Doctors, You’ll Never Be Good Enough- And That’s Okay

First published May 12, 2017

Like many in the medical world, I’ve been deeply saddened by the suicide of a Brisbane gastroenterologist, the father of four children, the husband of a loving wife.

I don’t know them personally, but am touched by the email that his wife wrote and son sent online- which has triggered a flood of goodwill from his patients (the Facebook comments on the CourierMail post are so heartening) and from other health professionals and members of the public, who, like me, may not have known him personally, but felt devastated by this very unnecessary loss.

So what can we do? How do we stop others from thinking the only way out is suicide?

What’s the worst that could happen if you choose NOT to die?

Your patients may be looked after by other colleagues, or will find other specialists.

Your family will be concerned and worried about you, but they will be happier that you’re taking time to recover.

Your colleagues will most likely be concerned about you too, not mean-spirited. (If they are, why choose to work with them or choose to listen to them? What do they know about who you really are?)

Maybe part of it is our fear of delegating responsibility for our patients to others when we’re too crushed or sick to continue. Handover is so complex- even more as a consultant in private practice for many years. You would have built strong relationships with some of your patients who’ve grown with you; with your staff; with your routine. You would know their test results and the dates of their treatments off by heart.

And of course, when a patient dies, it is never easy.

Just because you’ve dealt with a patient’s demise or deterioration over and over again during the years, it doesn’t mean your feelings will be bulletproof forever.

And then, you also may fear delegating the responsibility of your struggles to others, to psychologists, to counsellors, to psychiatrists, or to a friend who’s a listening ear.

You’re good at curing patients. Why can’t you cure yourself?

You’re feeling enormous responsibility. Why burden others with that terrible weight?

There’s so much blame in medicine. We constantly want to be better. It’s the mark of a true professional, a craftsperson even in other professions. You want to better yourself.

But even doctors are only human.

Maybe we think it’s the absolute end, there’s no way out if we step back for a few days, weeks, months, years- it’s too terrifying at that moment to deal with the enormity of a future you don’t know.

We try too hard to control our futures and our patients’ futures, but as doctors and health professionals, and even startup founders, even we can’t control everything.

Maybe it’s time to recognise that and embrace it as something positive we can learn to live with.

But don’t do it alone.

Please seek help, no matter what your journey is.

Condolences and respects to Dr Bryant and his family. 

People may look like they’re doing okay on the outside, but are actually screaming for help inside. Please be kind to each other and ask directly, “are you okay?” 

Some useful sites/resources in Australia if you’re seeking help or contemplating suicide:

– Lifeline

– BeyondBlue

– Mens HelpLine

– Mindful in May

– R U OK? suicide prevention

– Victorian Doctors Health Program (please reach out even if you’re not living in the state, people are always happy to suggest other resources)

– your GP

– a psychologist

– a counsellor

– the AMA, which has other links to Drs4Drs which lists resources for Doctors in each State/Territory, and other sites; and the Australasian Doctors NetworkAustralasian Doctors Network which advocates for doctors’ health.

– Online video calls to a psychiatrist (you’ll need a GP referral but it is bulk billed)

– Lysn, a provider of online video calls to a psychologist

– your work’s Employee Assistance Program (many public and private companies including public hospitals in Australia, possibly in your country too, offer this free confidential service through external providers. The RACP also offers this, and probably other fellowship colleges do, too. Don’t be afraid to ask your HR or Workforce managers about this; it’s your right as an employee, and they are human, too, and know everyone goes through stuff.)

Feel free to list other resources you’ve found helpful below in the Comments. 

Stanford Medicine X Will Stream For Free This Weekend

First published April 18, 2017

One of the benefits of broadband and streaming technology is that hard-to-reach events for medical education can be attended from across the world. Stanford Medicine X is acknowledging this and streaming their live conference on the future of medicine this weekend, all the way from California.

The link to attend is here: http://stanford.townhallwebcasts.com/#/events/MedXEdLive

Convert your timezone to match the conference time at this link.

