Author Archives: Helane Fronek

About Helane Fronek

Over the past 28 years I have had a fascinating and fulfilling career in medicine, initially practicing as a general internist and then as a procedural specialist, caring for patients with vein disorders. As Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UC- San Diego School of Medicine, I’m thrilled to be teaching medical students crucial communication skills along with many other aspects involved in the practice of medicine.

The “pinkification” of girls and why it matters to women in medicine

Years ago, the president of Harvard University was criticized for suggesting that women are under-represented in STEM fields because of “innate differences” between them and men.  In fact, research has documented differences in brain size, relative sizes of different areas … Continue reading

Posted in physician coach, physician coaching, women in medicine | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Celebrating September: Women in Medicine Month! A physician coach looks at the important contributions and challenging obstacles faced by women physicians

Starting medical school in 1978, I could not have anticipated the changes I would see in our profession during my career.  HMOs, RVUs, EHRs, corporate medicine structures, patient satisfaction/experience scores and productivity metrics did not exist or did not dominate … Continue reading

Posted in physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching, women in medicine | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

3 Simple Steps for Befriending and Harnessing Your Emotions

  Our culture derides emotions. One common belief is that emotions are bad, and not to be trusted. As doctors, we are taught to remain detached from our emotions, lest they affect our clinical decision-making or we appear less than … Continue reading

Posted in Doctor Coach, emotional intelligence, physician coach, physician coaching | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Beware the trap of comparison – physician coaching helps us find the right metric

Yoga is considered a gentle form of exercise – so I was frustrated when my back muscles cramped and I found myself in bed, unable to stand or walk after a class.  A wise bodyworker asked me to describe what … Continue reading

Posted in mindfulness, physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

What will YOU choose? A physician coach chooses joy

Viktor Frankl, the psychiatrist who wrote Man’s Search for Meaning, is thought to have said, “Between stimulus and response there is a space.  In that space is our power to choose our response.  In our response lies our growth and … Continue reading

Posted in mindfulness, physician coach, physician coaching | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Want more resilience? Physician coaching helps you find the strength in holding opposites

Lengthening and stretching the body is one goal of yoga practice.  As you stretch your arms up toward the sky, you also imagine pushing your legs down into the earth.  We are definitely not used to this habit of moving … Continue reading

Posted in mindfulness, physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching, Resilience | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Announcing the True Story Group Coaching Program for Women Physicians!

Women physicians are a unique group.  We’re smart, caring and talented.  Many of us wonder why we’re not as happy as we thought we’d be.  We used our intellect to succeed in a challenging course of study, only to find … Continue reading

Posted in physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching, physician fulfillment, physician work life balance | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Welcome, 2019! Your Year in Review

Having lived in the same city for 36 years, I tend to shop at the same places, eat out at the same places, see the same people.  I’m generally happy with that, or I would probably change my habits.  And … Continue reading

Posted in Doctor Coach, mindfulness, physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I am here. I am seen. Let 2019 be the year of authenticity, encourages a physician coach.

As I sit in our Cape Town hotel, I’m reminded of a story in The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, where Peter Senge describes a South African tribe whose members greet each other not with, “Hello,” but by saying, “I see you.” In … Continue reading

Posted in Doctor Coach, physician coach, physician coaching | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The best indulgence on Thanksgiving

Gratitude and Awe – why do we deprive ourselves of them? Fortunately, along comes Thanksgiving, the holiday that prompts us to “give thanks.”  Sure, the day is already full with cooking, eating, football, and all sorts of family traditions.  But … Continue reading

Posted in physician burnout, physician coach, physician coaching, physician fulfillment, wholeness | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment