LIMITLESS Leaders Toolkit: Confidence, Resilience & Professional Identity-Thriving, Not Surviving, in Academic Medicine

Thriving, Not Surviving, in Academic Medicine | LIMITLESS Leaders Edition: S3 Ep11

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This episode of the Limitless Leaders podcast focuses on thriving, not just surviving, in academic medicine. Host Dr. Nupur Gangkudai is joined by three accomplished plastic surgeons: Dr. Julia Corcoran, Dr. Amanda Gosman, and Dr. Amber Leis. Each shares her leadership roles, including residency program director, division chief, fellowship director, and mentor within academic societies.<br /><br />The discussion explores what keeps them engaged in academia despite challenges such as lower pay, limited control, heavy responsibilities, and burnout. All three emphasize the rewards of teaching, mentorship, research, global health, and caring for complex patients whose treatment requires a team-based academic environment.<br /><br />They also discuss professional development, including leadership training, peer support training, and Julia Corcoran’s master’s degree in health professions education. The conversation highlights the importance of balance, planning, flexibility, family support, and protecting time for personal wellbeing.<br /><br />The panelists candidly describe barriers they faced, including overt sexism, lack of recognition, and difficult career transitions, and share strategies for perseverance and self-advocacy. Finally, they reflect on legacy: training compassionate physicians, improving representation in surgery, and creating a more inclusive future for women in academic plastic surgery.

Keywords

academic medicine

plastic surgery

leadership

mentorship

burnout

women in surgery

health professions education

global health

work-life balance