Stories & Reflections from a Family Medicine Physician Coach

Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections

Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.

Tags: appreciation

Showing 8 results:

The Power of a Smile: Story and Reflection

During the half-day virtual faculty development workshop that I co-led this past week, one thing stood out to me: my co-presenter, Dr. Rae Wright, was always smiling and actively present. Her smile looked so genuine—like she was truly enjoying hearing me speak and appreciating how I was presentin...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 12, 2025 appreciation attentiveness attunement authenticity belonging co-facilitation confidence connection culture encouragement encouragement culture energy transfer grace light micro-affirmation nonverbal communication positivity presence psychological safety renewal small gestures smile smile power support validation warmth zoom fatigue buffer

Residency 2.0 Story and Reflection

As most of you know, though my full-time work is in coaching within residency programs, I’ve stayed clinically active—filling in both at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency and Anchorage Neighborhood Health, our local FQHC. Since 2007, I’ve had the privilege of watching over 200 residents grow, ...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 12, 2025 affirmation appreciation belonging calm calm contagion community connection continuity culture emotional contagion gratitude groundedness healing environment intentionality joy in medicine kindness leadership legacy mentorship organizational health ripple effect role modeling support systems thinking workplace culture workplace wellbeing

Envy or Esteem Reflection

They're everywhere. Physicians who own their own thriving practices. Physicians who lead departments and hospital systems. Physicians who lead well-being initiatives in effective, meaningful ways within their systems. Physician coaches who work clinically full-time. Physicians who have retired a...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 acceptance admiration agency appreciation aspiration authenticity celebration choices comparison confidence discontent envy esteem fulfillment highlight reel identity inspiration journey joy mindset priorities purpose reflection self-doubt self-worth shift strenghts uniqueness values

Synergy - Story and Reflection

After residency training, my first job was back in my hometown. My dad, also a family doc, worked in the same healthcare system but in a different office - until his office was closed and he moved into mine. We actually shared a patient care hallway for a couple of years. We had vastly different ...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 appreciation collaboration complementarity confidence contribution experience family growth humility knowledge legacy mentorship perspective respect self-doubt style synergy teamwork value wisdom

Spring Outside Story and Reflection

On March 6, my husband said - let's run tomorrow night. Our local running store offers unofficial community runs each week. Normally, I'm the least spontaneous person I know - maybe it was his enthusiasm or the sun shining through my Alaskan window. I was like, "Let's do it!" It was a fabulous ru...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 adaptation appreciation awareness change community gratitude growth hope humor identity joy light optimism perspective privilege reflection reframing resilience seasons spontaneity

Team Reflection

I invite you this week to pause and reflect. First, reflect on the BEST team you've ever been a part of. What were the behaviors, characteristics, practices, established culture, and norms made it so? When you've listed it all out, pause, think more, and dig deeper. Second, if this is your curren...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 03, 2025 alignment appreciation awareness belonging celebration collaboration connection contribution culture engagement gratitude growth influence leadership motivation norms reflection support teamwork trust

Savory Reflection

In our hustle and bustle routines, we often forget to slow down and be mindful. On a recent trip, in a culture that approaches food by sitting, relaxing, and taking the time to digest and connect with friends, I was reminded of the importance of slowing down. -- To taste and appreciate the food, ...

Jun 03, 2025 appreciation awareness breath community connection food gratitude harmony intentionality joy meals mindfulness presence reflection ritual savoring simplicity slowness wellbeing

Grief and Gratefulness Reflection

Today, I reflected on a conversation with a colleague about how difficult it is to lose patients to medical conditions. They work with a population of patients who sometimes have terminal conditions. But I saw their pain through a different lens - that of a family member and friend to people who ...

by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 03, 2025 appreciation caregiving comfort compassion connection empathy end-of-life gratitude grief healing honor humanity legacy loss memories palliative physicians presence reflection relationships support terminal trust wellness

Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections

Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.

Tags: appreciation

Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections

Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.

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