Girl Doc Survival Guide
Young doctors are increasingly in ‘survival’ mode.
Far from flourishing, the relentless pressure of working in medicine means that ‘balance’ is harder than ever to achieve.
On the Girl Doc Survival Guide, Yale professor and dermatologist Dr Christine J Ko sits down with doctors, psychologists and mental health experts to dig into the real challenges and rewards of life in medicine.
From dealing with daily stressors and burnout to designing a career that doesn’t sacrifice your personal life, this podcast is all about giving you the tools to not just survive...
But to be present in the journey.
Episodes
223 episodes
EP215: Humanizing Dermatopathology: Embracing Error with Compassion
Failure, Error, and Self-Compassion in Dermatopathology: Lessons from DermpediaThis episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide shares reflections after Dr. Artur Zembowicz’s Dermpedia course in Boston on failure, mistakes, and improving in d...
EP214: Christina Stevens: The Journey from Theater to Sign Language
DEIAB and Educational Interpreting with Christina StevensChristine interviews Christina Stevens, a nationally certified sign language interpreter working mainly in Connecticut public schools for nine years, with degrees in American Sign ...
EP213: Aquariums!
In this brief episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine shares that it is another week with a bit of a break and shows two aquarium photos: one of fish in an aquarium at Smilow Cancer Center and another of a manta ray seen at Atlantis i...
EP211: Personalized Wealth Strategies with John Shanley
Defining Investing Success: Goals, Asset Allocation, Diversification, and Consistency with John Shanley, CFPOn The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews John Shanley, CFP, Partner and Managing Advisor at Connecticut Wealth Manage...
EP210: The Curiosity of Choice: Understanding Decisions and Fatigue
Decision Fatigue, Perception, and Making Better ChoicesThis compilation episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide explores metacognition, limits of explaining perception, and how fatigue affects decision making. Dr. Claudia Mello-Thoms note...
EP209: The Art of Diagnosis: Insights from Dr. Lisa Sanders
Dr. Lisa Sanders on Diagnosis, Cognitive Bias, and Making Time to ListenChristine interviews Dr. Lisa Sanders, Yale School of Medicine professor and Medical Director of Yale’s Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, known for the New Y...
EP208: Dr. Adam Rubin on Medicine, Investing, and Life Lessons
Dr. Adam Rubin on Adapting, Coalition-Building, and Time in a Dermatology CareerChristine hosts Dr. Adam Rubin, Director of Dermatopathology at NYU Langone and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, reviewing his extensiv...
EP207: Dr. Kevin Ko: New Horizons in Oral and Dermatopathology
Dr. Kevin Ko on Biomarkers, Oral Dysplasia, and the Limits of H&E DiagnosisChristine interviews Dr. Kevin Ko (DMD, MD), a pathologist at the BC Cancer Agency with training in oral and maxillofacial pathology, anatomic pathology, and ...
EP206: The Art and Science of Diagnosing: Dr. Raymond Barnhill on Melanocytic Lesions
Dr. Raymond Barnhill on Diagnostic Drift, Uncertainty, and the MPATH-Dx V2.0 Approach to Melanocytic LesionsIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. Raymond Barnhill, a world-recognized dermatopathology ex...
EP205: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy with Dr. Thomas Helm
Balancing Careers and Family: Insights from Dr. Thomas HelmIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine invites Dr. Thomas Helm, MD, for his second appearance on the podcast. Dr. Helm, former Head of Dermatology and Director...
EP204: Overcoming Decision Paralysis with Dr. Mary Steffel
Overcoming Decision Paralysis: Insights from Dr. Mary SteffelIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, we welcome Dr. Mary Steffel, an Associate Professor of Marketing at Northeastern University. Dr. Steffel delves into the phenome...
EP203: Decoding Overdiagnosis: A Deep Dive with Dr. Wolfie Weyers
In Conversation with Dr. Wolfgang Weyers: The Complexities of Dermatopathology DiagnosisIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine welcomes Dr. Wolfgang Weyers, a highly respected dermatopathologist and author, to discuss ...
EP202: Understanding Cancer Diagnosis: An Expert Discussion with Dr. Kathleen Kerr
Overdiagnosis and Medical Decision Making with Dr. Kathleen KerrIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Dr. Kathleen Kerr, a Professor of Biostatistics at the University of Washington, discusses overdiagnosis and medical decision...
EP201: Decoding Decisions: Eye-Tracking Insights in Diagnostics
The Impact of Gaze and Fatigue on Medical Decision-Making with Dr. Bulat IbragimovIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. Bulat Ibragimov, an Associate Professor of Machine Learning and Medical Imaging at...
EP200: Preventing Burnout: Exercise and Mindset with Dr. Oksana Babenko
Exploring Wellbeing, Motivation, and Lifelong Learning with Dr. Oksana BabenkoIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine welcomes Dr. Oksana Babenko, an Associate Professor at the University of Alberta, to discuss themes o...
EP199: Thriving in 2026
The Girl Doc Survival Guide: Wellbeing in MedicineIn this New Year's Eve 2026 short, Christine highlights the focus of this podcast on work-life balance, physician wellbeing, burnout, and self-care; as well as compassion, empathy, career...
EP198: Embracing Life Beyond Drama
Embrace the Present: Insights from SadhguruIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine extends holiday greetings and delves into the teachings of Indian guru Sadhguru. Highlighting his Miracle of Mind meditation app, the ep...
EP197: In Conversation with Dr. Ronald Barr: Stories and Career Advice
Navigating Dermatopathology with Dr. Ronald Barr: An Inspiring Career JourneyIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Dr. Ronald Barr, a seasoned pathologist, dermatologist, and dermatopathologist. Dr. Barr sh...
EP196: Rethinking Medical Care: Dr. H Gilbert Welch on Overdiagnosis
Questioning Overdiagnosis: A Conversation with Dr. H Gilbert WelchIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine speaks with Dr. H Gilbert Welch, a general internist and senior researcher at the Center for Surgery in Public He...
EP195: Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving Reflections and Insights on Perception and OverdiagnosisIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine expresses gratitude for listeners and contributors, especially highlighting recent enlightening discussions. D...
EP194: Dr. Scott Binder: A Perspective on Pathology and Beyond
Dr. Scott Binder on Life Lessons and Medical PhilosophyDr. Scott Binder, MD, shares his journey from a dermatopathology residency at UCLA to directing his own practice. He recounts challenges such as his first autopsy during the AIDS cri...
193: The Pathologist's Eye: Exploring Templates and Perception with Claudia Mello-Thoms
Understanding Visual Perception in Medical Diagnoses: A Deep Dive with Claudia Mello-ThomsIn this episode, Christine continues the conversation with Claudia Mello-Thoms, an expert in visual perception as it relates to medical ...
EP192: Medical Image Perception: Insights with Claudia Mello-Thoms
Visual Expertise and Diagnostic Accuracy with Claudia Mello-Thoms, PhDIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Claudia Mello-Thoms, PhD, an Associate Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering at the Un...
EP191: Navigating Illness and Compassion: A Dialogue with Theresa Brown
The Sacred Duty of Healthcare: A Conversation with Theresa BrownIn this episode of The Girl Doc Survival Guide, Christine interviews Theresa Brown, PhD, RN, a registered nurse, New York Times bestselling author, and cancer survi...