"MRI studies of these patients determined that it was not only the circuitry that was affected by the burnout but also the size of the brain structures. Compared with the controls, patients suffering from burnout showed volume loss in the prefrontal cortex. Burnout patients appeared to also have shrinking in their dorsal striatum (caudate and putamen nuclei (areas that modify movement) and hippocampus (an area involved in emotion and memory), but an increased volume of tissue in the amygdalae.

So, put down the knife. Keep a work-life balance. Don't burn out. Working too hard is bad for your brain."

Resources:
Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening
Azazel's Public House

Marc Arginteanu is a neurosurgeon.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "Put down the knife: A neurosurgeon explains the importance of a work-life balance."

This episode is sponsored by the Stanford Physician Leadership Certificate Program.

For the aspiring physician leader, leadership skills are one of the most important and influential traits that will elevate your overall success.

Leadership impacts nearly every aspect of your career in a complex and diverse health care system. Including how you effectively communicate and influence those around you, how you respond to conflict and make important key decisions, how you develop your team, and even how you navigate social dynamics in your workplace.

Stanford Medicine recognizes the need to foster physician leaders in health care. That is why they developed the physician leadership certificate program. This 6-month cohort-based program includes live virtual sessions, self-paced learning modules, professional coaching, a capstone project, and much more: Providing C-suite education for the non-C-suite physician leader.

They encourage all early career and aspiring physician leaders to apply. To find out more about the program or apply, visit physicianleadership.stanford.edu.

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A neurosurgeon puts down the knife

The Podcast by KevinMD