Medical Trauma Support

Are you a healthcare professional dealing with stress and burnout? Or a patient who has experienced care from a provider who didn't treat you with the compassion and care that you needed? In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah Stasica speaks with Dr. Sharon Chang, a retired surgical oncologist and current mental fitness coach.They discuss the signs of physician burnout, the reality of working as a cancer surgeon, and how building a daily mental fitness routine helps doctors provide better care.Episode Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to the Medical Trauma Support Podcast 02:24 - Why Dr. Chang became a surgical oncologist 08:24 - How a doctor's emotional support impacts patients 16:56 - The daily stress and reality of being a surgeon 22:47 - Dr. Chang shares her personal experience with burnout 28:22 - Working with a coach to find career clarity 33:44 - Using self-compassion to improve patient care 42:49 - What is mental fitness and how to practice it dailyConnect with Dr. Sharon B Chang on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-b-chang-md/Listen to more from Medical Trauma Support: Subscribe to the channel for more episodes on healthcare recovery and patient advocacy.#PhysicianBurnout #MentalFitness #HealthcareProfessionals #MedicalTraumaSupport #DrSharonChang

In this episode, I’m joined by Seantae Jackson, speaker and co-founder of the Sandal Blue Foundation, who shares the life-changing story of the catastrophic car accident that reshaped her family’s world — and how that moment led to the creation of a nonprofit supporting survivors after severe crashes.We talk about:• Navigating medical trauma and long-term recovery• Parenting a child with a severe TBI and rediscovering hope• The healing power of community and nervous system regulation• Why asking “What can I do?” can transform the recovery journey• Support for caregivers and the unseen layers of traumaWe also pause for a grounding straw-breath exercise to help listeners regulate as the story unfolds.This episode is emotional, inspiring, and full of hard-earned wisdom. If you’ve ever felt alone in your healing, may this conversation help you look up and see that your island is closer to others than you think.Connect with Seantae at sandalbluefoundation.org or @seantaejacksonperspectives or [email protected] out more about Sarah's support community, the Befriend Your Body Community.

Many kids feel anxious or afraid during medical visits — and parents often feel helpless watching it happen. In this powerful conversation, Sarah talks with Mary A. Jenner, pediatric nurse and founder of The Butterfly Pig, about how medical play can help children feel safe, brave, and confident during medical care.They explore how fear, anxiety, and even trauma can develop from medical experiences — and how parents and providers can take small but meaningful steps to prevent it.You’ll learn:• How to prepare kids for medical visits through play• What parents can say and do during procedures to reduce fear• Why simple tools like the Buzzy Bee or toy medical devices make a big difference• How to advocate gently but effectively for your child’s emotional safetyWhether you’re a parent, healthcare provider, or someone who’s had your own difficult medical experiences, this episode offers hope, compassion, and practical tools to help you and your loved ones feel safer in care settings.Guest: Mary A. Jenner, RN, Founder of The Butterfly PigLinks: Parent ResourcesKeywords: fear of doctorschild anxiety at doctorpreparing kids for medical procedureshow to help kids feel safepreventing trauma in healthcarepediatric medical playnervous system regulationsupporting children through medical care

In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah sits down with licensed professional counselor and chronic illness therapist Destiny Davis to explore what happens when medical systems fail to see, believe, or support you.Together, they unpack the layers of medical trauma, chronic illness, and the emotional toll of being dismissed or disbelieved. Destiny shares her lived experience growing up with parents who had disabilities, the trauma of being labeled “hypochondriac,” and how that shaped her path as a therapist and advocate.They talk about the importance of accommodations, neurodiversity, and how society’s “push through” mentality harms those living with invisible illnesses. You’ll also hear powerful insights on:How medical trauma isn’t always what was done to you, but also what you didn’t receiveRebuilding trust in a system that has caused harmThe overlap between medical and attachment traumaSimple, somatic ways to begin feeling safe in your body againWhether you live with chronic illness, support someone who does, or work in healthcare, this conversation will help you see medical trauma through a more compassionate, nuanced lens.Show Links: Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency - https://gvs.georgia.gov/Connect with Destiny Davis:Website: thechronicillnesstherapist.comMembership: thechronicillnesstherapist.com/membershipPodcast: The Chronic Illness Therapist PodcastLearn more about Medical Trauma Support: medicaltraumasupport.com

In this episode of the Medical Trauma Support Podcast, Sarah speaks with Lauren Isbell and Whitney Casal from Nevis Outreach, a patient advocacy organization focused on Congenital Melanocytic Nevi (CMN). They discuss their personal connections to CMN, the challenges families face when navigating medical decisions, and the importance of community support. The conversation highlights the medical risks associated with CMN, the need for shared decision-making in healthcare, and the emotional weight of making treatment choices for children. The episode emphasizes the value of connection and understanding among families dealing with rare diseases, and encourages listeners to seek out supportive communities.Nevus Outreach - https://www.nevus.org/Shared Decision Making - https://collaborativecare.wustl.edu/items/shared-decision-making-about-congenital-nevi/Medical Trauma Support - https://www.medicaltraumasupport.comBefriend Your Body Community - https://www.medicaltraumasupport.org/befriend-your-body-community

In this deeply moving episode, we bring together patient Vanessa Abraham and her ICU doctor, Dr. Jared Rosen, for an honest, tender conversation about what it means to show up with humanity in medicine.Vanessa shares how Dr. Rosen’s attunement, compassion, and presence helped her through one of the scariest moments of her life. Dr. Rosen opens up about how this experience shaped his entire medical career — and how he protects his own mental health to continue showing up for patients with empathy and care.Together with host Sarah, they explore:What makes a medical experience feel safe, even during traumaThe emotional impact of being truly seen by your care teamHow medical professionals can protect themselves from burnout and compassion fatigueWhy little human gestures — like music, photos, and presence — can be life-changingWhether you're a patient, a loved one, or a healthcare provider, this conversation will stay with you.🎧 Listen now and follow for more stories that humanize medical care and support healing after trauma.Here are the ways you can contact Vanessa and Sarah if you need help finding support. Vanessa's WebsiteVanessa's Instagram Account Vanessa's Book: SpeechlessMedical Trauma Support Website Befriend Your Body Community Medical Trauma Support Instagram Account#MedicalTrauma #ICUStories #HumanizingHealthcare #DoctorPatientBond #CompassionateCare #VanessaAbraham #BefriendYourBody #SomaticHealing #HealthcareBurnout #TraumaSupport