Jeff welcomes to the mini-podcast award-winning documentary filmmaker and physician advocate, Robyn Symon.
Robyn directed the film Do No Harm which investigates the hidden epidemic of physician suicide, burnout, and the link to patient safety. The film follows the stories of several physicians in medical school, residency, and clinical practice working in our toxic healthcare environment. The goal of the film is to bring awareness to the high rate of physician suicides and to destigmatize mental health. As we know, there are quite a few challenges for us to overcome.
What does Robyn suggest we do to move forward?
Start a conversation!
Solutions can only come from having conversations. When we don’t have difficult conversations, problems get worse. She hopes that we can destigmatize mental health for physicians. She hopes that patients will ultimately benefit from improvements that come from these conversations. She hopes that the film will be a method to start these conversations.
What are YOUR next steps?
- Open a dialogue to destigmatize mental health
- Open a conversation to support changes to licensing and credentialing applications that protect the health of patients and the physicians
- Open communication in front of or with administrators to stop the abuse of physicians by the system
Or just listen to episode 54 with Robyn Symon, Do No Harm!
Most importantly, start having difficult conversations about mental health and suicide with your colleagues!
Guest: Robyn Symon
Robyn is a two-time Emmy Award-winner, and an accomplished writer, producer/director, and editor. She began as a television news reporter in Texas, then joined PBS in Miami where she hosted and produced documentaries, public affairs programs and the TV series Florida! (6 seasons; Travel Channel). She wrote and produced the docu-series Voices of Vision, which focused on the work of non-profit organizations worldwide. She has produced hundreds of hours of TV series for major cable networks including Discovery, CNBC, HGTV and currently produces a series on the Reelz Channel. Prior film credits include: Transformation: The Life & Legacy of Werner Erhard, acquired for international distribution by Screen Media Films and Behind the Blue Veil, about the ancient Tuareg in North Africa, which was distributed by Journeyman Pictures. Her most recent documentary—Uncle Gloria: One Helluva Ride! — is currently on the film festival circuit.