The rich flavor of mature sourdough is the result of a long process that requires adaptation, patience, and a bit of yeast wizardry. Imagine this: you mix flour and water, let it sit, then every day you discard a bit of the mix and feed it with fresh flour and water. Sounds wasteful, right? But this daily ritual of feeding and discarding is crucial—it strengthens the culture, making it bubbly and robust. Similarly, as physicians we face continuous challenges and stressors. Rather than weakening us, these experiences, when managed correctly, can enhance our resilience and capability. By embracing and learning from these challenges, we grow stronger and more adaptable, just like the sourdough culture. However, in our current medical landscape, where the trend is to wrap trainees and professionals in bubble wrap, we risk derailing this natural process of growth and resilience, which I think can lead to burnout.
Over time, the microorganisms in a sourdough starter interact and adapt, creating a complex and robust culture. This microbial party results in a rich flavor and resilient dough. This complexity and adaptability makes us better equipped to handle the uncertainties and demands of our profession.
So, let’s aim for doctors with the robustness of a well-fermented sourdough, not the fragility of a half-baked loaf.
To that point, here is a question. Are we doing wellness wrong (spoiler alert: I believe so!), and if so, how can we do it right?
In recent years, “wellness” has become a buzzword in healthcare, touted as the solution to burnout, stress, and dissatisfaction among medical professionals. Yet, what if our current approach to wellness is part of the problem?
As a healthcare professional, I’ve observed firsthand how well-intentioned wellness initiatives often fall short of their goals, and in some cases, may even contribute to the very issues they aim to solve. In this blog, I’ll explore a controversial perspective: that to truly increase happiness in medicine, we need to radically rethink our approach to wellness.
This discussion will challenge some widely accepted practices and beliefs about wellness in healthcare. My goal is not to dismiss the importance of well-being, but to critically examine our current concept of wellness and to propose alternative approaches that may be more effective in fostering genuine happiness and satisfaction among medical professionals.
Some of the ideas presented will be contentious. They’re meant to spark a conversation and give voice to perspectives that often go unheard in the mainstream discourse on wellness. I trust you to decide if these ideas are simply not for you. I encourage you, even then, to assume good intentions.
Eric Yudelevich, MD
Sourdough 