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.

Girl Doc Survival Guide is a health podcast hosted by Christine J Ko, MD, with 243 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Christine J Ko, MD hosts Girl Doc Survival Guide, a health show with 243 episodes published.

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  Episode #237

  EP237: Visible Leadership: A Conversation with Dr. Shannon Udovic Constant

  Sep 29, 202621 minS1

  Physician Women Rising: Strategic Leadership, Visibility, and Sponsorship for Women in Medicine Christine interviews Dr. Shannon Udovic Constant, a San Francisco pediatrician and immediate past president of the largest state medical association and only the fifth woman to hold the role in over 160 years, about advancing women physicians into leadership. Dr. Constant shares a childhood story from her daughter about “boy money,” illustrating how ambition and leadership are gendered, and explains how this shaped her drive to expand women’s representation in executive rooms. Dr. Constant describes launching Physician Women Rising as coaching and education, including a weekly Substack newsletter, to teach leadership skills she learned without a roadmap. Key themes include being strategic about career direction, making impact visible, stating ambitions, and building sponsorship (distinct from mentorship) through purposeful conversations. She discusses the narrower range of acceptable leadership behaviors for women and urges intentional positioning to improve healthcare decisions. Linkd to find Dr. Constant: at her website and on her substack . 00:00 Meet Dr Shannon 00:49 Boy Money Moment 02:58 Why Visibility Matters 04:03 Launching Women Rising 06:02 Three Leadership Keys 08:20 Sponsors Not Mentors 10:07 Her Path to President 13:03 Owning Ambition 14:53 Invisible Work Trap 15:51 Leading in a Narrow Box 19:09 Taking Credit Gracefully 19:55 Final Leadership Challenge

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  Episode #236

  EP236: Finding Your P.A.C.E.: Dr. Judy Wright on Overcoming Burnout

  Sep 22, 202621 minS1

  Sustainable Success and Burnout Prevention with Dr. Judy Wright: The PACE Method Christine interviews Dr. Judy Wright, a physician and sustainable performance strategist, about self-leadership, burnout, and redefining success so it “elevates your life, not erode it.” Dr. Wright shares how missing mammograms while prioritizing others led to a 2019 breast cancer diagnosis, double mastectomy, and a wake-up call that she wasn’t caring for herself and her boundaries had become “a suggestion,” especially with blurred work-from-home lines; Christine relates her own 2022 breast cancer treatment experience and how it forced her to prioritize herself. They define burnout as more than exhaustion, including disconnection, irritability, loss of joy, and diminished achievement, often missed because overwork is glorified. Dr. Wright advises scheduling oneself, taking intentional pauses, and using her PACE framework—Pause, Audit, Calibrate, Elevate—to assess goals, manage decision fatigue, set boundaries, and build sustainable success, including creating one’s own “ladder” and identity beyond roles. Links to find Dr. Wright: LinkedIn and Instagram . 00:00 Meet Dr Judy Wright 01:23 Cancer Wake Up Call 04:06 Lessons on Boundaries 05:23 Scheduling Yourself First 09:23 Burnout Warning Signs 11:19 Why We Miss Burnout 12:11 Intentional Pauses Daily 13:29 PACE Framework Explained 16:43 Keeping PACE Consistent 17:18 Redefining Success Ladder 20:12 Sustainable Success Closing

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  Episode #235

  EP235: Discovering Harmony: Nancy Williams’ Story of Hearing and Healing

  Sep 15, 202616 minS1

  Nancy Williams on Hearing Loss, Accommodations, and Returning to the Piano Christine interviews Nancy M. Williams, Founder and President of Auditory Insight, who shares her lifelong journey with hearing loss, from diagnosis at age six and delayed hearing aid use to its progression to moderately severe loss. Nancy describes loving the piano as a teen, being pressured to quit due to stigma around disability, and returning to lessons years later, culminating in performing at Weill Recital Hall while wearing hearing aids, which helped inspire her to commit professionally to hearing healthcare and advocacy. They discuss language choices around “disability” versus “difference,” Dr. Michael Hoffman’s advice to never apologize for hearing loss, and the importance of seeking accommodations (including seat placement and Zoom needs). Nancy emphasizes that hearing loss is often invisible, urges giving others grace, and explains distinctions between hearing vs. understanding and hearing vs. listening. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:01 Nancy's Hearing Loss Story 02:06 Piano Passion and Comeback 04:39 Disability Language Talk 06:16 Never Apologize and Ask 09:14 Parents Processing Diagnosis 11:57 Hearing Loss Is Invisible 13:37 Hearing Versus Understanding 15:04 Listening and Closing Thanks

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  Episode #234

  EP234: Reflecting on a Summer of Busy Joys and Beginnings

  Sep 8, 20263 minS1

  Staying Grounded Through a Super Busy Season Christine reflects on an unusually busy few months that included family vacations to Paris, London, and Amsterdam; adjusting to a new work role with coaching; submitting a 100+ page grant; launching her middle grade novel Love Language ; playing her first tennis doubles tournament; and teaching her second child to drive. She shares that while she still dislikes the “just get through today” mindset, she is glad she didn’t sacrifice self-care and hobbies as she has in past busy seasons, recognizing she is more than her career and family roles and that her other identities deserve attention. She notes that honoring multiple identities takes time and can increase burnout risk, but coaching has helped her streamline by asking whether a task is part of her role and, if so, what the goal is. She also mentions giving herself grace, including missing an episode, and previews continued discussions on identity, ability, coaching, and more. 00:00 Summer Busy Season 01:00 Investing in Yourself 01:12 Identity Beyond Roles 01:39 Two Coaching Questions 02:04 Hobbies and Grace 02:19 Looking Ahead

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  Episode #233

  EP233: Final Days of Summer - August 2026

  Aug 25, 20260 minS1

  End of Summer 2026! it’s okay to pause sometimes...

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