Shame in Medicine
Shame in Medicine
The Lost Forest
The Lost Forest
about
team
engage
Shame is everywhere in healthcare, but remains unnamed and unaddressed. While shame is a primal and pro-social emotion that can sometimes be appropriate and constructive, medicine’s unrealistic standards have resulted in a widespread and debilitating culture of shame across the field.
This contributes to a broad range of negative outcomes among clinicians including burnout, depression, suicidality, impaired empathy, diminished physical wellness, and unprofessional behavior – all challenges that have intensified during the pandemic.
Despite the destructive effect that shame is having among clinicians, almost no research or public storytelling exists about shame in healthcare. Without understanding how shame manifests in medical culture, we cannot address or heal from the harm it causes.
series goals
The goal of the Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest series and its associated impact campaign is to:
1
Create a forum where clinicians can share their shame experiences, which itself helps dissipate shame and builds a sense of catharsis, community, and belonging.
2
Offer a shared vocabulary to help clinicians recognize when they are having a shame reaction, along with tools and frameworks for how to manage that reaction.
3
Imagine a new medical culture that is grounded in health, support, and belonging.
in the press
Featured: The ZDoggMD Show, Breaking The Silence: Shame In The Medical Community (w/ Dr. Emily Silverman)
ANTHEM AWARDS
We spoke with them about the steps they took to ignite a conversation long overdue for health practitioners across the world…
MEDIUM
A doctor flinches in the bright light. Her shoulders slump, her face is flushed, her eyes are downcast…
MEDSCAPE
In William Bynum's second year as a medical resident, he was pressed into a high-stakes emergency service to deliver a baby…
university of exeter
More than 200 healthcare workers have shared their experiences…
listener reviews
“I have been listening to all the shame stories on the podcast and never miss an episode. I work as a nurse practitioner, and all the stories resonate with me...even leaving me shedding tears at least once during every episode. Very profound. Thank you so much for starting this important topic on the Nocturnists podcast. Please keep them coming!”
• nurse practicioner, nh •
“Honest credible and brave stories. I was moved by each one. An insider experience to the experience of medicine.”
• R. E. Lewiss, MD •
“I’ve been listening to every episode. Amazed at what y’all are doing. Thank you for being a voice for us. Still feels very alone. Emily is right. We have to be ‘perfect or people die.’ There are so many people struggling and hurting in shame spirals. Having a space like this to explore our feelings is so helpful. Thank you again.”
• storyteller, DO •
“This 10-part audio-series about Shame in Medicine is so needed. Shame is such a powerful emotion – we’ve all been there. The shame experienced by healthcare workers can be overwhelming, but we are taught to have shame about our shame. First episode hooked me.”
• Primary Care Doctor •
about
team
engage
Shame is everywhere in healthcare, but remains unnamed and unaddressed. While shame is a primal and pro-social emotion that can sometimes be appropriate and constructive, medicine’s unrealistic standards have resulted in a widespread and debilitating culture of shame across the field.
This contributes to a broad range of negative outcomes among clinicians including burnout, depression, suicidality, impaired empathy, diminished physical wellness, and unprofessional behavior – all challenges that have intensified during the pandemic.
Despite the destructive effect that shame is having among clinicians, almost no research or public storytelling exists about shame in healthcare. Without understanding how shame manifests in medical culture, we cannot address or heal from the harm it causes.
series goals
The goal of the Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest series and its associated impact campaign is to:
1
Create a forum where clinicians can share their shame experiences, which itself helps dissipate shame and builds a sense of catharsis, community, and belonging.
2
Offer a shared vocabulary to help clinicians recognize when they are having a shame reaction, along with tools and frameworks for how to manage that reaction.
