Dr. John McHugh, a Board Certified in OB/GYN and Lifestyle Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, joined today with Dr. Mikio Nihira to discuss the importance of wellness for physicians, particularly for younger doctors who want to maintain good health and well-being throughout their careers. They also touch on financial wellness and how physicians can balance their passion and living a comfortable life for themselves and their families.
Drs. Nihira and McHugh talk about physician burnout, which can manifest in disruptive behavior and the need for a more systematic approach to wellness training for doctors. And how physicians’ habits can impact their patients and the need for a comprehensive approach to wellness that encompasses sleep, nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
Dr. McHugh also discusses the importance of evidence-based financial planning and talks about ten books on financial planning, including “The Richest Man in Babylon” and “A Random Walk on Wall Street.”
The issue of physician suicide is also highlighted, emphasizing the need to address this tragic problem. Overall, this episode offers valuable insights and practical tips for physicians seeking to maintain their health and wellness throughout their careers.
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Key takeaways from this episode are:
- The importance of maintaining good health and well-being throughout a physician’s career.
- Balancing passion for medicine with financial planning for a comfortable life for themselves and their families.
- How physicians’ habits can impact their patients and the need for a comprehensive approach to wellness.
- Addressing physician burnout through a systematic approach to wellness training.
- The importance of evidence-based financial planning and several helpful books on the topic.
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Key highlights
- 00:00:45 – Introduction to the episode and the guest.
- 00:02:26 – Dr. McHugh’s journey into medicine, his experiences during residency, and the prevalence of paycheck-to-paycheck living among physicians.
- 00:04:14 – How Dr. McHugh addressed his financial planning as a resident and his observations about the financial planning industry.
- 00:05:58 – Surviving and Prospering through Downturns – Dr. McHugh’s reflections on the trauma of the 2008 real estate crash.
- 00:06:59 – Dr. McHugh’s passion for helping people achieve health and wellness.
- 00:07:50 – Snake oil salesmen in the health and wellness industry.
- 00:09:18 – How Dr. McHugh started his own journey to wellness.
- 00:12:03 – The potential impact of a physician’s habits on their patients.
- 00:13:02 – The importance of addressing physician burnout in healthcare systems.
- 00:14:38 – How this podcast can help listeners by applying the six pillars of lifestyle medicine.
- 00:16:36 – Physicians face the same causes of death as the average American, with one exception: suicide.
- 00:17:04 – A book recommendation from Dr. McHugh – “Why We Sleep” by Matthew Walker.
Background of Dr. McHugh
John McHugh, MD, is a graduate of the Harvard Medical School and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He has served as department chair at Scripps Mercy in San Diego, and is now chair-elect for the American College of OBGYN for California. He co-chairs the Preconception Health Care Council of California. and the Women’s Health Group of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
He has published several articles in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine and served as a peer reviewer for many articles. He has contributed to the first textbook of lifestyle medicine in women’s health: Improving Women’s Health Across the Lifespan.
He has always placed wellness as the center of his work, delivering babies and improving practice standards. Bringing lifestyle medicine to the center of health and wellness empowers patients to make the change they seek, and enjoy the benefits of true wellness.
Connect with Dr. McHugh
Email: northpk@gmail.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jpmchugh1/
Dr. Mikio Nihira
Dr. Mikio Nihira is the Medical Director of SevenStar OB/GYN and a former Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of California at Riverside.
Dr. Nihira is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a subspecialist in Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. He is a member of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons, the American Urogynecologic Society, and the National Association for Continence.
He has authored numerous scientific journal articles and textbook chapters in gynecology and urogynecology. He is a nationally recognized expert in female pelvic floor disorders and has been quoted in such publications as the Chicago Sun-Times, Dallas Morning News and Shape magazine.
He is passionate about improving patient care experiences through efforts such as Enhanced-Recovery after Surgery (ERAS) pathways. Critical to this effort is training physicians on how to minimize opioids to manage pain and identify and address substance abuse in patients.
Dr. Nihira is a highly respected and experienced physician, having been in practice for over two decades. His medical career began in 1994 when he graduated with a medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. He completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. To further specialize in the field, he finished an urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery fellowship at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center and the University of Maryland. A Southern California native, Dr. Nihira is dual-boarded in obstetrics/gynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Additionally, he serves on several national boards for his specialty and chairs UC Riverside’s institutional review board for research projects.
Dr. Nihira is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American College of Surgeons. He is a Professor of OB/GYN in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery at UC Riverside. He currently serves as an examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a subspecialty examiner for Urogynecologic surgeons.
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