What if your relationship with food had nothing to do with discipline and everything to do with your nervous system?

In this conversation with Luis Mojica, we explore the connection between developmental trauma, chronic stress, and the way we relate to food. Luis shares his own story of using an eating disorder to cope with undiagnosed PTSD, and how that led him to question the traditional psychology model that focuses on behavior without getting curious about environment, physiology, or nutrition.

His work in nutrition counseling revealed a pattern: people with unresolved trauma and chronic stress often struggle to stabilize their health in ways that have nothing to do with discipline and everything to do with their nervous system.

We talk about food as a relationship. Not just something we consume, but something that becomes us. Our tissues, our skin, our blood. Food can stimulate, suppress, or balance the body, much like our relationships with people. Caffeine, sugar, and refined carbohydrates can activate the system. Rich, comforting foods can initially settle us but create downstream effects that dysregulate. Whole foods tend to support balance. This shifts the conversation away from good and bad foods and toward how different foods impact our internal state.

We also unpack trauma as a physiological response rather than an event. The body mobilizes for fight or flight, and when that is not possible, it moves into freeze, collapse, or fawn. Many high achievers learn early how to override their own needs in order to belong. That override becomes a strength professionally, but it comes at a cost. Hunger signals, boundaries, and emotional cues all get muted, and over time there is a growing disconnection from the body. The same stress pathways that are activated in trauma can also be activated by the foods we eat.

A big part of this conversation is reframing cravings. Instead of something to control, they can be understood as a signal. A compass pointing toward an unmet need. Luis shares examples from his work with patients, including how removing a coping mechanism too quickly can create more distress if we do not first understand what role it is playing. We talk about what it looks like to pause, get curious, and actually listen to what the body is communicating.

We also go into practical tools. Tracking where tension or pressure lives in the body. Creating a sense of safety with simple physical cues. Working with numbness and understanding what is underneath it. For those of us in high intensity environments like surgery, this matters. The constant activation, sleep deprivation, and vicarious trauma create a baseline level of stress that most people never experience. In that context, food becomes more than fuel. It becomes a way to regulate. Meals and snacks can either amplify that stress or help bring it down.

We close by talking about capacity versus desire. Many physicians love what they do, but their capacity to metabolize the constant input is maxed out. Without space to process, the system stays activated. Practices like pendulation, moving between states of activation and regulation, help rebuild that capacity. This is ultimately about returning to a more sovereign relationship with the body, supporting the microbiome, and understanding that even something as simple as fiber can play a meaningful role in restoring balance.

Get Luis's book Food Therapy here.

Follow Luis on instagram here.

Join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Learn more about Love and Science Fertility here.

Learn more about the Norway retreat here. Get on my calendar for an interview for a spot here.

Join Empowerd Surgeons here.

Infertility is shaping the lives of female physicians, and we need to talk about it.

Dr. Erica Bove, creator of Love and Science, shares the startling fact that 1 in 4 female physicians and 1 in 3 female surgeons experience infertility. Interestingly, the very mindset that makes us successful in surgery can work against us when it comes to building a family.

We explore the hidden role of stress, trauma, and nervous system dysregulation, and the trap so many physicians fall into: trying to solve infertility by working harder, researching more, and disconnecting from their own bodies.

Dr. Bove offers a radically different approach, one that begins with humanity.

We talk about:

• Why going on a certainty frenzy doesn't solve the problem
• How trauma states impact fertility physiology
• The courage it takes to receive care, not just give and give
• Reconnecting with your deepest “why”
• Boundaries, community, and learning to say: I deserve to be a patient

This is not just a conversation about fertility, it’s about reclaiming your humanity in a system that taught you to override it.

Erica Bove, MD, is a double board certified OB-GYN and Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI) physician at the University of Vermont, She is also the CEO and founder of Love and Science: Thriving Through Infertility. She has a keen interest in marrying an evidence-based approach with intuitive knowing in the context of a trusting relationship. She empowers women physicians to build their families with confidence, self compassion and community. Her mission is to heal and support the healers and to create a legacy she is proud of.

In her free time, she enjoys running, yoga, kayaking, skiing, reading, writing, and spending time with her inner circle.

Follow her on Linkedin here, IG here, FB here, and check out her podcast, Love and Science Fertility here.

Surgeons, join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group today.

In this episode, Dr. Karen Leitner and I explore the hidden thought patterns that keep women physicians stuck. And how to break free!

We cover:

• Why charting paralysis happens (and the thought loops that drive it)
• Being diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) later in life and the shift from self-judgment to self-understanding
• The power of acceptance and letting go of control over outcomes
• The moment Karen realized even “good doctors” get sued
• How medical training builds a hypercritical inner voice (and how to replace it with self-compassion)
• Moving from walking a tightrope → to feeling solid and safe within yourself
• The reality of inequity: women physicians being undervalued and underpaid
• Lessons from Women Don’t Ask on why women avoid negotiation
• The mindset shifts needed to negotiate powerfully:
• Your value is yours—even if others don’t recognize it
• Hearing “no” is part of the process, not the end
• Discomfort is the price of increasing your impact and income
• Practical negotiation strategies:
• Research compensation (e.g., Medical Group Management Association data)
• Communicate your value from the institution’s perspective
• Have the conversation in person and set expectations ahead of time
• Anticipate objections and stay in the conversation

Key takeaway:

Money = impact. When you are compensated appropriately, you expand your ability to create change.