3
Imagine a new medical culture that is grounded in health, support, and belonging.
in the press
Featured: The ZDoggMD Show, Breaking The Silence: Shame In The Medical Community (w/ Dr. Emily Silverman)
ANTHEM AWARDS
We spoke with them about the steps they took to ignite a conversation long overdue for health practitioners across the world…
MEDIUM
A doctor flinches in the bright light. Her shoulders slump, her face is flushed, her eyes are downcast…
MEDSCAPE
In William Bynum's second year as a medical resident, he was pressed into a high-stakes emergency service to deliver a baby…
university of exeter
More than 200 healthcare workers have shared their experiences…
listener reviews
“I have been listening to all the shame stories on the podcast and never miss an episode. I work as a nurse practitioner, and all the stories resonate with me...even leaving me shedding tears at least once during every episode. Very profound. Thank you so much for starting this important topic on the Nocturnists podcast. Please keep them coming!”
• nurse practicioner, nh •
“Honest credible and brave stories. I was moved by each one. An insider experience to the experience of medicine.”
• R. E. Lewiss, MD •
“I’ve been listening to every episode. Amazed at what y’all are doing. Thank you for being a voice for us. Still feels very alone. Emily is right. We have to be ‘perfect or people die.’ There are so many people struggling and hurting in shame spirals. Having a space like this to explore our feelings is so helpful. Thank you again.”
• storyteller, DO •
“This 10-part audio-series about Shame in Medicine is so needed. Shame is such a powerful emotion – we’ve all been there. The shame experienced by healthcare workers can be overwhelming, but we are taught to have shame about our shame. First episode hooked me.”
• Primary Care Doctor •
about
team
engage
Shame is everywhere in healthcare, but remains unnamed and unaddressed. While shame is a primal and pro-social emotion that can sometimes be appropriate and constructive, medicine’s unrealistic standards have resulted in a widespread and debilitating culture of shame across the field.
This contributes to a broad range of negative outcomes among clinicians including burnout, depression, suicidality, impaired empathy, diminished physical wellness, and unprofessional behavior – all challenges that have intensified during the pandemic.
Despite the destructive effect that shame is having among clinicians, almost no research or public storytelling exists about shame in healthcare. Without understanding how shame manifests in medical culture, we cannot address or heal from the harm it causes.
series goals
The goal of the Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest series and its associated impact campaign is to:
1
Create a forum where clinicians can share their shame experiences, which itself helps dissipate shame and builds a sense of catharsis, community, and belonging.
2
Offer a shared vocabulary to help clinicians recognize when they are having a shame reaction, along with tools and frameworks for how to manage that reaction.
3
Imagine a new medical culture that is grounded in health, support, and belonging.
in the press
Featured: The ZDoggMD Show, Breaking The Silence: Shame In The Medical Community (w/ Dr. Emily Silverman)
ANTHEM AWARDS
We spoke with them about the steps they took to ignite a conversation long overdue for health practitioners across the world…
MEDIUM
A doctor flinches in the bright light. Her shoulders slump, her face is flushed, her eyes are downcast…
MEDSCAPE
In William Bynum's second year as a medical resident, he was pressed into a high-stakes emergency service to deliver a baby…
university of exeter
More than 200 healthcare workers have shared their experiences…
listener reviews
“I have been listening to all the shame stories on the podcast and never miss an episode. I work as a nurse practitioner, and all the stories resonate with me...even leaving me shedding tears at least once during every episode. Very profound. Thank you so much for starting this important topic on the Nocturnists podcast. Please keep them coming!”
• nurse practicioner, nh •
“Honest credible and brave stories. I was moved by each one. An insider experience to the experience of medicine.”
• R. E. Lewiss, MD •
“I’ve been listening to every episode. Amazed at what y’all are doing. Thank you for being a voice for us. Still feels very alone. Emily is right. We have to be ‘perfect or people die.’ There are so many people struggling and hurting in shame spirals. Having a space like this to explore our feelings is so helpful. Thank you again.”
• storyteller, DO •
“This 10-part audio-series about Shame in Medicine is so needed. Shame is such a powerful emotion – we’ve all been there. The shame experienced by healthcare workers can be overwhelming, but we are taught to have shame about our shame. First episode hooked me.”
• Primary Care Doctor •
all series episodes
Sep 6, 2022
Sep 6, 2022
Sep 6, 2022
Humanizing healthcare through storytelling.
podcast
Humanizing healthcare through storytelling.
podcast