Jules Willcocks interviews John Scott about the importance of wellbeing. They discuss wellbeing within the medical profession, how to identify burnout, as well as some methods junior doctors can utilise to thrive in the workplace.
Summary Writer: Theoni Haralabopoulos
Script Writer: Jules Willcocks
Editor: Jules Willcocks
Interviewer: Jules Willcocks
Interviewee: John Scott
John Scott is an Emergency Physician working on the central coast of New South Wales.
A naturally optimistic, outgoing and energetic person he was quite shocked to find himself burnt out and depressed at the end of his advanced training in Emergency Medicine. To overcome this unpleasant condition much research and soul searching has lead to John’s passion for mindfulness meditation, the field of positive psychology, the many benefits of regular exercise (crossfit and surfing) and other practices that lead to personal and institutional resilience, personal growth and movement towards our peak performance.
John runs a wellbeing program at Gosford Hospital Emergency Department and is currently undertaking a diploma in positive psychology and wellbeing.
Jules Willcocks is an Emergency Medicine Consultant and the Director of Prevocational Education and Training at Gosford Hospital.
His interest is in bringing out the best in people principally through mentoring and coaching. He firmly believes that wellbeing is a crucial part of this and that you cannot look after someone to the best of your abilities if you yourself are not well.
He trained as an executive coach and has a particular interest in financial wellness for doctors.
He is married with two boys, which is why he’s not living a degenerate life in Las Vegas and loves playing poker and fine single malt Islay whisky.
Dr Jules Willcocks, an Emergency Physician and Director of Prevocational Training and Education at Gosford Hospital, interviews Dr John Scott, also an Emergency Physician at Gosford Hospital and the Director of Wellbeing at Gosford Emergency Department, New South Wales, Australia
This podcast discusses the importance of wellbeing within the medical profession, how we can identify burnout, and offers methods to assist junior doctors to thrive within their workplace.
Features of burnout encompass:
Jules Willcocks:
The method of practicing gratitude is advice I give to incoming interns. At the end of the day, thinking of three things that you are grateful for, and even writing these down. This has a powerful impact and helps to reframe your reality. Studies demonstrate that practicing gratitude overtime changes your mindset and allows you to perceive your environment differently. It can therefore change your reality in a positive way.
The trading environment is similar to the medical profession in that it involves critical decision-making. There are large rates of burnout. Within the trading profession, it was discovered that employees were protected from burnout if they fulfilled these four aspects on a regular basis:
However, the issue is that these factors are what are compromised when you are busy. Therefore, if these are scheduled, it allows a greater likelihood of accomplishing them. For example, scheduling a tennis game with friends. This achieves both a sense of connection and physical stimulation.
I would also recommend visiting Dr Kristin Neff’s website on self-compassion. There is a myriad of evidence linking a sense of wellbeing to greater levels of self-compassion and lower levels of self-compassion to increased levels of anxiety and depression. We must note that perfectionism in medicine does not exist, yet most of us identify with being perfectionists. Perfectionism can be self-isolating. If this is recognised, then the attempt to always be perfect can be subdued.
If you are unable to be kind and compassionate to yourself, then you are unable to be kind and compassionate to your patients and colleagues. Therefore, working on self-compassion will allow you to be a better doctor.
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