Award-Winning #1 Amazon Bestseller

Boundaries for Women Physicians: Love Your Life and Career in Medicine

By Tammie Chang, MD

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Winner of the 2022 Living Now Evergreen Book Award Gold Medal

a little peek inside…

Introduction

Women who become physicians are suffering from record alarming rates of burnout, emotional exhaustion, stressors and even suicide. What we do not learn as students, trainees or attending physicians — what is not imparted to us in our long and arduous education and training — is the understanding that in order to best serve as the healers and physicians we have the potential to become, we have to first be strong and healthy in our own body, mind and spirit.

“Do no harm” has to apply to ourselves first.

It has become clear to me that an underlying cause of the burnout for physicians is a lack of boundaries and good self-care habits. The word “boundaries” can be fraught with emotion for many women (you might be one of them, I certainly once was!). Just the image of creating boundaries can make us feel stressed and tense, as though we are restricting ourselves or pushing away something or someone, or as if we are creating an electric fence around ourselves. Even worse, we often feel enormous guilt.

Why is this? Why does holding to our boundaries feel so hard?

Why do we feel so guilty when simply protecting ourselves and our lives?

Why do we feel this is selfish?

We dig deep into these questions in the book.

Through sharing my own story and that of three other women physicians, I hope to break the barrier of silence and shame so commonly shared in our profession. By admitting our own struggles and committing to ourselves, we have the opportunity to change the trajectory of our lives. My hope in writing this book is to equip women who practice medicine with the tools to create healthy boundaries and self-care practices, so that they can thrive and love their practice.

Boundaries help us create freedom.

“My wish is for you to discover and create sacred space for you. Boundaries start with you, from within. From this place of strength, you can create anything, including a life you love as a woman who practices medicine.”

- Tammie

“I commend Dr. Tammie Chang for her commitment to empower women in medicine who are under so much added stress now. We need our women physicians to be strong, happy and fulfilled. Boundaries are a key skill for them to achieve this, and Dr. Chang can help. She is a wonderful, warm teacher.”
— Judith Orloff, MD, New York Times Bestselling Author, The Empath’s Survival Guide
“This is a book that is going to save the lives and sanity of thousands of women physicians. Dr. Tammie skillfully guides her reader through their journey from burnout to being joyous and fulfilled in medicine. This book is a must read for all female physicians. From medical students to attendings. Truly life changing!!!”
— Yashoda Bhaskar, MD Internal Medicine, Certified Life and Money Coach
“Boundaries For Women Physicians is a reminder for every female physician that she is the architect of her life. It is a blueprint for taking back control and leveraging the personal power within to build a career in medicine that is fulfilling. Read it and share a copy with your doctor sister-friend because our collective power is unstoppable!”
— Terri Malcolm, MD, MBA, CPE, ACC, CEO of Master Physician Leaders and Physician Executive Coach
“This is the most comprehensive book on boundaries for physicians. Dr. Chang provides the perfect balance of scientific evidence, personal experience and real world action steps that will leave you feeling empowered, inspired and motivated to take action.”
— Kristin Yates, DO Obstetrics/Gynecology Coach and Founder, Conscious in Medicine
“Now more than ever it's absolutely essential for physicians to be intentional in creating their ideal lives both in and out of medicine. I absolutely believe this will make for happier physicians, better care for patients, and ultimately a better society. Dr. Chang is an amazing example of what's possible and has created a resource that we can all benefit from.”
— Peter Kim, MD, Founder, Passive IncomeMD
“This book not only shows us how to build the critical skill of self-compassion into our lives, but it will also deepen our compassion for our colleagues, mentees and patients.
It’s a win-win-win. This book should be gifted to every graduating woman medical student. As a physician who experienced burn out herself, I only wish I had this book during those formative years.”
— Olga Lemberg, MD Pediatrics, Founder, Fabled
“Dr. Chang has put together a fantastic book for women physicians who are suffering from burnout with easy-to-understand solutions to the problems that are commonly known but often not addressed. There are many case examples that women may identify with which allow women physicians to better identify with the lives of other women physicians just like them and poignant, targeted questions that the reader is asked to answer to help them uncover the solutions.”
— Elsie Koh, MD MHL, CEO and Founder of LEAD Physician® leadership program
“As one of us, Dr. Tammie Chang truly understands the demands placed on women physicians. She starts with relatable personal stories illustrating how a lack of boundaries can lead to burnout. This is followed by step-by-step actions we can take to start saying yes to ourselves. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to start taking things off their plate so they can have the space to breathe and just be.”
— Cherie Chu, MD Pediatrics, Founder, Doctor Mom’s Lounge and Wellness Pediatrician
“This book is full of wonderful insight from a fellow woman doctor who has been at rock bottom but who found her way to thriving without leaving medicine. Dr. Tamara Chang guides you with actionable steps on how to set your own personal and professional boundaries to have the life and career you desire. Just about every woman doctor struggles with boundaries and this book will help you understand why they are so important.”
— Archana Shrestha, MD, CoFounder and Chief Wellness Officer of Women in White Coats
“Dr. Chang not only illuminates some of the difficult to discuss problems in our culture of healthcare she provides real-time solutions that work! I love the advice and the self-work that is included. Do yourself a favor and make the time to follow the workbook! I love how Dr. Chang walks the reader through difficult emotions. This book made me cry and gives me hope.”
— Elizabeth Berdan, MD, MS, Pediatric General & Thoracic Surgeon
“I can hear Tammie cheering me on through the text with her friendly but firm urging because she wants better for me. Not only does she offer clear demonstrations of the consequences of lack of boundaries via the stories of relatable, well-intentioned women physicians, but she also shares practical solutions for prioritizing self-care and boundary-setting in your own life in a step-by-step fashion through reflection, promoting each of us to release some of the burdens we carry so that we have the space to grow into the best versions of ourselves.”
Brittany Cowfer, MD, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
“Dr. Tammie Chang’s latest book is an exceptional read! No matter where you practice or what you do, her personal stories will resonate with you and touch your soul. It’s positive words and affirmations inspired me to take control of my life and live the life I have always imagined.”
Jamie Flerlage, MD, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology