Hey Doc

You worked incredibly hard to become a physician. Four years of undergrad. Four years of medical school. Years of residency and fellowship. Endless sacrifices.

So why are you acting like you're not allowed to benefit from it?

In this episode, I'm giving you full permission to use one of the few privileges you truly earned: your physician network.

I've used it to get second opinions when my family needed them. I've gotten my nephew seen by a pediatric subspecialist on short notice. I've leaned on physician communities when my mom had a serious burn. Every single time, someone stepped up because I asked.

And that's the part many of us forget.

People actually want to help.

Somewhere along the way, many physician moms start believing they're bothering people if they reach out, ask a question, or call in a favor. We spend our careers taking care of everyone else but hesitate to let anyone take care of us.

I'm here to remind you that this isn't taking advantage of anyone.

This is one of the few privileges you worked your entire adult life to earn.

Use it.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why physician moms often hesitate to ask for help
• Real examples of how I've used my physician network for my family
• The surprising truth: helping others feels good
• Why asking for help is a gift to the person who's able to give it
• How to stop feeling guilty about using the connections you've earned

You don't have to wait months for an appointment if someone is willing to help. You don't have to feel guilty texting a specialist friend. You don't have to do this alone.

Use your privilege, Doc.

You've earned it.

🎧 Listen now, and if this episode reminds you of another physician who needs permission to ask for help, send it to her. She deserves to use the network she worked so hard to build, too.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

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Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

Hey Doc,

I’m back with another episode where I was dropping gems on another podcast.

I joined Dr. Diane Shannon on Vital Signs: Thriving as a Woman in Medicine to talk about something I think sits at the heart of so much burnout for physician moms: the definition of a "good mom."

Most of us inherited that definition without ever questioning it. Be there for everything. Do it yourself. Put everyone else's needs ahead of your own. Sacrifice without complaint.

The problem? That model was never built for women practicing medicine.

Medicine still rewards self-sacrifice. Motherhood often expects it. Put those two together, and it's no surprise so many physician moms feel like they're failing at both, even when they're doing an extraordinary job.

In this conversation, we unpack where these expectations come from, why physician moms experience them so intensely, and how creating your own definition of motherhood isn't selfish. It's necessary.

We also talk about the practical changes that can help you protect your wellbeing without sacrificing the career or family you've worked so hard to build.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why the traditional idea of the "good mom" sets physician moms up for burnout
• How medicine's culture of martyrdom amplifies guilt at home and at work
• The hidden costs of trying to do everything yourself
• Why redefining motherhood is one of the most important mindset shifts you can make
• Practical ways to prioritize yourself without feeling guilty

If you've ever felt like you're constantly falling short, despite giving everything you have, I hope this conversation reminds you that the problem isn't you.

It might just be the definition you've been trying to live up to.

🎧 Press play and let's redefine what being a good mom really means.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya

One conversation can change your career. But first, you have to be willing to ask.

In this episode, I'm joined by my friend Dr. Kristine Goins on The Physician's Guide to Doctoring to talk about one of my favorite topics: asking.

Whether you're negotiating your contract, requesting a different schedule, asking for support at home, or advocating for yourself in medicine, the biggest obstacle usually isn't strategy. It's believing you're allowed to ask in the first place.

We talk about why physicians are conditioned to avoid asking, how to move through the fear of hearing "no," and why connecting to what you actually want changes every negotiation.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why asking is a skill every physician needs
• How medical culture teaches us to silence our own needs
• Reframing "no" as information instead of rejection
• The role of curiosity in successful negotiation
• Why your deepest desire matters more than negotiation scripts
• How to know if you're asking for enough
• A real example of negotiating a locums incentive by honoring your own value

A quick heads-up: Parts of this recording were unfortunately corrupted, and AI replaced portions of my voice during the editing process. It sounds a little strange in a few spots, but the conversation was too valuable not to share. Thanks for sticking with it.

If this episode makes you realize you've been settling for less than you need, I hope it reminds you that asking isn't selfish. It's a skill. And it's one worth practicing.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a strategy coaching session and get clarity and strategic next steps for the life and career you want.

Strategy Coaching Session with Dr. Toya