Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine
In healthcare, burnout rates are higher in women. In fact, forty percent of women physicians have cut back or left medicine within 6 years of completing training. Why? Is it added responsibilities at home? Gender bias at work? Invisible work at work? Mom guilt? Too much self-sacrifice and inability to say no? Poor boundaries, lack of time management skills, lack of self-care? In this podcast, we’ll explore the reasons why women in medicine are struggling—and more importantly, what to do about it. We can banish burnout and thrive as women in medicine.
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Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
You get a nudge about an opportunity to advance in your career, and you wonder, “Did they mean to nudge me? I’m not qualified!” Sound familiar?
Join me and my guest, Darilyn Moyer, MD, as she shares insights on overcoming self-doubt gleaned from her career as an “accidental physician CEO.”
Dr. Dariyn Moyer is Executive Vice President and CEO of the American College of Physicians. Her passion is bringing her skills to the next generation of clinicians and medical educators.
Connect with Dr. Moyer on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
If you’re a clinician, you’ve likely experienced or observed administrative harm, even if you’ve never heard the term before. What is it? What causes it? And how can we move to a better way of making and implementing administrative decisions? Listen in and learn from my guest, Marisha Burden, MD, MBA.
Dr. Marisha Burden is Division Head of Hospital Medicine and Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Her area of expertise is research and thought leadership on administrative harm and evidence-based work design in healthcare.
Connect with Dr. Burden on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
A professional conference this fall, I had a short conversation with a colleague as we went from one breakout to another. Gaurava Agarwal, MD, shared that my social media posts on the challenges that women in medicine face had inspired him to dig into the data at his organization. That was flattering, but what really inspired me was hearing about the steps the organization has taken to help women physicians thrive by addressing the challenges that all clinicians face. Listen in to hear a practical and effective approach that you can take to your workplace.
Dr. Gaurava Agarwal is Chief Wellness Executive/Vice President at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. His area of expertise is organizational and occupational psychiatry.
Connect with Dr. Agarwal on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Tuesday Nov 11, 2025
Work stress can easily spill over to our personal lives, affecting our physical health, mental health, and general outlook on life. Interventions to improve physician wellness can be complex, costly, and challenging to spread.
My guest, Dr. Rebecca Levine, created an alternative: a walking program for clinical staff that has reduced burnout and stress. How did she do it? Listen in to find out. Perhaps you’ll be inspired to create a program yourself!
Rebecca Levine, MD, is a Family Medicine physician at Oak Street Health in Chicago, where she also leads educational and wellness programs. Her passion is narrative medicine.
Connect with Dr. Levine on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
Tuesday Oct 28, 2025
“Women are over-mentored and under-sponsored.” What does that mean and why does it matter? Listen in to my conversation with Felisa Schneider to out and learn why improving gender parity in leadership is a win for everyone.
Felisa Schneider is the Chief Operating Officer of the Carol Emmott Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity in healthcare leadership and governance. Her passion is supporting women in all different industries.
Connect with Ms. Schneider at the Carol Emmott Foundation or on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Thursday Oct 16, 2025
Feeling like you’re the only one struggling with a recurring challenge, like getting charts closed and messages answered, can be very isolating. Given how time-strapped everyone in healthcare is today, trudging on alone seems like the only option. Listen in as my guest, Kelly Holder, shares her insights about building our capacity through connection and self-compassion.
Kelly Holder, PhD, is Director of Oncology Mental Health and Wellness for the Cancer Network of West Michigan. Her passion is well-being.
Connect with Ms. Holder on LinkedIn or IG @kellydholerphd.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
Tuesday Sep 30, 2025
The pandemic has had a huge impact on the healthcare workforce. How do we meet their current needs? Why does this matter? Listen in to hear a healthcare leader weigh in on where the levers are for meeting these needs and why it’s critical today.
Alisha Wallace-Smith, MHA, is president of the American College of Healthcare Executives of Greater Charlotte and clinical provider liaison for Continuum Health Providers. Her expertise is clinical quality and patient safety.
