Episode #74: “In medicine we’re taught not to ask for help…” With Dr. Heath Jolliff & Jesse Dickens

"…it’s looked at kind of as a weakness, and boy, we need to get over that!” says Dr. Heath Jolliff, an Emergency Medicine physician and Medical Toxicologist by training, who currently helps physicians find solutions to their career challenges. Jesse Dickens, echocardiographer and multifamily investor, joins us for this thoughtful conversation, sharing his story of working for a group that had a family-oriented feel that completely changed during the pandemic. There was a lack of support, he had a new baby at home, and felt like he had nowhere to turn, no one to talk to. He eventually pivoted and joined a small company that allowed him to return to the reason he decided to become a medical professional, where the barriers between him and the patient were removed. Heath reflects on a busy day in the E.R. when things were not going well, which took him back to his residency days when he experienced burnout. He said, “Boy, somebody ought to really help physicians deal with this so worse things don’t happen!” He found a coach who challenged him, “Why isn’t that person you?!” eventually leading Heath to pursue executive coaching. “Anything we can all do to support and help each other…is definitely needed in the healthcare industry!” Jesse agrees that “Coaching, having mentors…in your life is so important!...The roadblocks for me had been more internal than external.” Jesse has gone on to invest in real estate. He and Heath both speak to limiting beliefs, and that the antidote is taking action! Heath wants others to know, “It’s ok to ask for help. It doesn’t mean you’re weak. We can’t always do everything just on our own….We have to be healthy ourselves or otherwise we can’t take care of people.” We discuss the importance of networking in and outside of medicine, the value of deep conversations in realizing how similar we all are, and in losing that sense of isolation. “You realize your thoughts and struggles…you’re not the first one to have them!”