70 Being Brave: Resilience in the Face of Backlash
https://302.buzz/PM-WhatAreYourThoughts
Pediatricians get up every day thinking about how to meet the needs of children. And very often we forget about our own health. In this episode of Pediatric Meltdown, Dr. Lia and Dr. Michelle Fiscus discusses physician burnout, what it means to face identity challenges as a physician, and overcoming these challenges.
Dr. Michelle Fiscus is a board-certified pediatrician who practiced general pediatrics in Franklin, TN for 17 years before joining the Tennessee Department of Health in 2016. She most recently served as medical director of the Tennessee Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization Program until she was terminated from that position for sharing a memo regarding a 34-year-old case law that allows certain minors to consent for their own medical care. Dr. Fiscus was thrust into the national spotlight after she released a statement shedding light on the choice of those in leadership in Tennessee state government to place their political agendas over the best interest of the people they serve. She has used this platform to support the work of public health and reinforce the importance of vaccines and other public health measures in ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Fiscus is an associate clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. She is a past president of the Tennessee Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and now serves on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Pediatrics as District IV Chair.
[00:01] Dr. MIchelle Fiscus Shares Her Story With Us
[11:52] Covid-19, the Vaccine Rollout, and Controversy
[21:06] The Interference of Politics and Public Health
[32:54] Being a Disruptor in Pediatrics
[42:57] Closing Segment
Key Quotes:
“If you know that there's something that you would just love, then figure out how to go get it. You have to make yourself a little bit vulnerable to get there. But don't be afraid to pursue the thing that you think is going to make you happiest.” - Dr. Michelle Fiscus
“I honestly couldn't stomach the interference of politics in public health. Just the unwillingness to understand that the decisions that are being made affect real lives and are causing real deaths and real suffering, and real orphans and real impact to our healthcare system.” - Dr. Michelle Fiscus
“As you get up every day and think about how to meet the needs of kids, remember to give yourself a moment of grace. “ - Dr. Lia Gaggino
Connect with Dr. Fiscus on twitter @drfixus
If you’d like to connect with me, you can find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter or email me at gagginol@yahoo.com. To learn more about me visit https://www.medicalbhs.com/
LOVE WHAT YOU HEARD? Leave us a 5-star review so we can continue to provide you with great content. Share this episode and help people know more about children’s health and well-being.
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free