Getting Back in the Game: Rebuilding Your Professional Identity with Dr. Stephanie Pearson

It has been claimed that there is often a culture of perfectionism in medicine. It is where doctors and medical professionals are expected to achieve a high level of expertise and meticulousness in their work, which can lead to increased stress and pressure. Hence, it is essential to remember that while doctors are highly educated and skilled, they are not superhumans. Doctors are indeed humans. They have emotions and physical needs and can experience stress and burnout like anyone else. 

Additionally, medical training can be both physically and emotionally demanding. Physicians may work long hours, be subjected to high-stress levels, and struggle to achieve a work-life balance. Moreover, while medical education is designed to prepare doctors to offer high-quality treatment to patients, doctors must also take care of themselves to provide the best care possible. Thus, recognizing this can also help people approach doctors with empathy and understanding, not only by patients but also by their colleagues. Developing trust and respect with one another can help them receive better care and feel more supported throughout their medical career journey.

Dr. Stephanie Pearson is an OBGYN, Physician Disability & Life Insurance Expert, speaker, author, and licensed broker specializing in disability and life insurance for physicians. Injured in the prime of her career, the Board-Certified OB/GYN took an unexpected journey to become an advocate and advisor for physicians' insurance. Today, she's made it her mission to educate and empower her peers about the importance of protecting their most valuable asset — the ability to earn an income. As an insurance advisor, Stephanie combines her hard-won insurance expertise with personal experience to address the physical and mental impact of physician disability, underscoring the importance of proper coverage. Stephanie's background includes nine years of medical practice after receiving her M.D. from Drexel University's MCP/Hahnemann College of Medicine and completing a residency at Pennsylvania Hospital.

In this special episode with Dr. Stephanie Pearson, we'll learn about the life of an inspiring woman who encountered the darkest phase of her life during the peak of her career that made her question her identity and self-worth. Be inspired by how she handled her life's battles and overcame the anxiety from having a motion deficit and nerve damage resulting in a frozen shoulder. 

"There's a tyranny of perfection in medicine that gets perpetuated from the day we start med school, and we're supposed to be better, stronger, smarter, and tougher. We're not allowed to be human." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

Topics Covered:

(00:00:00) Introduction + Episode Snippet

(00:00:40) Introducing our special guest, Dr. Stephanie Pearson.

(00:01:21) How did Dr. Stephanie decide to become an obstetrician-gynecologist? 

(00:04:33) When Dr. Stephanie's career came to a halt.

(00:07:01) The painful method of learning the value of disability and life insurance.

(00:11:16) Being completely denied. 

(00:12:10) Doctors have been regularly trained on how to abuse themselves during their training. 

(00:13:45) The Tyranny of Perfection in Medicine

(00:14:16) How should doctors take care of themselves and their colleagues?

(00:16:24) Quick Reminder: Are you enjoying this episode? Please share it, leave a five-star review, and give feedback. Go to TimeOut with the SportsDr website. 

(00:17:43) Our biggest asset is ourselves.

(00:18:53) Having a loss of identity

(00:20:59) Everyone struggles, but many people struggle alone.

(00:21:30) How did Dr. Stephanie cope with the dark chapter of her life and career?

(00:22:28) A supportive family and a puppy

(00:24:38) A moment of realization: You are more than what you are doing.

(00:26:00) It's okay to take a break.

(00:27:11) We are all a work in progress.

(00:27:49) Give up being perfect for being authentic.

(00:29:20) Tune in on the next episode of TimeOut with the SportsDr.

Key Takeaways: 

 "I got to live the happiest moments of people's lives with them. It was just when things were bad, they were terrible." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

"I learned a lot the hard way about disability insurance and then subsequently life insurance and became truly passionate about the topic." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

"We've been taught how to abuse ourselves repeatedly from our years of training. And so, we often put other people above ourselves routinely." – Dr. Derrick Burgess

"Physicians were some of the meanest people to me after everything. I think it is partly because I have an invisible disability that there were days where I wished that I was in a cast or a wheelchair, so I didn't have to defend myself every time the topic came up." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

"We endure things as physicians. We suffer not only physical but also mental stress. And many times, we have to do it in silence because we don't want to put our job at risk. We don't want to be ridiculed or scrutinized by our partners or our colleagues." – Dr. Derrick Burgess

"I did not realize at the time how much of my identity was tied to being Dr. Pearson." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

"When we share our failures, and we share our struggles, that's what we connect with people." – Dr. Derrick Burgess

"I had a resounding epiphany that even now, I still put much of my self-worth into doing, producing, and accomplishing. I still did not have the grace to give myself a break." – Dr. Stephanie Pearson

I give up being perfect for being authentic because many times I want to be perfect, even if it means that I'm compromising who I am as a person because I want you to be happy with me." – Dr. Derrick Burgess

"Some people are going to love you no matter what you do, some people are going just to say fine and ignore you, and some people are going to hate you no matter what you do." – Dr. Derrick Burgess

Connect with Dr. Stephanie Pearson: 

Website: https://pearsonravitz.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PearsonRavitz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/spearsonmd

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniepearsonmd/

Connect with Dr. Derrick Burgess:

Website: https://www.drderrickthesportsdr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drderrickthesportsdr/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TimeOut.SportsDr

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-burgess-72047b246/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHGDu1zT4K_X6PnYELu8weg

Email: thesportsdoctr@gmail.com

This episode of TimeOut with the SportsDr. is produced by Podcast VAs Philippines - the team that helps podcasters effectively launch and manage their podcasts, so we don't have to. Record, share, and repeat! Podcast VAs PH gives me back my time, so I can focus on the core functions of my business. Need expert help with your podcast? Go to www.podcastvasph.com.