How to take care of your health and wellbeing, so that you can be a better doctor

Doctor Wellbeing 

Research from ASMS suggests there is – and something needs to be done

A [Dutch study](https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/5/e010868) contends that the suicide rate for female GP doctors is 130 percent higher than the general population. While an article in [MamaMia](https://www.mamamia.com.au/female-doctors-mental-load/) suggests in Australia, female medical practitioners are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than women in the general population. This article implies that gender imbalance not only exists in medicine it's thriving and more needs to be done.

 In-depth interviews with female doctors have shone light onto some of the shadows around gender bias in the medical profession.

The [New Zealand Medical Association ](https://www.nzma.org.nz/) reported that 44.8% of doctors were female in 2017 and it estimates that by 2025, New Zealand will have more female than male doctors. But a study by the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) has shown that attitudes aren’t keeping up with the times.

 Dr Charlotte Chambers, principal analyst at ASMS conducted the study, which involved in-depth interviews with 14 female specialists across a range of specialties. The interview subjects were aged between 30 and 40, and some were experiencing burnout. It followed research conducted in 2016 which showed that this demographic was experiencing significantly higher rates of burnout than their male counterparts – 70% compared to 50% for males. Dr Chambers acknowledged that 50% was still a higher than acceptable rate of burnout but wanted to better understand why female doctors were experiencing a higher rate. The interviews also sought to find out why female specialists work through illness at a higher rate and self-report as bullied at a higher rate than males.

 
Dr Chambers said the study revealed that there is a “subtle but significant gender bias, something like having to assert yourself as a doctor when your patient has mistaken you as a nurse.” She said that these subtle biases mean those female doctors have to work harder.

 One of the interviewees said, “I’ll have junior doctors who have maybe just graduated medical school and the patient will talk to them like they’re the experts”.

 Another reported losing her temper with nursing staff after three years of having the incorrect surgical equipment laid out.

 “I think it’s really hard to be assertive but not aggressive. Whereas for a guy, you can say, ‘Right, I’d like all my instruments set out like this and I’d like this,’ and [the nurses] will do it. Whereas if you’re a woman, they’re like, ‘Oh, she’s so uppity, she kind of …’ I think it’s really hard to get that balance right, definitely, as a female. That’s probably one of the hardest things.”

 Another, perhaps surprising factor, was the expectation for women in their 30s to work harder at home than men. Dr Chambers said women had more domestic responsibilities, even if they did not have children. Those who worked part-time felt like ‘a bit of a slacker’ or ‘second-class’.

 One interview subject said, “Just because the era has changed, and we are able to work – it’s not like [men have] stepped into the domestic area. They continue to be fixed that way and we have to keep asking and it’s as good as doing it ourselves. So it’s like having two full-time jobs and doing everything at home – even though you’re delegating it. You still have to delegate, and that’s the most tiring thing because you have to keep chasing up on it.”

 In a media release by ASMS, Dr Chambers said it was time “to get rid of inherent inequities for women in medicine” by moving away from old ideas around gender roles.

 “It’s time to adapt to a realistic model of a doctor who is increasingly a woman, or a parent with a working partner and shared domestic responsibilities.”

 It’s hoped the research will spark debate on the culture and future of medicine, including the need for changes in attitude, and greater flexibility in medical training and work schedules.

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Is there still gender bias in medicine? Research from ASMS suggests there is – and something needs to be done

Gender bias in medicine. 

Is there still gender bias in medicine?

Medrecruit news, events, and other important things happening in the medical world 

News and Events

*“I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.” *

One sentence. Eighteen words. And I was elated to hear them. 

It was October 14, 2017, and I was at the back of the conference room in Chicago. In front of me, the entire delegation of the World Medical Association was standing and, for the first time, saying these words in unison. 

We’d done it.  

It was a pivotal moment in the evolution of our profession; doctors standing shoulder to shoulder to make us better together. 

It felt pretty surreal for the team and me, who had worked for years to add this amendment to the WMA Declaration of Geneva, the modern-day Hippocratic Oath. 

