Soulful Surgeon: The Healthcare Workers' Guide to Ending Burnout and Maximizing Wellness

How does your life change when you go from caring for patients to facing a life-threatening diagnosis yourself?Physicians are trained to stay composed, keep moving, and care for others. But when illness suddenly becomes personal, it can force a profound reevaluation of identity, priorities, and what truly matters.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker welcomes Dr. Sunny Sharma, a board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician whose life changed after being diagnosed with a golf-ball-sized brain tumor at age 36.Dr. Sharma shares the emotional challenge of becoming the patient, how waiting and uncertainty deepened his empathy, and the burnout he experienced while working inside a traditional high-volume primary care system. He reflects on returning to work after surgery while navigating hearing loss, chronic fatigue, and recovery—and why those experiences ultimately led him to redesign both his practice and his life.Together they explore physician burnout, the broken incentives in modern healthcare, the power of prevention, and how lifestyle-focused concierge medicine can restore connection, continuity, and better outcomes for both doctors and patients.Dr. Sharma also shares his remarkable personal transformation—losing 75 pounds and completing the Chicago Marathon just 25 months after brain surgery.What you’ll gain from this episode:• How serious illness can transform a physician’s perspective on medicine and life• Why burnout is so common in traditional primary care models• The benefits of prevention-focused, relationship-based healthcare• How lifestyle changes can support healing, resilience, and long-term wellness• Why doctors need permission to care for themselves tooAbout the GuestDr. Sunny Sharma is a board-certified internal medicine and lifestyle medicine physician. After surviving a brain tumor, he shifted his practice toward a concierge, prevention-based model focused on deeper patient relationships, longer visits, and sustainable health outcomes.Key Quote“Sometimes becoming the patient is what finally teaches us how people truly experience healthcare.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What do you do when the tools of modern medicine don’t fully solve your patient’s problem?Many physicians enter medicine to heal, yet over time the healthcare system can become increasingly focused on symptoms, silos, and productivity. This can leave both patients and clinicians feeling frustrated and disconnected from the deeper purpose of care.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker speaks with Dr. Sheila Patel, a family medicine physician with more than 30 years of experience and the former Chief Medical Officer of Chopra Global. Drawing on her work in both conventional and integrative medicine, Dr. Patel shares how she began exploring Ayurveda as a way to better understand the root causes of illness and the unique patterns that shape each person’s health.Together they discuss how lifestyle, nutrition, circadian rhythms, nervous system balance, and individualized approaches to care can complement modern medical treatment. Dr. Patel also reflects on physician burnout, the loss of autonomy many clinicians experience today, and how reconnecting with the deeper art of healing can help restore meaning in medical practice.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why modern healthcare’s siloed approach can leave both patients and physicians dissatisfied• How Ayurvedic principles can help uncover patterns behind symptoms• Practical ways physicians can introduce holistic thinking into patient care• Simple daily practices that support nervous system balance and overall well-beingAbout the GuestDr. Sheila Patel is a family medicine physician and a leader in integrative medicine. She previously served as Chief Medical Officer at Chopra Global and blends Ayurveda, meditation, and modern medicine in her work with patients and healthcare professionals.Key Quote“Sometimes healing requires stepping back and understanding the patterns behind a patient’s symptoms.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

Have you ever walked into a patient room and suddenly felt like your brain stopped working?Many healthcare professionals operate under constant pressure—rapid decisions, emotional intensity, and the weight of responsibility. Over time, chronic stress can quietly begin to hijack the brain’s ability to think clearly, connect with others, and make thoughtful decisions.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker speaks with Janelle Banat, founder and CEO of Footlamp Consulting, about the neurological effects of chronic stress in healthcare. Drawing on her experience in healthcare leadership and executive coaching, Janelle explains how stress impacts executive functioning, decision-making, and emotional regulation—and why so many clinicians feel overwhelmed at work.Together they explore how recognizing these patterns can help healthcare professionals regain clarity and control in demanding environments.What you’ll gain from this episode:• How chronic stress affects the brain’s executive functioning• Why fear responses can hijack decision-making in high-pressure environments• The SCARF model and how it explains workplace stress triggers• A practical four-step process to manage stress and reclaim mental clarityAbout the GuestJanelle Banat is the CEO and founder of Footlamp Consulting, where she works with healthcare leaders and organizations to build psychologically safe environments and support clinician well-being. Her work focuses on leadership development, burnout prevention, and improving healthcare workplace culture.Key Quote“When fear hijacks the brain, our ability to think clearly disappears—but that pattern can be recognized and interrupted.