Many physicians enter medicine because they care deeply. At what point does that strength become a vulnerability, and what can we do about it?

In this episode of Stand Up (for) Doctors!, we're joined by two physicians who will be part of our inaugural Physician Retreat this October.

Together, they explore how both personal patterns and healthcare culture shape the physician experience and what it will take to create a more sustainable future for medicine.

🔹 Dr. Randie Schacter is an Adult, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist and Health & Wellness Coach at Silver Spaces, helping physicians better understand the relationship between personal well-being and professional fulfillment.

🔹 Dr. Gigi Abdel-Samed is an emergency physician with more than 30 years of experience who developed a framework to help health systems recognize the early drivers of physician disengagement and create healthier workplace cultures.

Medicine attracts compassionate, dedicated people. Yet the very qualities that make physicians exceptional can also leave them carrying more than anyone should.

How do identity, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and self-sacrifice intersect with workplace culture, leadership, and organizational expectations? And what changes, both personally and systemically, help physicians build sustainable careers?

Caring for others should never require losing yourself.

Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/T_I-Tod5qBQ

🔗 Connect with our guests:

Dr. Randie Schacter

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/randie-schacter-do/

🌐 http://www.silverspaces.org/

Dr. Gigi Abdel-Samed

🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-gigi-abdel-samed-md/

🌐 https://www.drgigisamed.com/

If today's conversation resonated with you, you'll find more powerful stories like this in our White Coats book series, created to humanize medicine and amplify physician voices:

https://standupfordoctors.org/books/

These conversations don't end with the podcast.

Join us at the Stand Up (for) Doctors! Inaugural Physician Retreat, where meaningful discussions are paired with science-based activities that give equal weight to personal well-being. It's a unique experience designed to help physicians reconnect with themselves and one another.

Physicians from 15 specialties, representing 18 states, along with colleagues from Australia and the U.K., have already registered. We'd love to have you join us.

📍 Windrose on Hudson, Ossining, NY

🗓 October 9–12, 2026

🔗 https://standupfordoctors.org/events/

Only 10 spots available.

📩 To learn more about sponsorship opportunities: standupfordoctors@gmail.com

#StandUpForDoctors #PhysicianWellBeing #Leadership #CultureInMedicine #HumanConnection #FutureOfMedicine #Episode166