Finally, as doctors, at the highest levels, we were acknowledging the importance of our health. Our profession was evolving. 

 
## A journey towards a healthy change 

I don’t think any of us set out to change our profession. Personally, I just wanted to graduate med school and become a doctor.  

However, it didn’t take long for me to realise this was no ordinary job. No amount of smarts or talent can prepare you or protect you.  

I remember arriving home as an intern, shattered, with only one thought left in my head: 

‘This is the hardest bloody thing I’ve ever done.’ 

Later, I would realise this moment would lead me to those eighteen words and our team creating Medworld. 

Simply put, to do the superhuman job of a doctor, we must look after the human doing it. 

 
## There’s no job like it 

Great doctors seem to possess an endless reserve of human kindness and compassion, in the face of untold challenges.  

 As Adam Kay says in his book This is going to hurt: The secret diaries of a junior doctor: 

 “The hours are terrible, the pay is terrible, the conditions are terrible; you’re underappreciated, unsupported, disrespected and frequently physically endangered. But there’s no better job in the world.” 

“The difference is obviously the whole ‘life and death’ thing, which is what separates this job from all others, and makes it so unfathomable to people on the outside.” 

We need to be honest about this because those endless reserves can run dry and lives literally depend on the well-being of doctors.  

 
## The birth of Medworld 

We created [Medworld](https://www.medworld.com/) with a simple idea: Doctors need to start doing a better job of looking after doctors. 

Medworld exists for the well-being of the medical profession and every doctor in it. As a profession, we need to heal from within, to become better together. 

We dedicate our lives to the well-being of others, and so often end up sacrificing our own in the process; and that's not noble, it's just reckless. 

Doctor burnout is real. Its consequences are real too: depersonalisation, poor patient care, and strained personal lives. 

We’re called ‘doctors’, but we’re fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands and wives. We need to remember that. We need to embrace that. 

Looking after ourselves and the quality of our lives is an essential part of looking after the lives of everyone else in our community. 

People in need; people who are hurt, people who need our help to heal. People who might be facing the most difficult and terrifying challenge in their lives. We’re their hope. We’re their guidance. We’re the hand they hold when all hope is lost. They are counting on us. 

We all know this, we've seen this, we see it every day, and we know we need to evolve. We must do a better job of looking after each other. 

Let’s be better together. 

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In 2016, Medrecruit founder Dr Sam Hazledine lobbied the WMA to include the health and wellbeing of the doctor in the Declaration of Geneva. 

Declaration of Geneva 

Dr Sam Hazledine on changing the declaration and evolving the profession

## Have you set a New Year's resolution? They can be tricky to keep, especially when working long or awkward hours. 

It wouldn't be a new year without the age-old tradition of setting a resolution. Common resolutions include improving mental and physical health. Most people can stick to their changes for a few weeks, but it seems to sustain them is a little trickier - as 2022 has struck you may have been reminded of last year's goals, and you may be questioning why you didn't achieve them. Here are our tips to increase your chance of success and keep motivation high even with a busy schedule. 

## 1/ Set clear and achievable goals
Writing down your resolutions in a clear and easy-to-understand way can help you to reach those goals. You can do this by brainstorming and jotting down things that make your life more enjoyable, or things you struggled with the previous year. Thinking about a 'why' can also help to inspire you to achieve your goals. 

Breaking down each goal into smaller, more achievable targets, can be a great way to make that final bullseye - if you want to run a marathon, break it down into smaller runs each week. Try not to set yourself up for failure by writing down things that are unlikely, like I want a six-pack set of abs by January 2022 when you have spent all of 2021 sneaking cheeky donuts in the break room!

## 2/ Be kind to yourself  
Instilling a new habit can take many attempts and isn't always easy - if you make a mistake don't beat yourself up, but rather get back on the horse. If at first, you don't succeed, try and *try* again. 

Try analysing the situation and thinking about what didn't work and what you can do next time to ensure success. For example, if your goal is to eat healthier and you slip up by eating some chocolate in your house when you are hungry, try surrounding yourself with healthier snacks and even making those around you aware of what you want to achieve so they can help to hold you accountable. 

