An Interplay Between Solutions and Success In Physician Burnout with Janae Sharp

Our latest iteration of Crisis Point highlighted the physician burnout crisis, from its manifestations and ramifications, systemwide struggles due to COVID-19, and ultimately, the necessary movements towards solving the crisis.

The experts featured were honest and deliberate – both in sharing their own stories and pinpointing areas in the system that need the most assistance now, before it becomes too late.

In this episode of DocTalk, we interview Janae Sharp, founder of the Sharp index, on some of these larger, slightly philosophical questions surrounding physician burnout, including how to measure and define success, as well as the deeper layers of stigma that must be addressed as part of the process.

The Sharp Index is a nonprofit that aims to increase awareness of and reduce physician burnout and suicide through support and data science. Sharp herself is an advocate because her husband, a physician, took his own life in 2015.

Throughout the episode, Sharp is both critical and dedicated to the idea of a “solution” and what it may mean in the long run. She expressed the uniqueness and nonuniqueness her work brings to resolving the crisis and where institutions often go wrong.

In the conversation, Sharp's insight seemed to hinge on the idea of breaking barriers simply by conversing about the issue, with honest intent and no drivel.

Particularly important, her insight makes important waves outside of the typical healthcare space, wherein the intricacies of the issue and its darkest consequences may not be as widely discussed.

Ultimately, as Sharp put it, this may have made her a greater ally and more knowledge of what needs to be done to fix burnout.

"I can talk about a lot of things that other people can't, or they're risking a lot like telling their personal stories, saying like, 'I was suicidal,' or those other things," Sharp said. "I'm really lucky, because I'm able to talk about that stuff. It's a terrible loss. But at the same time, it gives you a unique ability to not be ashamed of it. And to say, hey, like, let's just move forward."

We hope you enjoy today's episode. Thanks for listening.