"You are not alone" Harnessing the power of voice and living experience to advocate for others with Dr Jess Morgan.

In S5 E8 I am delighted to welcome Dr Jess Morgan to the podcast. Dr Morgan is a UK based paediatrician who spent 11 years as a junior doctor in the NHS. In 2019, after experiencing burnout and mental illness, she left medicine altogether. Jess threw herself into a new career as a primary teacher, completing her PGCE during the Covid pandemic and then teaching her own class. More recently, she decided to return to medicine and is still navigating this journey. Jess has developed a passion for promoting and improving doctors’ mental health and wellbeing. Some listeners may know Jess as The Bipolar Doc, a twitter alias she has kept secret until very recently. By speaking and writing honestly about her own humanity and vulnerability, Jess has grown a large community of followers. She is currently a leadership fellow at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health working on a project to support paediatricians to have long, sustainable and thriving careers in the profession.
In this conversation Jess shares some more of her story and describes how her experiences have motivated her and given her courage to be a leading voice and advocate for her colleagues and determination to help build a safer more supportive healthcare system and culture. We discuss her current work with the RCPCH and her ambassador role with Doctors in Distress, a UK charity dedicated to providing mental wellbeing support to healthcare workers. Jess shares her teaching and presenting wisdom with a short masterclass in meeting your listeners and learners where they are and taking them where you want them to go, ending with a practical take home and call to action.
Jess's creativity, joy of learning, teaching and passionate advocacy permeate this entire conversation. I feel very grateful to have her in my tribe. Thank you Jess.
Links/references/resources:
Dr Jess Morgan
https://x.com/doc_bipolar
https://thebipolardoc.wordpress.com
UK Doctors and NHS Practitioners :
https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk
https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing/wellbeing-support-services/sources-of-support-for-your-wellbeing
https://aboutwellbeingltd.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/international-practitioner-health-summit-jun-2024.pdf
AMA/AMSA traffic light guide
https://www.ama.com.au/articles/amacdt-x-amsa-mental-health-support-traffic-light-guide
To read:
https://harpercollins.co.uk/pages/listen-kathryn-mannix
To listen:
https://www.themindfullmedicpodcast.com/
Wellbeing leadership CPD:
https://wellmd.stanford.edu

The Mind Full Medic Podcast is proudly sponsored by the MBA NSW-ACT Find out more about their service or donate today at www.mbansw.org.au
Disclaimer: The content in this podcast is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Moreover views expressed here are our own and do not necessarily reflect those of our employers or other official organisations.