## 3/ Get others on board
Teamwork makes the dream work - if it's possible, get others in your life involved or get networking with community groups or like-minded people. Chances are many of your fellow doctors will have set similar health goals and will be working similarly strange hours to you, so you can easily go for a run with them when you both clock off, or drag one another out of bed to go for a yoga session on your days off. 

## 4/ Remember to reflect 
Remind yourself of how far you've come and wherever possible track your progress. While day-to-day you may not feel as though you're smashing what you set out to do, take a look back each day/week/month to see how far you've come. This is another example of where breaking down a big goal into smaller goals can come in handy as you'll easily be able to tick those off. 

## 5/ Schedule it in 
Perhaps one of the best tips for anyone who is living a busy life or with a crazy schedule is to** put it in your diary!** Force yourself to take 15-minutes every day to do yoga, schedule 1-hour to cook a healthy dinner every night, pre-book your gym classes, or go for a run on your lunch break. 

## 6/ Make it fun 
If it's not a chore you're more likely to follow through and do it - that's why it's good to pick goals that you are passionate about. By having fun and inspiration for what you're doing, you'll find more energy and motivation to take the actions necessary to achieve your goals. 

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Here are our top tips for doctors to set and achieve their New Year's resolutions in 2022. 

Boosting your New Year's resolution success rate

Inspiration and information about moving to Australia or New Zealand as a doctor 

Moving to Australia or New Zealand

Moving to AU/NZ

It was a cold and dark winters evening when Dr Esther O’Sullivan decided she was tired of the short days and long winters in Ireland, and she needed a new lifestyle.

Now, she has a new life in Rotorua; the geothermal and adventure capital of New Zealand.
 
*This is her story.*

## **Early Life: **

Esther O'Sullivan is from the West of Ireland, loving science at school she decided that medicine was her calling. 
“I have enjoyed working as a doctor. I did most of my training in Ireland” O’Sullivan explained. 
 
Looking back she remembers the job of a junior doctor was not always easy

> “We used to do long shifts on call as junior doctors – a whole weekend sometimes, and often about 33 hours. I remember struggling to stay awake at the end of these.” 

## **Coming to New Zealand to work as a doctor:**
 
O’Sullivan had never been to New Zealand before, but something about the country with its towering mountains and lush hiking trails appealed to her. “I’ve always liked traveling, and in particular to places with beautiful landscapes and opportunities to explore on foot – hiking or running. So New Zealand seemed an obvious choice when I decided to relocate.”
 
Looking online at New Zealand, O’Sullivan was drawn to the diverse natural landscapes; untamed forests and misty fiords,  golden beaches, and waters of turquoise. 
 
>  “I decided to take action and look for a job here one cold and dark winters evening – when I was tired of the short days and long winters at home.”
 
When she registered her interest with Medrecruit she was put in touch with Jess Pearson, a Medrecruit Solution Specialist who specialises in working with international doctors and made the move from the UK herself many years ago. 
 
“She was immediately very helpful – she set up a phone call to get an idea of what I was looking for and made the process very straightforward.” 
 
From this point onwards, Jess guided her through the rest of the process. 
 
“There was a lot of paperwork but Jess helped make it as streamlined as possible, with regard to what the hospital required, the medical council in New Zealand, and also pointing me toward assistance with my visa application.” 
 
Packing everything up her house and deciding on what to ship to New Zealand wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be, “it was really refreshing to declutter.”
 
Although saying goodbye to her friends and family was tough, a brand new job and lifestyle awaited her in Rotorua.
 
> “On arriving in Rotorua it took a while to settle in, and I found it lonely at first, but as it’s a small town, and the hospital is also quite small it wasn’t long before I’d met a lot of people and settled in. I had accommodation provided for a month and everyone was very welcoming. Jess and others at Medrecruit continued to provide support right to the end of the process of moving.”

## **A new life in Rotorua, New Zealand**
 
“All the upheaval and initial stress have definitely been worth it – life here is great, there is a fantastic trail running and loads of events to take part in – this is a great way to see some of this beautiful country. I’ve already explored quite a bit and done some tramps on a few of the great walks.” 
 
