Episode #84: “Nothing is insurmountable!” [Dr. Courtney McKeown]

Dr. Courtney McKeown is a general surgeon, and an advocate for physician mental health. In this impactful episode, Courtney shares her journey through addiction and recovery, offering her experience with various PHP’s (Physician Health Programs).Courtney talks about “the perfect storm” of genetic predisposition towards addiction, compounded by adverse stressors and events. Certain traits that make a good surgeon, in excess, can also work against someone, such as when attention to detail becomes unattainable perfectionism, always trying to improve becomes extreme self-criticism, and reliance on receiving external validation leads to imposter syndrome. We demystify PHP’s, with Courtney discussing various inpatient and outpatient variations, sharing her positive experience in separate states. Psychiatrists and therapists specializing in addiction recovery are helpful, as are learning tools to support self-discovery work, and reaching out to people and letting them help.Courtney says, “What you do for work is not your identity.” “That’s a trick our brain tells us – you can’t come back from this, because it’s just not true.” “Every time something bad has happened, something much better has come of it.” “You always have a choice. Don’t let your brain tell you otherwise!”