Sarah Samaan is a retired cardiologist.

Dressing to inspire confidence: How the clothes you wear can change perceptions

Physician
January 29, 2024

There are a lot of things that I’ve forgotten since 1984, the year I started medical school. But I will never forget the Dean of Students’ proclamation on the very first day of class: “You must dress to inspire confidence,” he thundered. But that wasn’t the last of it. Over and over, our dapper dean schooled us on the importance of professionalism. Whether he said it overtly or not, we …

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Dressing to inspire confidence: How the clothes you wear can change perceptions

Meditation: the ancient practice with science-backed benefits

Physician
November 17, 2023

Meditation is a hot topic with deep roots, but sometimes it feels like it’s being pushed as a modern-day version of snake oil for what ails the spirit. Often touted as an antidote to burnout, many of us know that a meditation app won’t solve the systemic issues plaguing health care today, leading some physicians to be skeptical.

I was introduced to mindfulness meditation years ago while practicing yoga. Initially, making …

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Meditation: the ancient practice with science-backed benefits

Using the language of art to create work-life balance

Physician
September 25, 2023

Most physicians cite work-life balance as a top priority. Yet there is little clarity on what exactly work-life balance means.

Some prefer the term work-life integration, suggesting that work and personal life should be intertwined. Work-life integration is a common buzzword in managerial circles. However, for most physicians, this way of life is already a reality. Taking calls, working late, and keeping up with CME and recertification already mean that much …

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Using the language of art to create work-life balance

Mitigating physician burnout: Rediscovering your dignity

Physician
August 19, 2023

Treating patients with dignity is a fundamental cornerstone of our profession. Although we can all cite situations where we or our colleagues fell short, most of us aspire to helping our patients feel safe and respected. Yet the flip side of this equation is rarely mentioned. And the truth is that physicians are often not treated with the same dignity by their systems or their patients.

In this article, I’ll go …

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Mitigating physician burnout: Rediscovering your dignity

Burnout and compassion fatigue: chronic workplace stress and emotional withdrawal

Physician
June 29, 2023

Over the past five years, the term “burnout” has become closely associated with the health care field. It has reached the point where more than 60 percent of surveyed physicians reported experiencing burnout in 2021, indicating that it has become an epidemic within our profession.

It’s important to understand that burnout is not a personal flaw or a psychological disorder; rather, it is a response to chronic stress in the workplace. …

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Burnout and compassion fatigue: chronic workplace stress and emotional withdrawal