“I would say know yourself as a person, and understand yourself outside of your role as a doctor, outside of your career in medicine, because it's just part of who you are. It's not all of who you are.” - Dr. Shirin Dason

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Shirin Dason, a Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellow. We learn about her journey with family planning, juggling fellowship with having young children and her valuable advice to other medical learners. 

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Contact Information

Dr. Shirin Dason, M.D.
Email: shirin.dason@alum.utoronto.ca
Twitter: @dason_shirin

Dr. Shirin Dason is an obstetrician gynecologist and currently completing her clinical fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Mount Sinai Fertility, University of Toronto. She has spearheaded the resource hub at www.familyplanningfordocs.com with her team to highlight useful information about family planning in a medical career. 

“We love having kids because we see them as better versions of ourselves, and we have the opportunity to try and guide them into people who are just really good people.” - Dr. Bev Young

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Bev Young, psychiatrist and co-founder of BRIA. We talk about rebranding your career in medicine, how childrens’ perspectives on your job change over time, mental health for women across the reproductive ages, and nurturing your relationship with your partner over time. 

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Dr. Bev Young, M.D.
Email: bev@betterbria.com

Dr. Bev Young is a psychiatrist and co-founder of BRIA, a Canadian virtual mental health clinic for women across the reproductive life stages (trying to conceive, pregnant, postpartum and perimenopause). 

You can check out BRIA here: www.betterbria.com

“I think it's just important to decide what you want in your career and decide what you want in your personal life, and not let one stop you from achieving your goals in the other. Because you just need to make the decision and then figure out all the details later, you can make it work.” - Dr. Andrea Copeland

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Andrea Copeland, a recent graduate of the Plastic Surgery residency program at McMaster University. We talk about her experience having children during residency, starting a new fellowship in Australia and the supportive circle she has.

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Dr. Andrea Copeland, M.D.
Email: acopeland91@gmail.com

“I guess people looking at me from the outside must have thought that I had to make a decision or a compromise between a career and a family, but I always knew that I was going to do both.” - Dr. Heather Shapiro

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Heather Shapiro, an Obstetrics and Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) specialist. We learn about Dr. Shapiro’s leadership roles, her perspectives on the change in work culture over the years, and the best parts of being a mother and grandmother. 

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Contact Information

Dr. Heather Shapiro, M.D.
Email: Heather.shapiro@sinaihealthsystem.ca

Dr. Heather Shapiro is an obstetrician gynecologist by training. She also completed a clinical fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Heather Shapiro focuses on reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Mount Sinai Hospital, and currently holds the position of Vice-Chair Education at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, University of Toronto. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She is interested in the laboratory education of embryologists.

“The first thing I’m going to say, and this is what I encourage to all our residents, is to ensure that you do set aside prioritized time.” - Dr. Peter Ferguson

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Peter Ferguson, an Orthopedic surgeon and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. We talk about his perspectives balancing fatherhood and residency 20 years ago, the evolution of medical training policies in support of family planning, and the work that’s still left to do. We hear about his own challenges and support systems as a parent, and his encouragement for residents to prioritize family. 

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Dr. Peter Ferguson, MSc, M.D.
Twitter: @Toronto_Ortho
Email: Peter.ferguson@sinaihealth.ca

Dr. Peter Ferguson is an Albert and Temmy Latner Professor, Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery and an Orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Toronto. He was the former program director for Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. His research interests include tissue engineering techniques, wound healing and biomechanical modeling of metastatic lesions in long bone. 

“Part of what physician wellness ends up being is your ability to balance your career with your parenting goals” - Dr. Sharon Domb

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sharon Domb, an academic family physician at Sunnybrook Hospital, with a fellowship in women’s health and obstetrics. We talk about changes in maternity leave policies, the importance of soul searching in medical school, and her relationships with her children. We also hear about Dr. Domb’s thoughts on using priorities to guide important career and personal life decisions.

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Contact Information

Dr. Sharon Domb, M.D.

Email: Sharon.domb@sunnybrook.ca

Dr. Domb is a family physician who has been practicing full-spectrum obstetrical care for over 20 years. After completing a residency in family medicine she pursued additional training through a fellowship in women’s health and obstetrics. Dr. Domb teaches obstetrical skills to residents and has taught numerous obstetrical emergency skills courses to physicians and midwives. She has been the recipient of multiple teaching awards. Dr. Domb is passionate about the critical and unique role that family physicians play in the provision of obstetrical care to women, while integrating the needs of their families.

“You can still have, you know, a wholesome, fulfilling and satisfying life, even if you always wanted kids and don't get them as you go through life” - Dr. Sarah Patterson

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sarah Patterson, a Hematologist. We talk about how family plans don’t always go to plan, her journey as a married physician without children, and the importance of finding your people. 

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Dr. Sarah Patterson, M.D.

Email: sarah.patterson@medportal.ca

Sarah Patterson is a Hematologist working in the McMaster Hemoglobinopathy Clinic at Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ontario. She completed medical school at Queen’s University and her internal medicine and adult hematology residencies at McMaster University.

“You have to have the mindset to just deal and keep moving. And I feel that was something that helped me through those tough years”. - Dr. Sony Sierra

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Sony Sierra, an OB/GYN and REI specialist. We talk about how mentorship was integral to her journey as a medical trainee and now, as a practicing physician. We delve into what it’s been like being a single mom and a physician, and what positive role modeling can look like for your teenagers. 

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Contact Information

Dr. Sony Sierra, MSc., M.D.

Email: ssierra@triofertility.com

Since 2006, Dr. Sony Sierra has been a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist, as well as a specialist in recurrent pregnancy loss. Alongside her role as Deputy Medical Director and Partner at TRIO, Dr. Sierra is the Medical Director at EVOLVE Egg Freezing Clinic. In addition to her fertility practice, Dr. Sierra and Dr. Carl Laskin also run the early Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) program — the largest program of its kind in Canada.

Dr. Sierra is an Associate Physician at Women’s College Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Toronto.