3. Sacrifice and Loss in Medical Marriages: What Physician Spouses Give Up

Sacrifice and Loss in Medical Marriages: What Physician Spouses Give Up Sacrifice is often expected in medical families—but the cost of that sacrifice is rarely discussed. In this episode of The MedLife Support Podcast, host Lisa Muehlenbein, PhD explores sacrifice and loss as experienced by physician spouses, drawing from her doctoral research on physician burnout and the marital relationship from the spouse's perspective. Lisa discusses how loss can show up through career changes, identity shifts, emotional adaptation, and unacknowledged grief—and why naming these experiences is essential for maintaining connection and well-being in medical marriages. This episode is part of a multi-episode series examining how physician burnout impacts spouses and relationships at home. 🎧 Subscribe for compassionate, research-informed conversations about physician burnout, marriage in medicine, and sustainable support for medical families. Click HERE to read Dr. Lisa's complete dissertation.