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when a mother and daughter both choose nursing—and end up sharing the same calling?In this heartfelt episode, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker sits down with Stacey Simmons and Elena Johnson, a mother-daughter nursing duo at very different stages of their careers. Together they reflect on the emotional realities of nursing, the moments that sustain them, and the importance of caring for themselves while caring for others.What you’ll gain from this episode• A rare look at nursing through two generations of experience• The emotional highs and challenges nurses face every day• Why connection and meaning keep healthcare workers going• The importance of self-care in sustaining a career in medicineAbout the GuestsStacey Simmons brings 28 years of nursing experience, while her daughter Elena Johnson is just six months into her nursing career. Together they share an honest, multi-generational perspective on the heart of nursing.Key Quote"The moments with patients—the ones you never forget—are what keep you coming back."Ready to reconnect with purpose in your work and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when you’ve achieved everything you thought you wanted—yet something still feels missing?Many high-achieving professionals reach a point where success no longer feels as fulfilling as they expected. The constant drive to perform, achieve, and care for others can slowly disconnect us from the practices that sustain our own well-being.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker speaks with Niki Smirni, a transformational leadership expert and founder of the European retreat company Travel Gems. Niki shares her journey from a high-powered corporate career to creating experiences that help people reconnect with themselves through reflection, education, and intentional living.Together they explore how daily practices such as gratitude, meditation, and mindful awareness can help restore balance in demanding careers. Niki also introduces the STOP method, a simple practice promoted by Deepak Chopra that helps individuals pause, reset, and reconnect with the present moment.The conversation offers a thoughtful look at how personal growth, leadership, and well-being intersect for professionals navigating high-pressure environments.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why high achievers sometimes feel disconnected despite professional success• A simple technique for interrupting stress using the STOP method• The role of gratitude, meditation, and reflection in sustaining well-being• How intentional pauses can help restore clarity and purposeAbout the GuestNiki Smirni is a transformational leadership expert and founder of Travel Gems, a European retreat company focused on personal growth and wellness. She is also the author of The Method, a book that blends philosophy, spirituality, and leadership insights to guide personal transformation.Key Quote“Transformation doesn’t happen when we escape our lives—it happens when we learn how to integrate what truly matters.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

Are you living and practicing medicine with intention—or simply reacting to the demands placed on you?Healthcare professionals often move through their days at an intense pace, responding to patients, schedules, documentation, and countless responsibilities. In the midst of this constant motion, it can be easy to lose sight of the deeper purpose that originally drew us to medicine.In this final episode of the Seven Remedies of Being series on the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #7: Intentional Being. She reflects on the powerful relationship between purpose, attention, and intention, and how these elements shape the way we live and practice medicine.Dr. Hunsicker invites listeners into a thoughtful process of reflection—considering the intentions they bring to their relationships, their families, their work, and their connection to the broader community. She also explores the importance of mindfulness, gratitude, and conscious awareness in creating a life that feels aligned with our deepest values.This episode brings the Seven Remedies journey full circle and encourages healthcare professionals to move forward with greater clarity, purpose, and intention.What you’ll gain from this episode:• The difference between purpose, attention, and intention in daily life• Reflective questions that help clarify what truly matters to you• Why intentional living can restore meaning in a demanding profession• How mindfulness and gratitude support a more aligned and fulfilling lifeAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“Where we place our attention ultimately shapes the life we create.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when the sense of community in medicine begins to disappear?Healthcare has always depended on collaboration, shared wisdom, and mutual support. Yet many clinicians today feel increasingly isolated—working in systems that prioritize productivity while leaving little space for connection with colleagues or community.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #6 of the Seven Remedies of Being: Community. She reflects on the growing fragmentation within healthcare and the impact this isolation can have on physician well-being, professional fulfillment, and patient care.Dr. Hunsicker discusses why building stronger communities among healthcare professionals is essential for navigating the emotional and practical challenges of medicine. She also highlights the importance of advocating for better working conditions, supporting one another through difficult moments, and cultivating connections both inside and outside the healthcare system.This episode invites listeners to remember that medicine was never meant to be practiced alone.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why the loss of community contributes to burnout in healthcare• How collaboration and shared experiences strengthen resilience in medicine• The importance of advocacy and mutual support among healthcare professionals• Why meaningful connections outside of medicine help sustain long careers in healthcareAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“Medicine was never meant to be practiced in isolation—it thrives when we support one another.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What if the most important relationship in your life is the one you rarely stop to examine?Healthcare professionals spend their days caring for others—patients, families, colleagues, and communities. Yet the demanding culture of medicine often leaves little space to care for the person behind the white coat.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #5 of the Seven Remedies of Being: Relational Well-Being. She reflects on the importance of self-compassion and the relationship healthcare professionals have with themselves.Dr. Hunsicker discusses how internal self-talk, emotional walls, and the pressure to appear strong can shape the way clinicians interact with patients, colleagues, and family members. She also shares personal insights from her life as a surgeon and mother, highlighting the challenges healthcare professionals face as they navigate demanding careers while trying to remain present in their personal lives.This episode invites listeners to consider how nurturing a healthier relationship with themselves can transform every other relationship in their lives.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why the relationship we have with ourselves influences every other relationship• How internal self-talk affects interactions with patients, colleagues, and family• Why healthcare professionals often build emotional “walls” for protection• How authenticity and self-compassion can restore connection in medicineAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“The way we speak to ourselves quietly shapes every relationship in our lives.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What if some of the most important signals in medicine aren’t found in lab results or imaging—but in our awareness?Healthcare professionals are trained to rely on data, protocols, and measurable outcomes. Yet many clinicians recognize moments in practice when intuition, presence, and deeper awareness guide decisions just as powerfully as clinical knowledge.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #4 of the Seven Remedies of Being: The Sensory Being. Building on the ideas from Gary Zukav’s The Seat of the Soul, she reflects on how our awareness extends beyond the traditional five senses to include intuition, insight, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.Dr. Hunsicker also discusses principles from Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements, exploring how authenticity, integrity, and mindful communication can shape the way healthcare professionals interact with patients, colleagues, and themselves. The episode invites listeners to move beyond perfectionism and reconnect with a more authentic and present way of practicing medicine.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why awareness and intuition still matter in modern medical practice• How the concept of the “sensory being” expands beyond the five senses• Insights from The Four Agreements that can transform professional relationships• Why striving for excellence—not perfection—creates healthier interactions in medicineAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“When we move beyond perfection and reconnect with awareness, we begin practicing medicine as whole human beings again.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when the work you once loved begins to feel empty?Many healthcare professionals enter medicine with a deep sense of purpose. Over time, however, the pressures of the healthcare system—long hours, administrative burdens, and emotional exhaustion—can slowly disconnect clinicians from the meaning that first drew them to the profession.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #3 of the Seven Remedies of Being: Spiritual Well-Being. She reflects on the difference between spirituality and religion, emphasizing spirituality as the search for meaning, connection, and purpose in our lives and work.Drawing from personal experiences and influential teachings, Dr. Hunsicker discusses how practices such as gratitude, meditation, and mindful awareness can help healthcare professionals reconnect with the deeper reasons they chose medicine. She also explores the idea of leading with love, cultivating authentic power, and rediscovering abundance in a demanding profession.This episode invites listeners to pause and reflect on what it truly means to practice medicine with intention and heart.What you’ll gain from this episode:• The difference between spirituality and religion in personal growth• How gratitude and meditation can help restore resilience in medicine• Why reconnecting with purpose can transform how we practice healthcare• Practical ways to cultivate mindfulness in a demanding medical careerAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“When we reconnect with purpose, medicine becomes more than a job—it becomes a calling again.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

How much mental weight are healthcare professionals expected to carry—and at what cost?Physicians and healthcare workers face enormous psychological demands every day: life-and-death decisions, emotional encounters with patients and families, financial pressures, documentation burdens, and the constant fear of making a mistake. Over time, that accumulation of stress can quietly erode well-being.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #2 of the Seven Remedies of Being: Mental Well-Being. She reflects on the emotional and psychological realities of practicing medicine and the ways healthcare culture often discourages clinicians from acknowledging their own mental health needs.Dr. Hunsicker discusses the generational trauma that exists within the medical profession, the systemic pressures that contribute to burnout, and why stronger support systems are essential. She also encourages healthcare professionals to speak openly with colleagues, seek counseling when needed, and begin building a culture of compassion for one another.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why the mental strain of practicing medicine often goes unrecognized• How systemic pressures contribute to burnout and emotional exhaustion• The importance of counseling, communication, and peer support• Why prioritizing mental well-being is essential for sustaining a career in healthcareAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“The culture of medicine often teaches us to carry everything alone—but healing happens when we support one another.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

Why do so many healthcare professionals ignore their own health—even when they know better?Physicians and healthcare workers spend their careers diagnosing illness, recommending treatment, and encouraging patients to prioritize their well-being. Yet within the culture of medicine, it is surprisingly common for clinicians to delay their own care, dismiss symptoms, or push through exhaustion in order to keep working.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker explores Remedy #1 of the Seven Remedies of Being: Physical Well-Being. Drawing from personal experience and stories shared by colleagues, she reflects on the hidden risks of neglecting our own health while caring for others.Dr. Hunsicker discusses the cultural expectations in medicine that encourage self-sacrifice and the dangerous consequences that can follow. She also offers a new perspective—one that invites healthcare professionals to prioritize their own physical health as an essential part of sustaining a long and meaningful career in medicine.What you’ll gain from this episode:• Why healthcare professionals often delay or ignore their own medical care• The cultural expectations in medicine that encourage self-neglect• Practical ways clinicians can prioritize their physical well-being• Why caring for ourselves is essential to caring well for our patientsAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“We cannot continue to sacrifice our own health for a system that depends on our ability to care for others.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when the people trained to heal others realize they also need healing?Healthcare professionals are often expected to be tireless providers—constantly caring for patients while setting aside their own needs. Over time, this culture can leave clinicians feeling exhausted, disconnected, and questioning the meaning of the work they once loved.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker introduces the framework she calls The Seven Remedies of Being—a path that helped her emerge from one of the most difficult periods of her life and reconnect with her humanity as both a physician and a person.Drawing from her own experiences in medicine, Dr. Hunsicker explores how healthcare culture can slowly turn human beings into “human machines.” She offers a new perspective on well-being that recognizes healthcare professionals not just as providers, but as whole people with physical, mental, spiritual, relational, sensory, community, and intentional needs.This episode sets the stage for the Seven Remedies series and invites listeners to begin reflecting on what it means to truly care for themselves while continuing to care for others.What you’ll gain from this episode:• A new perspective on why burnout in healthcare runs deeper than exhaustion• An introduction to the Seven Remedies of Being framework• Why reconnecting with our humanity is essential for the future of medicine• How community and self-awareness can help restore meaning in medical practiceAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with purpose, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“Healthcare professionals are not human machines. We are human beings who deserve the same care and compassion we offer our patients.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What if the exhaustion so many doctors feel isn’t burnout at all—but something deeper?Many physicians feel exhausted by modern healthcare—but what if the problem isn’t burnout? What if it’s moral injury?In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker speaks with healthcare executive Hallie Woods, CEO of Accessum Health, about the growing moral conflict many clinicians experience inside today’s healthcare system. Together they explore the tension between productivity pressures and patient care—and why so many doctors feel trapped between their calling and the systems they work in.What you will gain from this episode:• The difference between burnout and moral injury in medicine• Why many physicians feel disconnected from the system they work in• How healthcare structures influence physician well-being and patient care• Why reclaiming the mission of healing matters now more than everAbout the GuestHallie Woods is the CEO of Accessum Health and a healthcare executive with over 15 years of experience navigating complex healthcare systems. Inspired by her nurse mother, she founded Accessum Health to help patients advocate for themselves and access preventive care.Key Quote"The crisis in healthcare isn't just exhaustion—it’s when the system prevents you from practicing the medicine you believe in."Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What does it really take to raise a family while practicing medicine?Physicians often carry the weight of demanding schedules, emotional responsibility, and the constant pressure to be present for their patients. But behind the white coat, many doctors are also navigating the deeply personal challenge of being parents—trying to balance the calling of medicine with the needs of their families.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker is joined by longtime friends and fellow physicians Dr. Jodi Widner and Dr. Radhika Acharya. Drawing on more than two decades of shared experiences in medicine and motherhood, they reflect on the realities of raising children while working in a demanding healthcare profession.Together they explore the moments of guilt, the importance of supportive partners and community, and the lessons their children have learned from watching them practice medicine. The conversation offers an honest look at the challenges physician parents face—and the deep meaning they often find in both roles.What you’ll gain from this episode:• The hidden emotional challenges of balancing medicine and parenthood• How physician parents navigate guilt and demanding schedules• Why support systems and community are essential for healthcare families• The lessons doctors hope their children learn from watching their workAbout the GuestsDr. Jodi Widner and Dr. Radhika Acharya are physicians and longtime colleagues of Dr. Lisa Hunsicker. Through their shared experiences as doctors and parents, they offer thoughtful insight into the realities of building a medical career while raising a family.Key Quote“Our children see more than we realize—they see our sacrifices, our dedication, and the humanity behind the work we do.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What is it really like to grow up with a doctor as a parent?Physicians dedicate their lives to caring for patients, often working long hours under intense pressure. But what does that experience look like from the perspective of the children at home?In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker hosts a candid and heartfelt conversation with Riley, Mira, Shrey, and Kai, children of physician parents. They share their honest perspectives on growing up in families shaped by medicine—from the pride they feel in their parents’ work to the challenges of balancing family time with demanding careers.The conversation explores how the COVID-19 pandemic affected their worries, why simple traditions like family dinners matter so much, and the ways children understand and support their physician parents. Their reflections offer a meaningful glimpse into the family side of medicine and the relationships that sustain healthcare professionals through difficult work.What you’ll gain from this episode:• A rare perspective on medicine through the eyes of physicians’ children• The emotional impact of demanding medical careers on family life• Why small moments like family dinners matter more than we realize• Insightful advice from children to parents working in healthcareAbout the GuestsRiley, Mira, Shrey, and Kai are children of physician parents who share their candid reflections on the joys, worries, and realities of growing up in families shaped by medicine.Key Quote“We know our parents are helping people—but sometimes we just miss them.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when the person who has spent decades helping others heal suddenly finds herself on the other side of the exam table?Healthcare professionals are trained to care for others, often pushing their own needs aside in the process. But sometimes life forces even the most dedicated caregivers to pause and confront their own vulnerability.In this episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker sits down with Julia Osborne, PT, a physical therapist with more than 30 years of experience and the founder of Oncology Rehab. Julia shares her remarkable journey from South Africa to the United States, her passion for improving recovery and quality of life for cancer patients, and the innovative oncology rehabilitation protocols she has helped develop around the world.Julia also opens up about a recent personal health scare that gave her a new perspective on what it means to move from caregiver to patient. Her story offers a powerful reminder that caring for ourselves is just as important as caring for the people we serve.What you’ll gain from this episode:• What healthcare professionals often learn when they become patients themselves• How oncology rehabilitation is improving recovery for cancer patients worldwide• Why self-care is essential for sustaining a career in healthcare• Insights on balancing professional dedication with personal well-beingAbout the GuestJulia Osborne is a physical therapist with over 30 years of experience and the founder of Oncology Rehab, an organization dedicated to improving cancer rehabilitation practices and patient outcomes globally.Key Quote“Sometimes the most powerful lessons in healing come when we find ourselves on the other side of care.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/

What happens when the doctor caring for everyone else quietly begins falling apart?Medicine asks healthcare professionals to carry enormous responsibility—long hours, emotional intensity, and the constant pressure to perform. But rarely do we talk about what happens when the weight becomes too heavy to carry alone.In this deeply personal episode of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast, Dr. Lisa Hunsicker shares the story that led her to create this podcast. As a busy plastic surgeon and single mother, she found herself pushed to the brink by the relentless demands of medicine. In 2012, overwhelming stress brought her to a moment that forced her to confront a painful truth: even the people trained to heal others can find themselves in desperate need of healing.From that turning point emerged a new way of thinking about well-being in medicine—the framework she now calls The Seven Remedies of Being. These principles helped Dr. Hunsicker begin to reconnect with her humanity, rediscover purpose in her work, and imagine a more sustainable way forward for healthcare professionals.What you’ll gain from this episode:• An honest look at the hidden mental health struggles many healthcare professionals face• Why burnout in medicine often goes deeper than exhaustion• The personal turning point that led to the Seven Remedies of Being• Why reconnecting with our humanity may be the most important step in healing medicineAbout the HostDr. Lisa Hunsicker is a plastic surgeon, speaker, and host of the Soulful Surgeon Podcast. Through her work, she explores the emotional and moral challenges of modern medicine and helps healthcare professionals reconnect with meaning, resilience, and the humanity of their work.Key Quote“Healthcare professionals are not machines. We are human beings who chose a profession dedicated to caring for others.”Ready to reconnect with purpose in medicine and life?Learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Lisa Hunsicker:https://soulfulsurgeon.com/