In this week’s Growth Edge leadership podcast episode, I’m joined by Carrie Cunningham, MD, MPH, FACS, for an important conversation, exploring the complexities of mental health and medicine. Dr. Cunningham is a retired professional tennis athlete, an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, the Section Chief of Endocrine Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Immediate Past President of the Association for Academic Surgery, a mentor, a mentor, and an advocate. Her recent AAS Presidential Lecture, Removing the Mask, courageously shared her journey through depression and substance abuse recovery.

Key takeaways:

- vulnerability is not a weakness, but a strength

- seeking fulfillment from within is key to flourishing

- certainty vs. fallibility

- giving ourselves and others space for grief and emotions

- the value of meaningful connections with others

- self care as a professional obligation

Listen in!

US surgeons are killing themselves at an alarming rate. One decided to speak out - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/26/surgeons-suicide-doctors-physicians-mental-health

Association for Academic Surgery Presidential Address - Removing the Mask - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c4OMFcmML4

Arthur Brooks - A profession is not a personality - https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2021/09/self-objectification-work/620246/

Range - David Epstein - https://davidepstein.com/the-range/