Burnout has unfortunately become an exceedingly common experience for healthcare workers, even independent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this episode, we start a conversation about burnout, its signs/symptoms, and its potential repercussions with Internal Medicine resident Dr. Allison Ibarra.

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Show Notes
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Learning Objectives:
  1. Define burnout according to the World Health Organization.
  2. Learn and be able to recognize common signs of burnout. 
  3. Identify and recognize the potential consequences burnout can have on physicians’ and medical trainees’ physical and mental well-being.


[00:00-1:03] Welcome and Introduction of the co-hosts
  • Introducing co-hosts, Dr. DJ Gaines and fourth-year medical student, Braden Barger

[1:03-3:43] Defining Burnout
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) defines burnout as “a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been managed”. 
  • According to the ACP module, common characteristics of burnout are 
    • Feelings of energy depletion or emotional exhaustion
    • Depersonalization, cynicism, or negativism related to one’s job, or increased mental distance from one’s job
    • Feelings of diminished personal efficacy or accomplishment in the context of the work environment
  • Burnout is associated with increased rates of depression, suicide, substance use, medical errors and physician turnover.

[3:43-5:00] Introducing Dr. Allison Ibarra 
  • Dr. Allison Ibarra is finishing her third year of internal medicine residency, and will soon begin her time as chief resident at UC San Diego (UCSD). (Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None.)
  • She hopes to specialize in Gastroenterology. 

[5:00-9:01] Dr. Ibarra’s experience with burnout in medical school and residency
  • Dr. Ibarra reflects on her medical school journey, especially how she enjoyed her third year of school. 
  • Her first experience in burnout was while studying for the Step 1 exam that followed her third year of medical school, which was a catalyst for her to begin therapy.  
  • During her intern year at UCSD, she was under immense stress from her work and from her experiences of coming out. 
  • After realizing she was experiencing burnout and depression, she resumed therapy and started taking medications. 

[9:01-12:00] Working through burnout
  • Although she did recuperate from most feelings of burnout with therapy and medications, she is still learning how to fully overcome burnout, and questions if that is even possible.
  • Talking openly to people about hardship has been one of the most helpful ways Dr. Ibarra was able to work through burnout.

[12:00-18:57] Dr. Ibarra’s support systems through her medical journey 
  • In medical school, her support system was her friends and classmates. 
  • Because she began residency during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was not able to build friendships with her co-interns, causing a generalized burnout across her residency year.
  • She also is supported by her family and her little sister, who she lived with throughout her intern year.
  • She got a puppy during the pandemic, which has been an immense support structure.
  • She felt that the nature of medical school allowed for built-in resources that had provided her community, mentors, and general support. 
  • She feels that there are opportunities to create even more built-in support structures in residency programs across the nation
  • Dr. Ibarra is currently creating a “LGBTQIA+ in GME” (graduate medical education) community

[18:57-23:21] Advice or resources Dr. Ibarra recommends for those pursuing mental health care 
  • Know that you are able to discontinue anything that you start
  • Seek out resources at your local institution, many programs have implemented some form of mental health programming into their institution. 
  • She also knows of apps* such as Ginger, Calm, Headspace (Dr. Ibarra’s Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Nones) 

[23:21-24:39] Take home points
  • Be kind to yourself, know you are important, and are worth time and investment. 
  • You are not alone; there are people who are sharing your experiences and people who want to help you.
  • Resources and support are available.

[24:39-25:28] Outro

***If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. These services are free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the US. ***


Credits:
Guest: Dr. Allison Ibarra
Co-Hosts: Dr. Dirk Gaines, Branden Barger 
Executive Producer: Dr. Tammy Lin
Co-Executive Producers: Dr. Pooja Jaeel, Dr. Maggie Kozman
Senior Producer: Dr. Dirk Gaines
Production Assistants: Nilgoun Farhadi 
Website/Art Design: Ann Truong
Music: Chris Dingman https://www.chrisdingman.com


References and Resources:
  1. https://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-phenomenon-international-classification-of-diseases
  2. (ACP 2008) Burnout and SI among US Medical Students 
  3. Dyrbye, Liselotte N. MD, et al. Burnout Among U.S. Medical Students, Residents, and Early Career Physicians Relative to the General U.S. Population. Academic Medicine 89(3):p 443-451, March 2014. | DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000000134 
  4. ACP Modules and Resources
    1. Resident Well-Being Learning Hub 
    2. Resources for Physician Well-Being and Professional Fulfillment
  5. Consequence of medical student and resident burnout
  6. Consequence of attending physician burnout
  7. Article on Medical Student Burnout 
  8. AMA Resources on Physician Burnout and Well-being


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*Unless specifically stated otherwise, The DEI Shift does not endorse, approve, recommend, or certify any information, product, process, service, or organization presented or mentioned in this Podcast, and information from this Podcast should not be referenced in any way to imply such approval or endorsement. The DEI Shift assumes no responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of the content contained in third party materials or on third party sites referenced in this Podcast or the compliance with applicable laws of such materials and/or links referenced herein. 

The DEI Shift podcast is proudly sponsored by the American College of Physicians Southern California Region III Chapter.  

The DEI Shift theme music is by Chris Dingman. Learn more at www.chrisdingman.com. ​

Disclaimer

.The DEI Shift podcast and its guests provide general information and entertainment, but not medical advice. Before making any changes to your medical treatment or execution of your treatment plan, please consult with your doctor or personal medical team. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by The DEI Shift. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by The DEI Shift team are those of each individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The DEI Shift team and its guests, employers, sponsors, or organizations we are affiliated with.
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