19: Balancing Act: Navigating Parenthood and a career in Medicine

In this episode of the Black Doctors Podcast, Dr. Steven Bradley, an anesthesiologist, critical care physician, and bioethicist, discusses the challenges and realities of pregnancy during residency training. Inspired by his wife’s recent experience, Dr. Bradley explores how demanding residency can be when combined with the responsibilities of pregnancy and motherhood. He presents data from a national survey of surgical residents, highlighting significant barriers such as unmodified schedules, negative stigma, inadequate maternal leave, and lack of breastfeeding support. Dr. Bradley emphasizes the need for systemic changes, including clear leave policies, lactation support, and better childcare assistance. He also shares personal anecdotes illustrating the importance of community support among colleagues. The episode underscores that pregnancy during residency is a workforce issue impacting morale, recruitment, and retention, and calls for collective advocacy and mentorship to create a more supportive training environment.

Interested in starting a podcast? Check out Riverside for your remote recording needs: RIVERSIDE.FM

Dr. Bianca Busch, Mindfulness Mantras or Listen on your favorite streaming platform

Use the discount code: BDPODCAST and save $25 off all TrueLearn USMLE, COMLEX and Residency Smartbanks.

Do you need help with relaxation and decreasing stress? Check out AmbientRx on YouTube for music therapy and sound baths or stream the NOISE-1 album on Spotify.

Interviewing for the big attending job? Check out the Physician’s Contract course developed by Michael Johnson Legal. Use this affiliate link to receive a discount!

If you enjoyed this episode, please share with a friend and leave a comment and rating on iTunes. TBDP is a volunteer passion project with the goal of inspiring all who listen.

In-house music and audio production, so any ideas for improvements or suggestions for future guests are welcome. Visit www.StevenBradleyMD.com to learn more about our host. He is available for consultations or speaking engagements regarding health equity and medical ethics.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *