005 - Robyn Symon Interview: Physician Suicide & DO NO HARM

Robyn Symon Interview: Physician Suicide & DO NO HARM<br /><br />Robyn Symon, a two-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, joined me for the Licensed to Lead podcast on April 30, 2020.<br /><br />Robyn has written, directed, and produced films and television series—and she specializes in documentaries. We spoke about her acclaimed and riveting film that takes an unblinking look at the dark underbelly of medical training. Robyn is passionate about doing what she can to highlight and address the inhumanity of medical training—inhumanity which unfortunately can also be found in healthcare organizations. She’s currently on an international film tour with her documentary about physicians and medical training—the film is:<br /><br />DO NO HARM: Exposing the Hippocratic Hoax<br /><br />DO NO HARM is about a sick culture in medical school and residency that drives depression and burnout and suicide among medical students and physicians. This is an issue that is important to physicians and so critical to the future of medicine. It is phenomenal and hopeful that a filmmaker of Robyn Symon’s caliber chose to create a documentary to help stop the abuse of medical students and residents.<br /><br />Robyn was particularly interested in joining me on the Licensed to Lead Podcast to highlight a series of screenings of the film in May—during Mental Health Awareness Month. When I asked Robyn what messages she wanted to communicate with the film she said she wants people to understand:<br /><br />- Why physician suicides are happening and what the impact is on patients<br />- That physicians and patients must unite in their desire for an excellent healthcare system<br />- That when physicians are burned out or suicidal “The problem is NOT YOU”—the problem is the system and the system must change<br />- The importance of discussing suicide and reducing the stigma about mental illness <br /><br />One of the most urgent messages for medical students and physicians is the importance of understanding the threat posed to their mental healt