Rotorua is a small and close-knit community, but its stunning geothermal landscapes, and beautiful forests make it a popular tourist attraction and holiday destination for New Zealanders.
 
> “My favourite thing to do on days off in Rotorua is to go to the forest for a run – it’s so peaceful there.” 
 
Rotorua is famous for its thermal hot pools, which people have been coming to bathe in since the mid-19th-century. The geothermally heated water is said to have healing properties and be able to cure ailments such as arthritis and rheumatism.
 
“The hot pools are also a good option, very relaxing, especially on a cool evening.” 
 
The Bay of Plenty region also holds many of New Zealand’s other wonders including Mount Maunganui, The Coromandel, and even Hobbiton. 
 
“The Bay of Plenty is a lovely area, with diverse landscape and lots of hiking trails. It’s also easy to explore further afield from here – the airport in Rotorua is very handy for this. Also, there are ski fields less than 2 hours away.” 

Since moving to New Zealand Esther has left the long dark winters of Ireland behind and spends most of her free time enjoying the outdoors. 
 
“My favourite thing about living in New Zealand is the appreciation people have for getting out in nature, and making the most of what’s right on our doorstep. It’s been a real rejuvenating change moving here, and a fantastic adventure so far.” 



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Find out why she chose to make the move from Ireland to live and work in New Zealand. 

Moving to New Zealand

Dr Esther O'Sullivan: "It’s been a real rejuvenating change moving here, and a fantastic adventure so far.” 

Stories and inspiration from exceptional doctors

Our Doctors


Dr Dani Bachmann is a trainee in anaesthesia, he always had the dream of helping people, which is why he became a doctor. 
“I know it sounds cliché to say but my genuine dream in undertaking medicine was to make an impact in people's lives.” 
His initial plan was to study business, but when he started it he realised that he lacked the “passion.” 
“Medicine is a vocational calling; it is a marriage of science with the art of humanity.” 
He took some time off after school to study personal training and volunteer at charity organisations; building schools, homes, planting vegetable gardens, and doing AIDs education.  
“The ability to help the less fortunate and my fascination with anatomy and physiology started to take shape. From here, I studied exercise physiology but in my final year, placed myself in a hospital setting doing cardiac rehab. I instantly knew this was the work environment I wanted to be in and from that day, my entire journey took shape.”

## **The placement that changed it all: **

Dr Bachmann emailed Jarrod, his Solution Specialist at Medrecruit, to let him know that he had a few days off, just in case there were any last-minute spots that needed filling. A moment later Jarrod called and said there was a hospital with no medic on site who wanted someone to head up as soon as possible.   	
Bachmann was interested in taking on the extra work, but the role was predominantly Rehab and Palliative care, something he had not done in some time. 
“In undertaking a job, my prime concern is always if I have the skillset to safely fill the role and ensure I am the best fit for the job.”
Jarrod got in touch with the hospital, and a moment later they got in touch with Dr Bachmann. 
After talking with the hospital, they were happy with his credentials,  and Dr Bachmann was also comfortable that he had the required skills and abilities to safely and competently perform the required tasks
“I agreed to head up there immediately, offering (thankfully as it happens) to stay for a complete 8 hr shift.” 

## **The Critical observation: **

Dr Bachmann arrived at 11 am, and he was doing a final round when he noticed a patient that showed cause for concern. 
He went into one of the rooms to check on a lovely patient who he’d seen earlier in the day. When he reached the side of the bed the patient looked all but normal, but something gave Bachmann the feeling that all was not right. 
“Immediately on entry to the room, I noticed a small band of diaphoresis just above each eyebrow.”
It was a crisp winter evening so the sweating was concerning.  He asked the patient the usual questions. Do you have a fever? Feel any chest pain? Are you experiencing shortness of breath? Do you have any calf pain?  
The patient answered no to each of his questions, blood sugar levels were normal, and they reported “feeling well.” 
 
