Ep64: Physician Burnout, Compassionate Care, and Asking Your Dr. Questions with Dr. Diana Londoño, MD

Dr. Diana Londoño has an inspiring story about her path to becoming a doctor and her experiences with burnout. Her journey began when she watched her father suffer from illness and noticed how little dignity he received in healthcare. This motivated her to bring compassion and respect back into the medical field.

She emphasizes that really listening to patients and addressing their fears and emotions is crucial. Dr. Londoño believes that leaders in healthcare should be empathetic and curious. She also highlights the importance of self-care to combat burnout. Stress can manifest physically, leading to issues like asthma and joint pain, as the body reacts with a fight or flight response, which can cause digestive problems too.

Finding purpose and having a solid support system are key to managing stress. Establishing self-care routines and setting boundaries can help prevent burnout. She points out that emotional connections are vital for healthy relationships, and issues like porn-induced erectile dysfunction can stem from dopamine depletion.

Dr. Londoño argues that society needs to embrace emotions to reduce suffering. She suggests practical changes like avoiding inflammatory media, engaging in creative activities, and fostering deeper connections with others. The themes of unity, love, surrender, and personal growth are central to her message. She encourages letting go of ego and fear while embracing our interconnectedness.

Support, whether from higher sources or friends, is crucial during tough times. The conversation also touches on self-discovery, self-care, and choosing relationships that reflect our values. Ultimately, it’s about being curious, introspective, and willing to face discomfort to foster personal growth and build deeper connections with others.

 

Bio:

Dr. Diana Londoño is a Board-Certified Urologist and one of the 10% of urologists in the US who is a woman and the 0.5% that are Latinx and a woman. Dr. Londoño is originally from Mexico City, and she received all her education in the Los Angeles Area, going to Claremont McKenna College for her undergraduate studies and then attending UCLA for her medical school training. She finished a 6-year residency in Urology at Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles.

She has experienced burnout twice, which led her to write and speak about it to raise awareness and help others. She has published multiple articles in Medscape, Doximity, Kevin MD, Men’s Health, Giddy.com, medmic.com, and others. She is also a contributor author to the books “Thriving After Burnout” and “Medic S.O.S.” Her burnout journey led her to become a certified life coach and founder of Physician Coach Support.com. This free and confidential 1:1 peer support platform for physicians, led by certified physician life coaches, is available seven days a week via Zoom.

In 2022, she received the Los Angeles County Medical Association Physician Leadership Award for her work. She is an international speaker and guest on multiple podcasts discussing wellness, boundaries, ego, humanity in medicine, mindset, and mindfulness. She has also been featured on TV on Univision, Telemundo, Mundo Fox, CNN Latino, KCET, and ABC News as a health consultant discussing urological topics. She is also a Reiki Master and a Pranic Healing student, and the mother of two determined and joyful 6 and 8-year-old girls, Daniela and Paloma.

Contact Dr. Londoño:

https://dianalondonomd.com

https://physiciancoachsupport.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianalondonomd/
https://www.instagram.com/dianalondonomd/
X: @dianalondonomd
https://www.youtube.com/@dianalondonomd

 

Episode Chapters:

00:00 Becoming a Doctor and the Importance of Dignity in Medicine
05:58 The Role of Leadership in Medicine
13:11 Addressing Patients' Fears and Concerns
20:08 Preventing Burnout: Self-Care and Energy Management
30:27 The Impact of Stress on Physical Health
42:21 The Role of Emotional Connection in Sexual Dysfunction
50:23 The Importance of Vulnerability in In-Person Connections
55:44 Practical Changes for Managing Stress and Improving Well-being
59:30 Unity, Love, and Letting Go
01:01:27 The Beauty of Breaking and Healing
01:03:21 Overcoming Burnout and Finding Purpose
01:05:10 Self-Care and Meaningful Relationships