A great interview with one of Stanford Medicine X’s team, Dr Larry Chu, has also been posted here. You can learn about his thoughts on the future of medical education, and how important it is for healthcare workers, consumers and patients to collaborate and communicate across disciplines.

The Singapore-Stanford Biodesign Fellowship is open for applications; read more to apply. 

Read about a young Australian surgical resident who won the Google Impact Prize Challenge with his PhD project, supervised by a Stanford graduate. 

You + Career ≠ Self Worth

First published March 19, 2017

It’s devastating to hear of yet another young doctor suicide in Australia.

As the papers report, the 4th known in 6 months; probably many more unreported.

That doesn’t include the statistics for other healthcare professionals in Australia, or of those who work within healthcare; and of course, those from non-healthcare professions, too.

We don’t know the victims personally, and we’re not going to pretend we know their story.

But we know our own stories.

The pressure of our careers and perfectionism in the age of Instagram is higher than ever, and we want to remind everyone:

Your career is not your value as a person.

We know it.

And we can give advice on how things can change in the healthcare profession.

Because, this may not surprise you, these exact same issues crop up in the startup world, too. 

The same exacting degree of impossible high standards. 

Being the top one percent of the cream of the crop. 

Feeling like you have to beat and compete with that top percent of the cream of the crop. 

Congratulating yourself for pushing through 100 hour work weeks or more without a break, week on week.

Being made to feel ashamed when you try to enjoy your Sunday off but have hours of lectures to catch up on.

Being told by senior bosses and advisors that “we’ve been there, we’ve done that, we’ve pushed through insane hours at the risk to our health and our relationships, too.”

The thing is, thirty years down the track, the seniors in various professions may have neglected to realise the impact that social media and digital devices have on all industries and their workers.

We’re constantly surrounded by information overload.

Our email inboxes keep filling.

Those Tweets keep flowing in.

Our patients demand the best, and we are doing our best within our limited neural networks. 

Peer pressure scorns you when you haven’t published enough papers.

Your brain and body work best when you have enough rest.

We have to accept that we can never know everything. 

We’re not perfect.

And despite the external factors set to validate “success,” we have to remember we’re able to set our own internal values. 

We’ve been in the undergraduate medical class where people sneered at Mindfulness and Resilience training.

We’ve been there when we were too scared to call in sick despite being sick with gastro, because we’re worried our colleagues will think we’re too “soft” or faking it.

We’ve seen colleagues return to work when they’re still having gastro, risking hospital outbreaks, because they are the only Registrar on call that weekend in a major city hospital, and their bosses don’t get paid for stepping in for them.

You feel pressured to return to work before you’re well, too.

Yet other colleagues make it difficult for the workplace to trust your cohort, because when they call in sick, they’re pictured at festive events the same day they were meant to work.

We’ve been told we’re worthless by Directors of Training, despite studying and working at the cost of seeing loved ones when they needed us.

We’ve cried through weekends off because they were never really “off” when you had to study, study, and study for fellowship.

We were told by Colleges and work paraphernalia to look after yourself and seek help.

When we tried to do more sport or see friends, we had the opportunity cost of less time for study group.

We were told we didn’t want it badly enough, and we knew that was bull.

Yet it’s never enough.

There’s always going to be someone who says you’re too “soft” or worse.

You have to learn to tune them out.

You have to know what’s important to yourself.

What happens if you do achieve that goal you’re seeking? Will it really make you happy? Or will it more likely unlock another list of far-reaching career accomplishments you’ll need to add to your LinkedIn?

You have to accept that the only thing you can be perfect at is being YOU. 

Being the one who your aunts and childhood friends call on your birthday.

The one who gets to hold your nephew.

The one who gets to laugh at your partner’s jokes.

The one who bakes the best cake in the family.

Who were you before you started your degree?

What interests did you enjoy along with medicine or your profession?

What did you do to relax?

If the answer’s “Nothing!” to all of that, you can still start something now.