“maybe just a little funny” the patient added on an afterthought “but not lightheaded, or dizzy, or nauseous, just something...off”     	
 
Bachmann didn’t know what to make of it, the patient had an otherwise normal examination,  but the diaphoresis to him was inexplicable.  Despite no cardiac symptoms or history,  Dr Bachmann figured that the patient did have enough factors for him to go the extra mile, just to be sure, and to insist on an ECG. 
 
“Given the usual patient load, ECGs are not a common Investigation request and so offered to assist the young nurse place leads. The evening TL however volunteered to give her a hand and about 5 mins later brought me an ECG that confirmed my gut fear.” 

## **Saving a life:**

 Upon receiving the ECG Dr Bachmann immediately noted subtle irregularities in the Lateral leads and instructed the nurses to call for lights and sirens transfer to be booked and the patient to be loaded with Aspirin and Plavix. 
 
The team administered the meds and set about getting the patient and their belongings packed up for the transfer. Then Dr Bachmann realised he was yet to receive permission from the treating Assistant Medical Officer.
 
“I asked for the Cardiology On Call who after explaining the situation and ECG agreed with my assessment and asked me to contact the interventional Cardiologist. Whilst speaking, I obtained his mobile number and texted the ECGs. Explaining the lack of onsite pathology or other medics he was happy to accept care and agreed to activate a CODE STEMI with lights and sirens direct to Cath Lab and bypassing ED.” 
 
On arrival of the ambulance, this information was communicated, and the patient was safely transferred to a tertiary centre for care. A life was saved thanks to Dr Bachmann’s observation, the team of medical staff on-site, and the efficiency of the hospital’s systems. 
 “It was a relief to know that they were getting the optimal care in an appropriate setting.” 
 
Dr Bachmann texted the cardiologist when he arrived home to see how the patient went, and he confirmed that although very atypical of a presentation, Dr Bachmann’s diagnosis had prevented a potentially devastating heart attack.
“It felt great to know the judgment call was the right thing and not only did we save a life but we also managed to educate the nurses on ECGs.”

## **Creating the right environment to save more lives: **

If the environment is right, and the right staff is in the right placement, then more lives can be saved. “I think the most important thing is always to ensure you know the capabilities and limitations of each site and the staff with whom you will be working,” explained Bachmann. 
 
The importance of transparency around things like staffing levels, function and facilities, and environment is paramount, doctors need information so they can make informed career decisions. “Armed with this information, it is then imperative to be self-reflective and consider your own skill sets and whether by undertaking the role, you would be able to safely and adequately care for the patients. The job can be what you make it, but if you feel out of your depth in discussing the patient cohort, the staff capabilities, and the facilities available that should be a red flag for your acceptance.” 
 
The solution is the right amount of transparency and information around hospitals, and Solution Specialists who put the doctor first. This gives doctors the ability to make informed career decisions. 
“We are entrusted by people at their most vulnerable and the responsibility is upon us to ensure we are the best person for the job through continuing education and skill enhancement.” 

## **I will attend to my own health and wellbeing:**

Dr Bachmann says the professions attending to their own health and wellbeing is “paramount.” 
“We are expected to be healers but  “Physician heal thyself” is real. If we do not ensure a good frame of mind, a healthy lifestyle, an educated outlook, we are doing not only ourselves but also our colleagues and our patients a disservice.”
 
Doctors are trained in taking care of others, but the time has come for them to use that training on themselves “We know the benefits of regular exercise, good nutrition, and mental stability. The impact resonates with our careers and the repercussions of failing to acknowledge and adhere to self-care are significant”
 
“Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. Live, laugh, and love”

**Dr Dani Bachmann was placed by Medrecruit Solution Specialist Jarrod Dowling.**



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 Dr Dani Bachmann was on a last-minute placement when he ordered an EGC which saved a patients life 

#wellbeing

Is there still gender bias in medicine?

Dr Sam Hazledine on changing the declaration and evolving the profession

Boosting your New Year's resolution success rate

Dr Esther O'Sullivan: "It’s been a real rejuvenating change moving here, and a fantastic adventure so far.”

How a Placement Saved A Life