Shedding the Armor: Burnout, Belonging and Being a Woman Surgeon with Dr. Erin Sheffield

What does it actually cost to survive in a system that wasn't built for you?Dr. Erin Sheffield is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon, founder of The Doctor Is ALL In retreat, and co-host of The Resting Stitch Face Podcast — and she's spent her career in one of the most male-dominated surgical specialties in medicine. In this conversation, she and Dr. Zarya go deep on the kind of burnout that doesn't come from working too hard. It comes from shrinking yourself to fit.From her origin story — marine biology student turned oral surgeon after a nudge from her twin sister — to fighting a wrongful termination lawsuit after taking maternity leave, Erin's path has been anything but linear. What she's built on the other side is a community, a retreat, and a mission to give women in surgery what she never had: a space to exhale.In this episode, you'll hear about:The microaggressions that add up — and how they quietly drain high-achieving womenWhat burnout actually feels like in the OR (compassion fatigue)Being illegally fired after taking maternity leave — and what happened nextThe HR complaint that got filed against her for 'hostile work environment' — and why it would never have happened to her husbandWhy women surgeons need permission to rest — and what it looks like when they finally give it to themselvesHow The Doctor Is ALL In was born from feeling completely alone at her first major conferenceThe armor metaphor: what happens when we carry our protective shields long past when we needed themThe pants incident. (You'll know it when you get there!!!!!)Dr. Sheffield's closing message is one that every high-achieving woman needs to hear: you're doing better than you think you are. You don't have to carry it all. And you don't have to do it alone. Trust me, this is one you don't want to miss!Timestamps00:00 - Introduction to Dr. Erin Sheffield and her mission02:13 - From marine biology to oral maxillofacial surgery: an unconventional journey04:45 - Facing challenges as a woman in a male-dominated surgical field07:09 - Microaggressions, systemic barriers, and the importance of mentorship09:25 - Experiences of discrimination and hierarchy in residency11:04 - The culture of perfectionism and proving commitment in medicine12:52 - Societal expectations and the environment for women surgeons16:11 - Infertility, motherhood, and the high costs of medical training17:19 - Juggling motherhood, career, and personal life with supportive partnerships19:04 - Building community through the Doctors All In retreat33:04 - The importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and redefining professionalism39:39 - The analogy of armor and the weight of carrying emotional defenses40:34 - Rapid Fire: Last day off, mishaps, scuba or lacrosse, and twins47:46 - Advice for high-achieving women in medicine: You're enough48:39 - Connecting with Dr. Sheffield and her wellness initiativesConnect with Dr. Erin Sheffield:Instagram & TikTok & LinkedIn: @drerinsheffieldPodcast: The Resting Stitch Face Podcast (all major platforms + YouTube)Retreat + Monthly Membership: https://www.doctorisallin.com/Please like, subscribe and share this podcast with someone you think might enjoy it. And if you enjoyed the episode? Please leave us a review! It really does help other women looking to outsmart burnout discover the show.And remember, burnout is not your destiny; it's your wake-up call!Connect with Dr. Zarya Rubin:Sign up for your 1:1 SOS Session and Step Out of Survival Mode! https://drzarya.myflodesk.com/Listen to my TEDx talk about my burnout story: https://bit.ly/TEDxBurnoutLearn more: https://drzarya.comFollow along on IG: https://instagram.com/drzaryarubinDownload your FREE Outsmart Burnout Toolkit: https://drzarya.myflodesk.com/outsmartburnouttoolkit