Did you ever talk to anyone outside of work about your problems?

The strongest thing you can do is find someone.

Your problems are NEVER too small to share with someone who cares or is trained to help. 

Lifeline, Beyond Blue, a counsellor, psychologist, a GP, the Victorian Doctors’ Health Program– they’re all there to help you.

Most major workplaces including hospitals, manufacturing factories, corporations, and so forth- have an Employee Assistance Program or similar where staff can access free, confidential counselling sessions.

You can go to the other side of town or chat over the phone, and not let it be known to anyone in your workplace or fellowship college.

You may not click with that counsellor or listener immediately, but persist – or try someone else. It’s not personal. The counsellor relationship doesn’t have to be perfect immediately.

Try something new. The brain loves novelty. Attend an acting class. An illustration class. A free yoga session on the beach. Be anonymous. Challenge yourself to step out from what you know. That one-hour break at the new yoga session could be exactly what you need to feel reinspired.

Call a friend you haven’t seen since school. It’s amazing how similar our paths are, despite differences in uni degree (or lack of- and it’s incredible what lives people can build for themselves without a college or uni diploma!). The same stressors. The same feelings of lack of self-worth in any industry.

A key reason why we started this blog was to inspire others about healthcare and entrepreneurship. Because those skills and these stories of real people who have hit rock bottom before career success, can be used by you, too. 

It doesn’t matter if you’re medical or not.

At the crux of it, you’re doing whatever you do because you want to do good.

And doing good (and being well enough to do this) involves taking risks.

You’re thinking like an entrepreneur if you take a risk and decide to take time out from training.

You’re thinking like a startup founder by deciding to apply for a paid Biodesign Fellowship overseasinstead of following the PhD route the majority are taking.

You’re a risk-taker if you decide to apply for a Google prize through your PhD.

You’re creative by founding a cancer app combining clinicians’ and patients’ needs instead of waiting a few years to finish training before starting to make an impact.

And you’re a champion if you’re learning to deal with your fears. 

Both the medical and startup worlds must learn to be kind to their own. 

But while they’re learning how to do so (and it’s really not that hard to be nice), refuse to be a victim. 

You are in control of your actions.

Be yourself. Be passionate about being your best self, in medicine or any tribe you’re connected to.

And allow yourself to receive kindness from others.

You’re not alone.

Help can be found in Australia from many sources including Lifeline (13 11 44), BeyondBlue, Black Dog Institute, the Victorian Doctors’ Health Program, and your GP. Please comment below if you have more resources to share including outside Australia.
There is also a donation fund set up in honour of a recent doctor-suicide victim.
Thank you for reading this. 

Interview with Dr Linny Kimly Phuong, Founder of The Water Well Project

First published March 8, 2017

Happy International Women’s Day!

Future Paediatrician Dr Linny Kimly Phuong created The Water Well Project as a solution to the problems she saw in migrants, refugees and asylum seekers with varied degrees of health literacy. This not-for-profit runs free health education sessions for people of refugee or asylum seeker background. Volunteer healthcare professionals host education sessions on common health topics, such as healthy eating, and navigating the Australian healthcare system.

It’s a win-win for all parties. Not only do attendees regain a much-needed focus on their health, and learn what healthcare resources are available to them, particularly after traumatic life events; healthcare professionals also improve their communication skills and life perspectives by meeting people of diverse backgrounds.

Dr Linny Kimly Phuong (2nd from left) with other committee members at a City of Melbourne Awards presentation. Photo courtesy of Linny and The Water Well Project.

The Water Well Project was named to represent the safe space and traditional communal meeting place where many communities worldwide meet and talk whilst collecting water.

Through her work, Linny has gathered a great team of volunteers to help deliver sessions around Victoria; and was a state finalist for the Young Australian of the Year, all whilst completing her General Paediatrics and Paediatric Infectious Diseases training in Melbourne. If you’d like to support The Water Well Project through volunteering, donations or partnerships, please visit thewaterwellproject.org.

