I Made Myself Sick Working Back-to-Back 20-Hour Shifts in Residency. How Burned-Out Doctors Can Find Our Creativity Again with The Nocsturnist’s Dr. Emily Silverman

How I Doctor

Dr. Emily Silverman is a practicing internist and the founder of The Nocturnists, a groundbreaking podcast that amplifies the raw, deeply human stories of healthcare workers.

In this episode of How I Doctor, Dr. Graham Walker sits down with Dr. Silverman to discuss her personal experience with burnout, the systemic flaws in medicine that drive physician exhaustion, and how storytelling can serve as a powerful tool for healing and connection. She shares how her own journey — from back-to-back 20-hour shifts in residency leading to a devastating health crisis — sparked her passion for rethinking medical culture and supporting fellow physicians through creative expression.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• The Reality of Physician Burnout – Emily recounts the moment she realized the system that trains doctors to heal was, ironically, making her sick.
• How Medical Training Stifles Creativity – Why doctors often feel they’ve “lost a piece of themselves” during training and how to reclaim personal expression.
• The Power of Storytelling in Medicine – How The Nocturnists became a movement for processing the emotional weight of medicine.
• Structural Issues in Healthcare – The impact of corporate consolidation, private equity, and systemic burnout on physician well-being.
• Supporting Women in Medicine – Dr. Silverman discusses maternity leave, childcare challenges, and the gender pay gap in healthcare.
• Career Advice for New Physicians – Why embracing diverse career paths can lead to greater fulfillment and impact.

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For a full transcript of this episode click HERE

Find all episodes of How I Doctor at offcall.com/podcast or subscribe on your favorite podcast player at https://episodes.fm/1767429315.