Conflict as Catalyst: Physician Resilience and Teamwork in Medical Education

What happens when a simple act of initiative in the OR sparks a lifelong pursuit of conflict resolution and systemic change in medicine?In this inspiring episode, Dr. Andrea Austin chats with Dr. Lee Sharma about her path from private practice frustrations to earning a master's in conflict resolution amid burnout doubts. Lee recounts her "aha" moment assisting in a delayed C-section, realizing small actions foster teamwork and belonging. She discusses overcoming conflict avoidance, the emotional "bank account" in healthcare relationships, and scripting responses to personal attacks. Now in her 24-year solo practice and a health policy fellowship, Lee emphasizes listening to understand, pausing to respond, and viewing conflict as opportunity.You’ll hear how they: Build team belonging through "assists" and emotional investments for better patient outcomes Handle conflict by listening to understand, not respond, and redirecting personal attacks back to the core issue Advocate for autonomy, competency, and relational skills to combat burnout and improve healthcare systems Inspire change through vulnerability, scripting hard conversations, and pursuing additional education like conflict resolution degreesIf you’re facing workplace conflicts or seeking to reignite your passion in medicine, this episode provides honest insights and practical strategies for personal and systemic transformation.About the Guest"Conflict is not good or bad—it's an opportunity to improve and deepen relationships." – Dr. Lee SharmaDr. Lee Sharma is a board-certified OB/GYN in private practice for 24 years, with a master's in conflict resolution from Columbia College. Host of the podcast Scalpel and Sword, she consults on dispute systems, leadership, and conflict skills for hospitals and physicians. A health policy fellow at Brandeis University's Heller School, Lee advocates for women's health, teamwork, and systemic change, drawing from her experiences in Auburn, Alabama, where she returned to practice after training.📍 Connect with Lee       📧 Email: [email protected]        🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. SharmaPodcast: Scalpel and Sword 📚 Resources + Mentions 🔗 Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher and William Ury 🔗 Caring Leadership in Turbulent Times by Josh Hartzell 🔗 Brandeis University Heller School Health Policy Fellowship (with Physicians Foundation)🔗 State Medical Association Meetings (e.g., Alabama Medical Association) 🔗 Resa Lewiss (keynote speaker on women's health and advocacy)🔑 Top 3 Key Takeaways Foster Belonging Through Assists: Recognize needs and lend a hand without waiting to be asked, building emotional "bank accounts" for stronger teams. Try one "assist" this week to enhance workplace fulfillment and patient care.  Listen to Understand, Not Respond: In conflicts, pause and redirect personal attacks back to the core issue (e.g., "That's not what we're focusing on right now"). Practice scripting responses to stay composed and refocus on patient outcomes. View Conflict as Opportunity: Embrace vulnerability in hard conversations—admit "I don't know, but I'll find out"—to deepen relationships and drive change. Start with one reflective pause in a tense moment to turn challenges into growth.🩺 About the Host:Dr. Andrea Austin is a board-certified emergency physician, educator, and passionate advocate for system-level change in healthcare. As the creator and host of Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare, Dr. Austin brings curiosity, compassion, and bold honesty to conversations with leaders who are challenging the norms and reshaping medicine from the inside out.With decades of experience in high-pressure clinical environments, Andrea has seen firsthand the cracks in the system—and the people working to repair them. Whether she’s mentoring residents, speaking on national stages, or recording with a fellow disruptor, she centers one theme: change doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens heart to heart.💫 About the Show:Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare isn’t just a podcast—it’s a pulse check on what’s possible.Hosted by emergency physician and educator Dr. Andrea Austin, Heartline features conversations with healthcare leaders, innovators, and quiet disruptors who are challenging the way things have always been done.Each episode explores real stories of change—from redefining leadership and communication, to reimagining systems built on burnout and hierarchy. This is a space for truth-telling, for asking better questions, and for reconnecting with the reason we all got into medicine in the first place: to make it better.This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—with heart.  🎓 Upcoming Events & Opportunities🔥 ⁠⁠Recalibrate: Group Coaching for Physicians⁠⁠Starting  2026, I’ll be co-leading Recalibrate with psychologist and coach Sharee Johnson. This 6-month group coaching program supports physicians in rediscovering mindfulness, meaning, and wholehearted practice. I'm an alum myself—this program transformed my career. Learn more and enroll here, and please share with colleagues who may benefit.⁠⁠⁠Women in Medicine Summit | Chicago, Sept 18–20, 2025⁠⁠FemInEM is leading a full day on Women’s Health. The Gala will be a can't-miss celebration of leadership and community. ⁠⁠⁠AAWEP St. Lucia Retreat | March 5–8, 2026⁠⁠For women EM physicians. Sun, connection, and reflection in a stunning setting. Details coming soon via AAWEP.⁠⁠⁠Women Physicians European River Cruise | May 18–25, 2026⁠⁠A scenic and soulful journey from Amsterdam to Basel with an inspiring community.—-------------------------------🎧 Thanks for tuning into Heartline: Changemaking in Healthcare!🌟 Learn more and book a free discovery call today at ⁠⁠andreaaustinmd.com/coaching⁠⁠.Stay connected and keep making a difference:✅ Subscribe to the ⁠⁠Heartline newsletter⁠⁠ for insights into reclaiming your well-being as a healthcare professional, improving teams around you, and transforming the system.📱 Follow us on social: ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠📚 Discover Dr. Austin’s book Revitalized: A Guidebook to Following Your Healing Heartline on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Ingram⁠⁠.Follow Your Heartline and transform healthcare today! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.