We learnt about Linny’s journey below.

 How did The Water Well Project begin? 

I definitely didn’t do this on my own.

And I didn’t set out to start a charity, it sort of just happened.

But I had a great group of friends and mentors who helped the idea get off the ground, and away we went.

What was the scariest thing about getting started?

Not knowing what the project was going to become.

How do you manage your time as Founder and Chair of The Water Well Project as well as your work as a Paeds ID fellow at the Royal Children’s?

Work life balance is not my friend right now. I am hoping 2017 is the year where this improves.

My clinical role is quite demanding, so I do a lot of work on the Project after hours and on weekends; and of course I have lots of helpers.

How has the Project helped you with your clinical work (and your life outside of medicine)?

Being involved with people of refugee and asylum seeker background always reminds me of the journey my parents came on to get to Australia.

In my clinical work, I have learnt how to work effectively with interpreters and better engage with individuals of refugee and asylum seeker background. I also love hearing stories about how people arrived in Australia and am always touched by their resilience.

Do you have any mentors or people you look up to for guidance or advice? Are they medical?

I am so grateful that I have had many mentors throughout my short career to date thus far. Some are medical, some are not. They all offer me differing viewpoints on life and provide me with a greater perspective on things.

How did you learn how to create a non-profit? 

A lot of reading and learning along the way!

 Linny and other committee members of The Water Well Project. Photo courtesy of Linny Kimly Phuong and The Water Well Project.

What’s your biggest dream or goal for The Water Well Project?

I would love the operations of The Water Well Project to remain sustainable both logistically and financially; and for there to be a greater awareness of our organisation outside the medical arena.
My dream is that we are one day able to employ an inspirational CEO-like figure who takes on the responsibilities of maintaining and growing The Water Well Project. I would love for us to reach  those communities who would benefit most from our services, particularly those who are outside of metropolitan Melbourne.

Any advice for others wanting to create a non-profit or social enterprise? 

Do your research in finding out who you can work with within your desired sector. The best projects are collaborative and do not create unnecessary duplication.

How can people get involved with The Water Well Project, whether they are doctors or not?  

People can get involved in a number of ways- they can volunteer as healthcare professionals, contribute their skills in other support roles or make a donation to The Water Well Project.

To find out more about The Water Well Project’s upcoming events, please visit thewaterwellproject.org.

Ask Yourself Why

First published January 12, 2017

Why are you doing this?

Why are you studying medicine?

Why are you working in healthcare?

Why are you wanting to change healthcare?

Why are you unhappy with the way things are right now?

If you’re stuck, no matter what journey you’re going through, it’s crucial to ask yourself your reasons for doing this.

I’ve realised that your “Why” is not just a short sentence that’s slipped into your pitch deck as neatly as your shirt is pressed.

Although by necessity you should keep your “Why” brief and memorable in your pitch deck or CV’s mission statement.

Your true “Why” encompasses more than that.

Your “Why” is a journey of growth, of exploration and maturity.

Your “Why” may change as your learnings  evolve over time.

You may have several “Whys” to contend with in your head. Some may remain the same, others will be shooting ahead at lightning speed.

That’s all okay.

I’ve been absolutely amazed at the conversations that have opened up from starting my blog, and new friendships. And I’ve realised that blogging has helped me connect with others in and out of healthcare figuring out their why.

I love helping others figuring out their why.

Your “why” can consist of both action or inaction at a point in time, and that’s okay.

You don’t have to shout out your reasons to the world. As long as you’re honest with yourself, you can start to move forward with purpose.

I was incredibly lucky to spend time travelling to one of the most culturally significant places in Australia, and catch up with family and friends over the festive season.

It was a hectic year. I learnt so much about healthcare, the startup world and about myself during that year.

I learnt what works for me, and what doesn’t.

I learnt to trust myself.

I learnt to speak up.

I learnt that my life is different from everybody else’s, and my decisions will reflect that, even if they don’t make sense to others.

