Episode 87: How Trauma-Informed Coaching Can Transform Medical Practice and Create Sustainable Healthcare Environments
Welcome to Episode 87 of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
In today's episode, we are joined by the remarkable Dr. Kemia Sarraf, a physician, internist, and public health professional who has devoted her career to pioneering trauma-informed and trauma-responsive coaching practices. Dr. Sarraf will share her unique insights on recognizing trauma within ourselves to better assist others, grounded in her rich background in internal medicine, public health, and leadership development. We'll delve into the historical context of trauma, how it manifests in healthcare professionals, and practical ways to mitigate it, all while discussing the broader implications for physician burnout and sustainable healthcare environments.
Join us as we explore the transformative power of trauma-informed coaching, the critical importance of connection, and strategies for balancing the demands of medical practice with personal well-being. Whether you’re a physician, healthcare provider, or simply interested in the dynamics of healthcare, this episode promises to offer valuable perspectives and actionable advice. Stay tuned for an engaging and informative conversation with Dr. Kemia Sarraf.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
- Understanding Trauma: Trauma is universal and recognizing its manifestations, both overt and subtle, in ourselves is essential to effectively help others.
- Connection as a Disruptor: Forming meaningful connections and offering clarity in the face of uncertainty can significantly mitigate toxic stress.
- Rest and Adaptability: Challenging the notion of perfect balance, the focus should shift to planning for the natural ebb and flow of effort and rest, delegating tasks, and sometimes lowering non-critical standards to maintain well-being.
Dr. Kemia Sarraf Bio:
Dr. Kemia Sarraf (“Dr. K” to friends and clients alike) completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine, and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. The arc of her 2+ decade career has included medical practice, public health program development, nonprofit leadership, business ownership, multiple board positions, trauma-mitigation work, and farming.
Dr. K founded Lodestar in 2016 specializing in trauma-responsive coaching methods for physician colleagues experiencing high levels of severe burnout, vicarious trauma, and moral injury. Her background in public health and trauma led her to create a unique trauma-responsive coaching paradigm, particularly well-suited for frontline professionals working in environments of chronic toxic stress who directly experience the multivariate ways that vicarious and secondary trauma “shows up” in daily life. Dr. K’s program has been applied across multiple industries for both leadership training and in the creation of trauma-responsive cultures for hard-driving, highly skilled professionals in any industry.
Dr. K serves as adjunct faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in the office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, bringing a trauma-informed lens and trauma-mitigation approach to institutional Justice, Equity and Anti-Racism work. She is engaged in multiple leadership initiatives and is co-lead faculty and facilitator in the ACGME Equity Matters program where her unique paradigm focuses on learners at every stage of their medical training and throughout their careers.
Kemia is an authentic, compelling storyteller and a powerful keynote speaker. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her leadership and vision and was an AMA Women Physicians Inspiration Award Honoree in 2021. She is renowned for her boundless compassion, wisdom, and humor. Kemia and her physician-husband have been married for twenty years, and the couple live on a small working farm in Central Illinois with their four sons and "too many critters to count."
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