Operating Under Capacity | Dr. Joan Chan on Redefining Success in Medicine

What if the secret to a long, fulfilling medical career isn’t doing more—but doing less?This week on Fem MD, host Lauren sits down with Dr. Joan Chan, a Canadian family physician, coach, mom, and host of The Other Human in the Room. Joan shares her radical approach to working under maximum capacity, teaching physicians how to reclaim space, set boundaries, and prioritize joy without sacrificing patient care.Together they explore why honoring your limits can actually make you a better doctor, how to recognize the signs that you’re over capacity, and what it looks like to say no without guilt. Joan explains the value of creative days, rest, and small acts of humanity—like a midday nap or playing her ukulele—as well as how technology like AI scribes is reshaping charting and giving time back to clinicians.Her calm, grounded energy offers a refreshing antidote to hustle culture and a reminder that we are all human first, doctors second.Host: Dr. Lauren UmstattdConnect with Lauren: @lauren_umstattd_mdGuest: Joan Chan, MDConnect with Joan: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/joan-chan-mdAnd listen to her podcast, The Other Human in the RoomPresented by: The Hippocratic Collective

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 27, 2025

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

Ready to play

Operating Under Capacity | Dr. Joan Chan on Redefining Success in Medicine

0:00 44:54

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

EM Clerkship Zack Olson, MD and Michael Estephan, MD The purpose of this podcast is to help medical students crush their emergency medicine clerkship and get top 1/3 on their SLOE. The content is organized in an approach to format and covers different chief complaints, critical diagnoses, and skills important for your clerkship. Explicit Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories | Psychotherapy, Psychopharmacology, and Psychedelics Craig Heacock MD How do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics. Explicit The Hansel and Gretel Code Curtis Cates, MD forget any "moral of the story," the real meaning of Hansel and Gretel lies hidden between the lines... like a real-life Da Vinci Code — Hansel and Gretel is a literary treasure map filled with secret clues meant only for people like us to suss out and follow...clues that lead to a meaningful, real-life treasure that's been lost for over 200 years...a deep dive into the dark forest of Western European History and Culture, the story explains who the real villains are, how they're still with us, and how they're not only people we've heard of or read about — some of them are people we actually know...in the Hansel and Gretel Code, we'll be reading from the 1810 manuscript version of the story and we'll be examining the many, multi-faceted clues that are packed into each of its 42 sentences...clues that will not only entertain the hell out of you, they'll change the way you see the world and everyone in it...this is the podcast for anyone who loves fairytales, and who'd love to figu Explicit The Intimate Marriage Podcast, with Intimacy Coach Alexandra Stockwell, MD Alexandra Stockwell, MD Welcome to "The Intimate Marriage Podcast," the podcast where we explore the secrets to cultivating passionate and intimate relationships. I'm your host, Dr. Alexandra Stockwell, aka "The Intimacy Doctor," an experienced intimacy coach and marriage expert.In every committed marriage, intimacy and connection are the foundation for a fulfilling relationship. Join me as we delve into how small shifts and being uncompromising in your daily interactions can lead to profound and nourishing physical/emotional intimacy.During each episode, we'll explore topics such as sexual intimacy, emotional awareness, and building an intimate connection that feels comfortable and authentic for you and your partner. I'll share practical advice and strategies to help you unlock the full potential of your relationship.As "The Intimacy Doctor," I've helped countless couples transform their relationships and create a life filled with passion, purpose, and deep satisfaction. With over two decades of experienc Explicit

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Fem MD?

This episode is 44 minutes long.

When was this Fem MD episode published?

This episode was published on August 27, 2025.

Can I download this Fem MD episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!