Behind the Curtain: The Emotional Toll

Behind the Curtain: The Emotional Toll

The conversation delves into the emotional toll experienced by surgeons via the stress of making sure everyone around us feels safe at all times, especially patients. We have to hold ourselves together to provide empathy to our patients pending a life-changing surgery, even when behind the curtain, the day's schedule and staff support have fallen apart and our to-do list is growing relentlessly. As surgeons, experiencing this over the course of our career results in us developing essentially a defense mechanism against ourselves with supressing our own human needs and emotions in effort to ensure our patients and staff feel safe. The flip side of this is we suffer in silence, all while the emotional toll builds in the shadow of that suppression. This episode delves into normalization of the emotional toll in the healthcare profession. It highlights the challenges faced by surgeons, the impact of emotional suppression, and the need for recuperation and recovery. Additionally, for non-healthcare workers, it emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the emotional toll experienced by healthcare workers, as well as the resilience and fortitude required to navigate these challenges. This emotional suppression can result in misconceptions with how patients even perceive their surgeon. Take a listen behind the curtain to see the truth! Takeaways * Emotional Toll on Surgeons * Normalization of the Emotional Toll Chapters * Staffing Challenge Story * Emotional Toll of High Stress Days * Emotional Burden on Healthcare Workers * Emotional Resilience * Reality of Patient Care Under Pressure * Behind the Curtain * Normalizing Emotional Challenges * Surgeon-Patient Dynamics Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr]

Lifestyle Rx: Be Quiet!

Dr. Paige Moorhead shares her recent vacation experiences, correlating this to the impact of stress on women, and the importance of managing stress through lifestyle choices and healthy distractions. She emphasizes the power of quiet and the parasympathetic state in navigating stress and responsibility. Takeaways * Research insights: gender differences in stress * Understanding the impact of stress on women * The power of quiet and the parasympathetic state in stress management * Two types of quiet Chapters * 00:00 Vacation Adventures * 11:08 Gender Differences in Stress Response * 21:26 The Impact of Stress on Women * 32:32 Internalizing Stress and Healthy Distractions * 40:23 Embodying the Quiet State * 46:39 Navigating Stress and Responsibility * 56:35 The Privilege of Responsibility Research Links: 1. Stress by Gender - American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/gender-report.pdf [https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2012/gender-report.pdf] 2. Men and Women Experience Stress Differently - Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-self/202403/men-and-women-experience-stress-differently/amp [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-science-of-self/202403/men-and-women-experience-stress-differently/amp] 3. UF scientists find key differences in male, female responses to stress - University of Florida College of Pharmacy: https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/uf-scientists-find-key-differences-in-male-female-responses-to-stress [https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/uf-scientists-find-key-differences-in-male-female-responses-to-stress] Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr [https://www.instagram.com/the_female_surgeons?utm_source=qr] Interested in being a guest? thefemalesurgeons@gmail.com [thefemalesurgeons@gmail.com]

Surgeon Spotlight: Dr. Ellie Kraft, MD, FACS | Oncoplastic Surgeon

Dr. Elizabeth (Ellie) Kraft, an ocoplastic surgeon, shares her journey into this unique surgical field that has revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer. After explaining the history of oncoplastic surgery, she discusses her experience becoming a surgeon as a female, the frequency of breast cancer diagnosis, and the importance of early detection. Additionally, Dr. Kraft emphasizes the significance of maintaining mental and physical health as a surgeon, highlighting the challenges and strategies for self-care in a demanding profession. The discussion then dives into patient perceptions and assumptions when females introduce themselves as their surgeon, followed by how Dr. Kraft plans to leave a footprint during her professional career. Takeaways * Oncoplastic surgery: A revolutionary approach to breast cancer surgery * The importance of mental and physical health for surgeons * Gender bias experience entering into a surgical field * Challenges faced by female surgeons Chapters * Oncoplastic Surgery Revolution * The Impact of Gender in Surgery * Breast Cancer Awareness, Statistics, & Screening * Maintaining Mental & Physical Health as a Surgeon * Bouncing Back from Complications * Experiences of Bias in Surgical Fields * Patient Perceptions * Future Aspirations and Impact * Reflection on Childhood Dreams Follow Dr. Ellie Kraft: * @drelliekraft * www.drelliekraft.com [http://www.drelliekraft.com] Connect with The Female Surgeons: * @the_female_surgeons Follow Dr. Paige Moorhead: * @dr_paige_dds

Lifestyle Rx: Fitness for the Female Surgeon with Jaime Filer | Fitness Coach

Surgery demands muscular endurance and skeletal mobility. Fitness is what builds the foundation for our body to meet these demands, and it provides longevity to a surgical career. Women, however, need to train with female-specific physiology in mind. This conversation with fitness coach, Jaime Filer, covers female fitness across different decades, emphasizing the importance of strength training and discussing a minimum weekly fitness schedule. It also delves into the comparison between macros and intuitive eating for female surgeons. The conversation dives into the importance of structure in creating freedom, the framework of building a plate and prioritizing & optimizing eating schedules for surgeons, key supplements for female surgeons, dispelling carb myths and structuring meals, fitness as a lifestyle and mindset, and the importance of getting started and taking action. Takeaways * Female fitness focuses alter across the decades * Importance of strength training * Minimum weekly fitness schedule structure creates freedom * Fitness is a lifestyle * Food choices and meal planning is where you truly make the difference in your health and fitness * How to work with your hormones Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Education * 08:49 Fitness in your 20s-50s * 14:53 Fitness in your 60s * 21:20 Minimum Weekly Fitness Schedule * 27:00 Macros vs. Intuitive Eating * 32:07 The Framework of Structure * 39:03 Key Supplements for Female Surgeons * 50:26 Fitness as a Lifestyle and Mindset Follow Jaime Filer on Instagram: @jaimefilerfitness Connect with The Female Surgeons and Dr. Paige Moorhead on Instagram: @the_female_surgeons @dr_paige_dds

Surgeon Spotlight: Dr. Athena Goodarzi, DDS | Full Arch Dental Implant Surgeon

Dr. Athena discusses the challenges and rewards of full arch surgery, the importance of patient education, the impact of instant gratification in dentistry, and the role of self-care and partnership in sustaining a successful surgical career. Dr. Athena shares her personal journey, challenges, and insights as a female surgeon, emphasizing the significance of quality work, consistency, and humility in earning respect in the field. The conversation covers topics related to empowering female dentists, facing fears and building confidence, embracing fear as a positive force, elevating the standard of care, and balancing personal and professional life. Dr. Athena shares insights on recognition as a role model, overcoming gender barriers, the positive impact of fear, continuous learning and growth, and maintaining mental and physical balance in dentistry. Takeaways * Instant gratification is a significant aspect of full arch surgery, providing life-changing results for patients. * Quality work, consistency, and humility are key factors in earning respect and recognition in the surgical field. * Empowerment of female dentists * Acknowledging and embracing fear * Elevating the standard of care * Balancing personal and professional life Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Personal Branding * 10:19 The Pursuit of Full Arch Surgery * 16:06 Empathy and Leadership in Surgery * 21:41 Mental and Physical Self-Care for Surgeons * 28:49 The Role of Partnership in a Surgeon's Career * 36:07 Empowering Female Dentists * 46:10 Embracing Fear as a Positive Force * 52:13 Elevating the Standard of Care * 59:03 Balancing Personal and Professional Life Follow Dr. Athena's journey on Instagram: @dr.athena_dds Connect with The Female Surgeons and Dr. Paige Moorhead on Instagram: @the_female_surgeons @dr_paige_dds