Episode #62: We have to be the leaders we are trained to be! Dr. Gloria Osuruaka and Dr. Hisla Bates

Join us for this dynamic conversation featuring psychiatrists Dr. Hisla Bates and Dr. Gloria Osuruaka!Hisla speaks to her well shared KevinMD article, “What rushed patient encounters are doing to patients and physicians,” and Gloria talks about physicians as leaders, referencing self-leadership and what that means in both professional and personal settings. Hisla shares, “Today’s dependence on technology I think has caused a lot of doctors to veer away from some of the more humanistic aspects of patient care that we both really need; the doctor needs it as well as the patient…really connecting with the patient…finding out what they are really like…these things can really just take 1 or 2 minutes…even a one-liner that reminds you and the patient that you’re connected in some way. A simple question can really make a difference!” We talk about the importance of human touch in medicine. Gloria says, “Part of the patient’s healing is having that touch. I think it’s a really unique opportunity to connect with our patients in a meaningful way…if you remove that element of human touch and interaction, I think you’re really missing the mark on being able to make a difference in your patients’ lives. Hisla discusses looking at her patients holistically; “There are so many disease states that appear to be psychiatric, one has to decipher what’s going on.” Gloria references the importance of being holistic in regards to self-care, sharing it has helped her to become a better leader. Hisla explains how she started painting, reconnecting with herself and finding joy. Gloria adds that she thinks it’s important to enjoy the beauty of life, and that art serves as a reminder that there’s so much more to life than what we see right in front of us! We conclude with terrific take-home messages from Hisla, and Gloria, who repeats the old African proverb, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together!”