] Physician Support Line: +1(888) 409-0141 Physician Support Line Website: https://www.physiciansupportline.com/ [https://www.physiciansupportline.com/] Dr. Krasner's Website: https://mickkrasnermd.com/ [https://mickkrasnermd.com/] Mindful Practice in Medicine Website: https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/ [https://mindfulpracticeinmedicine.com/] Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (00:15) Dr. Carne’s path into medicine (01:00) Early experiences with illness and caregiving (02:25) The emotional impact of feeling powerless (04:10) How those moments shaped his calling (06:22) Living with seizures and personal vulnerability (07:45) Finding meaning in the healer’s role (09:12) Mindfulness and the “traveling intention” (10:27) The epiphany that shifted his practice (11:45) First encounter with mindfulness in medicine (12:15) Beginning formal mindfulness training (14:00) Integrating attention and compassion in care (16:30) The science behind awareness and suffering (18:10) The role of presence in clinical encounters (21:00) Belonging and connection in healthcare teams (24:40) What physicians need to thrive (29:34) Creativity, writing, and narrative work (31:48) Final reflections on wonder and curiosity (32:19) Closing thoughts from Dr. Carne (33:07) Guided mindfulness exercise (35:31) Conclusion