A Healer Lost

I lost a friend this month. She was a surgeon; she was one of us.

We lost her.

So did her patients. All the ones she helped. The ones she saved.

So did her hospital, her nurses, her techs.

So did her family. All the love, coming to a screeching halt.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttJune 21, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comments

The Orchid

Having never had an orchid, I was in awe. I would glance at it, its grand curves and beautiful petals, as I rushed through my kitchen. It brightened my days and bolstered my spirits. Day after day, it seemed to be perfect.

Until one day, it wasn’t.

WomenSasha ShillcuttJune 14, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comments

My Battle: Frozen Car Disease

If anyone has similar experiences while pulling into your garage, please let me know. I am interested in studying this unknown disease and figuring out ways to combat it. Surely, somewhere, there is someone who pulls in, jumps out of his or her car with total glee, walks in and says “Honey! I’m home!”

Right?

For the rest of us, there is hope. It’s called retirement. And graduation. In the meantime, I’ve stashed dark chocolate almonds in the console of my car.

HealthSasha ShillcuttMay 24, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comments

My Top 10 Tips for the Young Physician

How do I balance my home life with physician life?

I really want to do a research study. How do I start?

These are a few of the questions I am often asked by junior physicians, or even peer physicians. I thought I’d share with you some the top 10 pearls I share with others, as you may find something helpful.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttMay 11, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

Enough

Recently someone asked me how I started Brave Enough. The person, a physician, wondered how I made the jump from safe, traditional academia into the world of social media and blogging about women empowerment.

“Did you have one moment? Did something happen? What was it?”

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttMay 3, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

Put Women and Minorities on the Stage

I often speak on stages at conferences. I am often the only woman and sit on what some have called “manels”. I love to teach large groups, and I enjoy medical and leadership conferences.

I used to take pride being “the only woman” on stage.

Not anymore.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttApril 26, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

InCrowd: What Does it Mean to be a Woman in Medicine?

I tell them that we need them. We need their creativity, collaboration, leadership and innovation. We need their excellence and compassion. We need their hands and their brains. We need their teamwork, ideas and scientific discovery.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttApril 20, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

A New Bed

This is one of the most raw posts I've ever written. If you are a parent...read.

WomenSasha ShillcuttApril 13, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

Let's Save Our Own

This month my institution lost a vibrant, talented member of our team to suicide.

Most likely, if you are in healthcare, you probably are thinking of a coworker you know who also took his or her own life.

Sadly, it is not uncommon.

HealthSasha ShillcuttApril 5, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

Medicine Requires Trust

Medicine requires a large number of teams. A physician may spend her day with multiple teams – made up of different groups.

Nurses. Technicians. Pharmacists. Physicians. Physical therapists. Perfusionists. Multiple people, each with different skills, must trust one another to take care of a single patient.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttMarch 28, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

White Coat Diary: A Day in My Life

My audience understands the struggle of being pulled in a thousand directions...White Coat Diary on Doximity shared how I spend my days in and outside the hospital. The article details what I do from the time I get up to workout at 5 a.m. to when I (finally) go to bed at 10 p.m.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttMarch 21, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

Confessions of an Anesthesiologist

I am on my first week of vacation with my kids since last August. It's nothing I'm proud of - in fact, I'm ashamed of this fact...I'm entering conference travel season, and I've been dreaming of a week away from the hospital for months. Our cardiac anesthesia team is short - getting vacation is like finding a black chevron Chanel mini.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttMarch 20, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

Ladies, All the Ladies

We need to embrace our successes, and we need to throw our arms around our own achievements and the achievements of other women!

WomenSasha ShillcuttMarch 7, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

Wellbeing: A Team Sport

Physician burnout is an epidemic. For the last several years, 50% of physicians surveyed in the United States report feeling clinical burnout, which entails emotional exhaustion, lack of personal accomplishment, and depersonalization.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttFebruary 21, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

#metoo Medicine

In the aftermath of the incredible courage shown by so many women during the #metoo movement, one of the most critical things we must do is to continue the conversation, friend to friend, colleague to colleague, leader to leader.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttJanuary 31, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

An Accidental Mentor

Several years ago I was on my way to pick up my son from preschool before doing an overnight shift at the hospital. As I approached a stoplight, I saw a car speed through the intersection and strike a pedestrian walking his dog. I knew instantly the man was seriously injured. I pulled my car over and rushed to help.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttJanuary 27, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comment

No Foul

My boys often get fouled. Sometimes a player goes a little too far, and the foul seems intentional. Words are muttered, elbows are thrown, trips from behind occur.

As a parent, I have seen my boys get fouled, and foul right back.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttJanuary 18, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

A Letter to My Sons

I know there will be times where you feel frustrated, beaten down and overcome with responsibility. I know it is not easy to be strong men.

I also know you are not mine, you are God’s.

And you are brave enough.

WomenSasha ShillcuttJanuary 12, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadership Comments

Battling Built-in Bias

Subtle biases have the potential to divide, discourage, and diminish those who don’t understand and may feel outside the narrative that applies to everyone else.

Leadership & CareerSasha ShillcuttJanuary 4, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

2018 - Finish What You Started

I have learned not to make a list of what I plan to start; I have learned to make a list of what I plan to finish.

WomenSasha ShillcuttJanuary 1, 2018#medtwitter, #womeninmed, #womeninStem, #womenphysicians, #wellbeing, #girlmedtwitter, #womeninleadershipComment

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