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.
Episodes
Nov 11, 2025
Nov 11, 2025
22 min
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
Oct 28, 2025
Oct 28, 2025
30 min
“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
Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
24 min
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
Sep 30, 2025
Sep 30, 2025
31 min
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
Sep 16, 2025
Sep 16, 2025
22 min
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
Sep 2, 2025
Sep 2, 2025
21 min
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
Aug 19, 2025
Aug 19, 2025
24 min
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
Aug 5, 2025
Aug 5, 2025
29 min
Are you uncomfortable with the idea of promoting yourself? Does the idea of negotiating for a title or benefits trigger all kinds of stress in you? You’re not alone. Join me and my guest, Michelle Bailey, MD, as we look at why speaking up for our careers is so challenging and why it’s so important.
Dr. Michelle Bailey is a physician career and life coach and an executive medical director working at a global contract research organization.
Connect with Dr. Bailey on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @thedrmichellebailey.
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
Jul 22, 2025
Jul 22, 2025
32 min
We know that our healthcare system too often fails patients and the healthcare workforce who cares for them. Individuals can feel they lack the ability to affect improvements in the larger system. How can I shift this? Join me and my guest, Andrea Austin, MD, to hear about her new research on what makes for changemakers in healthcare–and how we can create more of them.
Dr. Andrea Austin is an emergency medicine physician and educator in southern California. Her passion is changemaking in healthcare.
Contact Dr. Austin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreaaustinmd or https://www.andreaaustinmd.com.
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
Jul 8, 2025
Jul 8, 2025
23 min
Do you ever feel like you’re pulled in so many different directions and your energy is spread so thin that something has to give? Join me and my guest, Cindy Van Praag, MD, as we explore the myth or mirage of “having it all.”
Dr. Cindy Van Praag is an anesthesiologist and physician coach who founded Inspired Mom MDs. Her passion is helping physician moms take back control and find time for what matters most so they can thrive at work and home. You may connect with her at InspiredMomMDs.com or on Linked In.
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.