You Can't Pour From An Empty Cup: Wellness in ENT

In this episode, hosts Dr. Ashley Agan and Dr. Gopi Shah discuss the important topic of wellness, what it is, and how to incorporate it into our professional lives.

They begin by discussing what exactly wellness is and what it entails. Wellness can be different for different people, but essentially it comes down to taking care of yourself before you take care of others. As this can be hard to do in such a service-oriented career, dedicating time to it is important to be able to recharge, whether that be spending time with family, exercising, or just intentionally relaxing. Dr. Shah and Dr. Agan continue to talk about time management and how to incorporate wellness into busy lives in medical school, residency, and beyond. Balancing may not always be easy but taking time for yourself is just as important as the time you dedicate to others.

Our hosts then continue to speak to the impact COVID-19 has had on the physician community and wellness. One of the biggest factors it has had is regarding the human-to-human connection that is gratifying and often motivating during patient encounters. Dealing with those challenges has taken its toll, but one that both providers and patients are learning to manage together.

Lastly, Dr. Agan and Dr. Shah conclude by discussing specific examples of incorporating wellness. They speak about groups, such as Wellness in Oto, and other ways to keep in touch, whether that be with mentors or trainees, to check in on each other and make sure everyone is doing well and taking the time to take care of themselves during an otherwise challenging time. As well as keeping in touch with others, keeping in touch with yourself is just as important and reflecting is often a great way to do just that.