Connect with Ms. Wallace-Smith on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Tuesday Sep 16, 2025
Given the large number of women in the specialty, researchers were surprised when family medicine showed a gender wage gap, with male physicians receiving higher compensation than their female colleagues. What solutions could bring wage parity to family medicine? How might parity serve women physicians - and patients too? Learn more from my guest, Dr. Yalda Jabbarpour.
Yalda Jabbarpour, MD, is a family physician and Director of the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies. Her expertise is generating policy-relevant research to support solutions for primary care physicians.
Connect with Dr. Jabbarpour at the Robert Graham Center.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Tuesday Sep 02, 2025
Pregnancy and family life can be challenging. From protecting your health when pregnant to finding and paying for child care. Listen in as Dr. Annabelle Volgman shares wisdom gleaned from a successful career in cardiology.
Annabelle Volgman, MD, is the McMullan-Eybel Endowed Chair for Excellence in Clinical Cardiology at Rush University Medical Center. Her expertise is taking care of women with heart disease.
Connect with Dr. Volgman on LinkedIn.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
Tuesday Aug 19, 2025
You probably have a sense of whether your organization is a great place to work for, or not. But do you know the factors that determine that? And can you name the #1 most important driver? Join me and my guest, Michael Bush, as he reveals the secret and tells us why “healthcare is an anomaly.”
Michael Bush is CEO of Great Place to Work, a research and analytics company that produces the annual Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work for list. Connect with Mr. Bush at https://www.greatplacetowork.com/michael-c-bush.
Connect with me at www.dianeshannon.com. If you’d like time to talk about the specific challenges you’re facing, you can book a time to chat with me. More info here about how to do that.
Like what you heard? Listen to more episodes with Dr. Diane Shannon on our podcast Vital Signs: Thriving as Women in Medicine
Reviews are greatly appreciated.
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC is an internal medicine physician, award-winning writer, and certified coach. She understands the stresses inherent in the practice of medicine and the additional challenges that women face in the profession. Her passion is helping women in medicine create lives where they can thrive.
Share your experience and continue the conversation with Diane at www.dianeshannon.com or www.linkedin.com/in/dianewshannon
About Diane Shannon
Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, is a former primary care physician with more than 20 years of experience as a professional health care writer and author. Diane was drawn to medicine because of her mother, a certified nurse midwife. After seeing firsthand the healing power of the patient-clinician relationship, she chose to pursue medical training.
However, the clinical environment in which she trained and eventually practiced as a primary care physician was rife with chaos and antithetical to building healing relationships with patients. Eventually, she chose to leave clinical medicine for a writing career, understanding only years later that the underlying cause was professional burnout. She transitioned to a position as medical director of a health care communications and training company in Boston. Three years later, she launched her freelance writing business, Shannon Healthcare Communications.
As an award-winning health care writer she has crafted expert reports, focused white papers, and case studies for national foundations, policymakers, and professional advocacy groups that are working to improve the health care system.
She is co-author of Preventing Physician Burnout: Curing the Chaos and Returning Joy to the Practice of Medicine, published in 2016, and has spoken in various forums across the country on the topic of physician burnout and well-being, including grand round presentations, interactive workshops, one-day professorships for academic institutions, panel discussions, and podcast interviews. Today, as a professional coach, Diane helps busy women physicians rediscover their WHY, improve work-life integration, and accomplish their personal and professional goals. She also works with organizations to identify and mitigate the system problems that drive attrition and burnout among women physicians.
Diane earned her BA in biology from Williams College, her medical degree from Thomas Jefferson University, and her master’s in public health from Harvard University. She completed training in an internal medicine residency program at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center and practiced primary care in Boston. Diane completed her Competency Development Program for Coach Certification at the Gestalt International Study Center. She earned her ICF credential as an Associate Certified Coach, and is a member of the International Coach Federation.
When she’s not coaching or writing, Diane enjoys reading international spy novels, traveling with her architect husband, and having engaging, illuminating conversations with her three children. She resides in Boston.
I’d love to chat to see if I can help you. Contact me to set up a conversation.