And these are things that you will learn, or have learnt already, as you journey through your healthcare or startup adventure.

Leave a comment below, or contact me if you want to share what your why is at the moment, or what your why is for your journey through 2017.

Thanks for reading :) 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

First published December 23, 2016

Thanks for enjoying our articles and posts this year.

It has been amazing creating new conversations about medical innovation and entrepreneurship, and we’ve enjoyed meeting many of you at the various events we’ve reported on this year.

Have a happy and safe holiday season, and look forward to more in 2017.

Meet Google Impact Challenge Winner Dr William Yan of “Vision At Home”

First published October 24, 2016

Update 26 Oct ’16: William’s project has WON the Google Impact Challenge! Thank you to everyone who voted and showed your support for bringing eye testing to remote and mobility-challenged communities. Congratulations William and CERA! 

Dr William Yan and his team at the Centre for Eye Research Australia are finalists in this year’s Google Impact Challenge. Their project, Vision At Home, is an algorithm-based software that accurately tests visual acuity (eyesight) via webcam at home. Vision at Home helps rural, remote and mobility-impaired users access easy-to-use, high-quality testing through feature recognition, particularly in rural areas with little or no access to ophthalmologists. There is scope for Ishihara (colour blindness testing) and visual field testing to be added to this evidence-based software.

Will shared with us his journey from surgical residency to PhD candidate to Google award finalist.

Dr William Yan, Surgical resident and Ophthalmology PhD candidate. Pic courtesy of Will.

What was the inspiration for Vision At Home?

Vision At Home was inspired by the Australian health gap, and how technology has already changed our lives in so many ways. Less than 1% of eye specialists work in remote Australia, but almost all these areas have access to the internet. Time is not on our side to bring changes in infrastructure to remote Australia, given its size and vastness, so telemedicine is a shortcut and means of bridging the gap sooner.

What has been your pathway through medicine so far?

I’m a second year Surgical resident from Melbourne – I knew I wanted to do more after internship and be a bit creative. I’ve always had research supervisors who’ve inspired, challenged and supported me. This year, I spent six months overseas working on several projects together with my PhD. The background to this was always finding interesting topics to start and run short projects on throughout medical school.

To be honest, I haven’t always known I wanted to do ophthalmology but I have always had an interest in eyes. My vision was saved by ophthalmologists growing up but there were so many different specialties in medicine that I wanted to try for myself before deciding on a career. I spent time at the Royal Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne in my final year of medical school, which was a real highlight. I really enjoyed my experience and seeing the impact of the work. I’ve met a lot of really inspiring, humble clinicians and innovators in ophthalmology – it’s a culture I really like.

How has your research helped you and your team create a healthcare program with global impact?

Being enrolled as a postgraduate research student opens up a lot of doors and opportunities. For starters, it positions you to have close relationships with outstanding academics and leaders, and to be involved with creative discussions, ideas exchanges, and to learn about how the gears turn outside of clinical medicine. Additionally, you’re eligible for support from the University in the form of grants, workshops, exchanges and project seed funding.

How have your mentors and supervisors helped you along the way? 

Through hearing what people are working on at CERA,what they’ve achieved and some of the big questions being asked. It’s been a privilege working with Prof. Mingguang He from Melbourne University, and Prof. Robert Chang from Stanford as part of the Vision at Home team, who’ve become my mentors and role models.

How long has it taken from idea to now to form Vision At Home?

Vision at Home has taken nearly two years to translate. Right now we are on the cusp of delivering it to Australian communities as a tool to improve access and establish a national vision screening program/platform. In 3 years, with Google’s support we will reach 100,000 people through Australian homes, clinics, hospitals and schools and over 500,000 people in developing countries where 90% of the world’s vision impaired reside. To get this project into the hands of everyone who needs it, we need support and votes! We’re giving people a tool to save sight, and empowering them to see tomorrow.

