The Physician’s Journey

On How to Foster Camaraderie and Peer Support in Medicine with Dr. Richard Schaefer

In this episode, Dr. Richard Schaefer, an orthopedic surgeon and educator at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, reflects on his remarkable career and the powerful influence of mentorship. He shares insights from his 30 years in the U.S. Army, his transition to civilian practice, and his passion for medical education. Dr. Schaefer discusses the transformative impact of mentors on his personal and professional growth, the joy of teaching basic skills to medical students, and the importance of fostering a supportive learning environment. He also emphasizes the value of emotional intelligence, peer support, and the integration of art into medical training to cultivate compassionate, humanistic physicians. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, mentorship, and the evolving role of educators in shaping the culture of medicine.

On How Personal Loss Sparked a Career in Trauma-Informed Care with Dr. Megan Gerber

In this episode, Dr. Megan (pronounced “Meegan”) Gerber shares personal experiences of trauma and loss that shaped her career path, ultimately leading her to focus on improving the health and well-being of trauma-exposed women. The conversation highlights the importance of flexibility in medicine and how moments of crisis can become turning points for both personal and professional growth.
Dr. Gerber graduated from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital. She also earned an MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in women’s health, serving in various leadership roles within the Veterans Health Administration, including as a Senior Consultant for the VA Central Office in Washington, DC.
In 2021, Dr. Gerber co-chaired the National Domestic Violence/Intimate Partner Violence Task Force, leading to the creation of the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Program (IPVAP), now the largest IPV program within the nation’s largest integrated healthcare network.
A dedicated medical educator, Dr. Gerber currently serves as Division Chief of General Internal Medicine, Vice Chair of Medicine for Faculty Development, Advising Dean, and Professor of Medicine at Albany Medical College. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed articles and is the editor of Trauma-Informed Healthcare Approaches: A Guide for Primary Care (Springer).
Beyond medicine, Dr. Gerber is an avid abstract painter who explores the use of visual arts to promote healing for both patients and healthcare professionals.
Book Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-04342-1
Dr. Gerber´s website link:https://megangerbermd.net/

On Surrendering to the Uncertainty of Illness with Dr. David Kopacz

Dr. Kopacz is a psychiatrist in primary care at the Seattle VA, with a national position teaching Whole Health and person-centered care to VA staff. He is board-certified in psychiatry and integrative medicine and holds a position as an Assistant Professor at the University of Washington. David has spoken worldwide on self-care and well-being for veterans, staff, and health professional students. He is the author of Caring for Self & Others: Transforming Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Soul Loss; Re-humanizing Medicine; and several books with co-author Joseph Rael (Beautiful Painted Arrow), including Becoming Medicine: Pathways of Initiation into a Living Spirituality. In this interview Dr. Kopacz talks about his path to medicine, his experience with cancer, and how becoming a patient led him to reassess his understanding of health and healing.
 
Latest Book: 
https://creativecouragepress.com/our-books/caring-for-self-and-others/
 
Website:
https://www.davidkopacz.com/
 
Blog: 
https://beingfullyhuman.com/
 

On How Your Personal Experiences Shape Your Professional Identity with Dr. Eric Last

Dr. Eric Last is an internist and Fellow of the American College of Physicians. He serves as an Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and is one of the faculty advisors for the Medical Humanities Journal Narrateur. Dr. Last is also an accomplished writer, with his work appearing in renowned publications such as the American Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine, Closler, and Narrateur.

On Building a Career in Medicine that Aligns with Your Values with Dr. Jennifer Hartmark-Hill

Dr. Jennifer Hartmark-Hill is a Mayo Clinic-trained Family Medicine physician and an award-winning medical educator. She currently serves in many capacities at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, acting as Director of the Faculty Development Fellowship, Director of the Program for Narrative Medicine & Health Humanities, and Director of the Patient-Centered Care curriculum. She also volunteers her time to care for vulnerable populations, including patients experiencing homelessness, who she cares for through Street Medicine Phoenix, and served as the past president of the Arizona Medical Association 
 

On What is Timeless About the Medical Profession with Dr. Jacek Mostwin

Dr. Jacek Mostwin is a professor of urology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has been very active in medical ethics and education, with a special focus on the personal and social dimensions of medicine. He completed an MFA in photography related to religious pilgrimage of the sick and he is a member of the International Medical Committee of Lourdes. Dr. Mostwin also serves as a member of the Steering Committee of The Doctor as a Humanist and as faculty of the Harvard Macy Program for Medical Educators.

On Bringing Your Whole Self to Medicine with Dr. Suzanne Koven

Suzanne Koven is a primary care physician and the inaugural writer-in-residence at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her writing has appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, Boston Globe, and other publications. She is also a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. In 2017, Dr. Koven published an essay describing the challenges faced by female physicians, including her struggle with imposter syndrome. Over the years her essay became the book "Letter to a Young Female Physician" which provides a deeply felt reflection on her career in medicine. In this episode, we explore pivotal moments in Suzanne´s career and how she has integrated the different parts of her self to become a better doctor.