I’ve been asked to tell how I ended up in this physician coaching space a few times over the last several weeks. So, I decided to do some reflective writing about my journey.

Four major experiences overlapped and culminated in the creation of Joy in Family Medicine Coaching Services®, LLC.

First, my own personal burnout story reached the pinnacle in March 2015.  Mine was mid-career in timing (16 years out).  I was absolutely loving academic medicine and all...

Self-care can consist of many things.  Good nutrition, exercise/movement, mindfulness, meditation, prayer, reading, spiritual practice, connection with others, gratefulness, giving, setting boundaries, getting out in nature, relaxing, play, restorative sleep, pampering, goal setting/prioritizing, vacations, scheduled alone/downtime. Basically, self-care means taking time to improve and prioritize your physical, spiritual, and emotional/mental health.

Many of the...

How many of you have been waiting for joy to arrive? When do you think it will appear?

Many professions and individuals slip into the mentality that they will finally find their joy when they get through the current stage or stressor. It’s incredibly prevalent among physicians, given the nature of our delayed gratification in training. It’s common to think joy will arrive or be delivered after an accomplishment.

“I finished med school and matched into residency”...

By spending 5 minutes on meals before leaving for work- you can find a healthy breakfast and prep a healthy lunch. Here are my go - to's. You can find your own. You're smart - get your brain working on what way you can get fruits/veggies/whole grains/protein in for breakfast and lunch in fast manner. Making choice in the morning will help you from choosing a less healthy choice at lunch when you're hungry and suffering from decision fatigue.

Have a joy filled day!  Tonya

My...

Starting in residency and amplified ten-fold as we transition to early career, many physicians realize that close friendships take more intention. Often, we are oblivious to it early in our career as we’re so busy working in a new setting and raising families, but it eventually catches up. Over several years, I eventually connected with some special friends in Florida, especially when my work life wasn’t insane.

After moving from Florida to Alaska (another story for another...

Dr. Aaron Rothstein is a GP in Canada who runs a podcast. He recently had me on to discuss burnout. Listen to more of his podcasts here.

Looking back at the people who taught me throughout residency, a multitude of nurses, residents, faculty, ward clerks, and various techs all taught valuable lessons. I’m not forgetting how integral patients were to my education, but I’ll save them for a future blog.

My very first code was as the medicine intern on night call. When the code pager went off, I ran a short distance to the MICU and entered a room as the only physician.  The nurses looked at me and gave me a...

Many residents cultivate friendships during residency, others cultivate more intimate relationships, and some cultivate their marriage relationships. One thing is certain; personal relationships take more effort during training due to the demanding hours and stress. They also can suffer without that effort. 

One of the most important things my husband and I did during medical school and residency was learn how to carve out time for ourselves as a couple.  I know this is a...

My neighbor from my medical school and residency era, text me last week to tell me my old house was on the market.  The whole family linked to the MLS listing to reminisce over the photos. 

Wow! All the memories came flooding back. We purchased the 1896 historical home near downtown Mobile as medical students - talk about a fixer-upper! My husband, the main renovator and contractor, hired some key craftsmen who cared more about restoration than making money. Over 7 years,...