To vote for Will and CERA’s project, visit Australia’s Google Impact Challenge website by clicking the banner below.  

Career Articles Need To Include Options For People in Training – Launching Our Jobs Board

First published October 14, 2016

Pleased to announce that we’re launching our Jobs & Opportunities Board.

Was just reading an article in a prominent Australian medical journal, featuring a young Australian medical specialist who’s completed her training. She is now a mum and somehow fits in time to paint, cook and travel as well as practice in her chosen specialty.

It is a very nice article, and we enjoyed reading about this woman. But we feel like there’s a gap in career articles about medical doctors (and other professionals) who are in the midst of training.

Life happens.

How can you make a difference in your life, now?

How can you do something meaningful with medicine while you’re still in training?

How do others fit it all in? 

Our interviews with psychiatrist Dr Gregory Sam, GP Dr Nelson Lau, and medical physician Dr Lloyd Nashhelp to shed light on how they did it. We will also be featuring professionals at various stages of their careers, and students who are not waiting till tomorrow to create impact in healthcare today.

We’ll feature people at a wide range of ages, life stages, and career accomplishments.

And we’ll share opportunities for you to make a difference even before you finish your exams and other assessments and get awarded your letters, which may be many years down the track.

So if you have a job, volunteer opportunity or other option that might interest a worldwide network of readers, visit our Jobs page and Contact Us.

Book Review: “Bad Science” by Dr Ben Goldacre

First published September 21, 2016

In preparation for Dr Ben Goldacre’s Australia/New Zealand tour this week, we’re catching up on his bestsellers.

“Bad Science” by Bad Science. Pic: The Medical Startup

A British medical doctor and former Guardian columnist devoted to medical research and epidemiology, Dr Goldacre breaks down the complexities of evidence-based research in his first book, “Bad Science.”  Whether you’re a newcomer to the medical industry or science in general, or even if you’re a full-time health professional who finds research mind-boggling, “Bad Science” tells you what to look out for in scientific papers, without making you feel lost. Using examples from cosmetics, detoxification treatments, homeopathy and more, Ben illustrates the flaws in common marketing claims and helpfully draws the reader to understand the importance of high-quality scientific research.

What makes a poor-quality study? How can a non-scientist understand what to look out for when reading through a product’s claims or a research paper? In medical innovation, quality research data helps to validate your solution, and medical startups have the responsibility to “first do no harm,” just as clinicians do. For startups, health professionals and the public alike, this book is a must – and it’s a quick read, too.

To buy tickets for Ben’s tour this week, click here. 
*TheMedicalStartup.com is an affiliate of BookDepository.com

With Great Media Comes Great Responsibility

First published September 15, 2016

I was reminded of this as I got off the phone tonight. I’d chatted with two very inspiring individuals, both based in Melbourne, about the intersection of communications and healthcare.

Both shared my awe at the power of media delivering an impactful, inspiring and positive message in healthcare.

Both understood the responsibility of media to respect, educate, engage and entertain a given audience.

And both recognise the impact that a simple Tweet or video can bring to a patient, a loved one, a colleague, a stranger, and a potential new friend.

I was touched by the humility of both individuals; the passion behind their work; the time they both gave me to learn about their stories; and their lessons to share. When a simple message can be conveyed across various age groups, cultures, timezones and professions in the click of a button, and potentially touch millions of lives, it is wondrous that we don’t stop and marvel more at how far we’ve come from pigeon and paper. Just touching one life with an image or message has powerful, long-lasting consequences.

This is why healthcare needs to embrace social media and new media technologies. And why we, in healthcare and healthcare startups, must learn how to use it effectively.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing more stories, including those of the two above, in conjunction with the Mayo Clinic Healthcare and Social Media Summit, in Melbourne in November 2016. The Mayo also has a dedicated Social Media Network which offers courses in this area. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this unique and evolving topic, and how you use social media in healthcare or with your healthcare startup. Hashtag #MayoinOz if you’re interested in attending the Summit or want to share your views.