Ready to go deeper?

If you’re a woman physician looking to feel better, think clearer, and show up more powerfully in your life and career, check out Dr. Karen Leitner's coaching program here. Make sure to follow her on Instagram here.

And if you’re a surgeon ready to step out of burnout and lead your career from a place of confidence and ownership, join Empowered Surgeons. You don’t have to keep doing this alone.

Interested in our retreat to Norway? Get on my calendar for an interview here.

What does it really take to survive and succeed in a system that wasn’t built with you in mind?

In this episode, I explore that question with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sonya Sloan. We talk about the hidden curriculum of medicine: the unspoken rules, the power dynamics, and the strategies required to navigate surgical training, especially as a Black woman in a historically white, male-dominated field.

From early inspiration in the operating room to enduring microaggressions, bullying, and even physical assault during training, Dr. Sloan shares what she learned, how she protected herself, and why resilience alone is not enough.

This episode is not just about survival; it’s about strategy, leadership, and rewriting the rules for the next generation.

We talk about:

• How her early experiences sparked a career in orthopedics
• What it was like being one of the only Black trainees in a surgical program
• The reality of bias, microaggressions, and exclusion in medicine
• The difference between mentors and true advocates
• A moment of physical assault in the OR, and how she handled it
• Why documentation and strategy are essential for protecting your career
• The hidden “rules” of medicine no one teaches you
• How surgical culture impacts women
• The critical importance of leadership and communication skills
• Why “soft skills” are not optional but essential
• How humor and tone-setting can transform the OR environment
• The emotional toll of training, and the importance of narrative processing
• Why so many trainees feel isolated, targeted, or unsupported
• What needs to change in surgical education right now

Takeaways:

• Resilience isn’t enough. You need strategy, awareness, and support
• Documentation is power in environments where bias exists
• Mentors advise. Advocates act. You need both.
• Microaggressions shape careers, even when they seem subtle
• Leadership skills are not taught, but they are critical to survival
• You don’t have to silently tolerate inappropriate behavior
• Processing your story is part of healing and reclaiming your voice

Learn more about Dr. Sonya Sloan and get her book, The Rules of Medicine here.

Follow Dr. Sloan on instagram here.

Check out Hardball for Women here.

Check out White Fragility here.

Join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Join Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Learn more about what's inside ESG here.

In the perfectionist surgeon's mind, either we get a perfect outcome or we fail. But in the realm of humans, perfection is impossible. And we don't always have full control over the final surgical result.

Instead of thinking in terms of surgical "success" and surgical "failure", what would it look like to categorize circumstances into mistakes, complications, and missed expectations? That's what I explore inside this episode.

What does it mean to stay grounded in your identity and your humanity inside a system that often asks you to override both?

In this episode, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Brian Nwannunu, shares his journey from being the son of Nigerian immigrants to building a career in surgery rooted in purpose, faith, and service. Brian knew from a young age that he was called to medicine, but his path wasn’t linear. After not getting into medical school on his first attempt, he pursued a master’s in physiology, eventually gaining admission and thriving - reinforcing a powerful truth: test scores don’t define clinical excellence or future success.

We talk about the realities of surgical training, where Brian faced criticism, microaggressions, and the pressure of being one of the only Black residents in his program. Despite external narratives that questioned his performance, he had objective evidence of his excellence and mentors who helped him stay grounded. His story highlights the disconnect that can exist between perception and reality in training environments, and the lasting impact of bias, labeling, and unequal protection among trainees.

Brian shares how these experiences shaped the way he practices today. As an attending, he’s intentional about bringing humanity back into orthopedic surgery: slowing down, listening deeply, and recognizing that every surgery affects not just a patient, but an entire life system. We also explore the difference between operating from service versus ego, and how that distinction changes both outcomes and fulfillment.

The conversation expands into the broader realities of modern medicine: insurance barriers, loss of autonomy, and the growing influence of private equity. Brian explains why he chose private practice, why physicians need an exit strategy, and how models like direct care may shape the future of certain specialties.

Finally, we talk about identity beyond medicine. Brian shares how he’s diversified his life through teaching, speaking, and financial literacy, which all creates a sense of purpose and stability that extends beyond the OR.

This is a conversation about resilience, integrity, and choosing how you want to practice, both as a surgeon and as a human being.

Follow Dr. Brian Nwannunu on instagram here.

Join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group here.

What do physicians actually need when they find themselves on the receiving end of a malpractice lawsuit?

In this episode, I have a conversation with emergency physician, educator, speaker, coach, advocate and legal expert Dr. Gita Pensa about the reality of medical malpractice from the physician defendant’s perspective. We explore why getting sued can feel like being dropped onto another planet. Also why shame, fear, and avoidance often keep doctors from learning how the system actually works.

Gita explains how the malpractice landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. Public trust in medicine has eroded since COVID, nuclear verdicts are increasing, and third-party investors are now funding lawsuits in pursuit of massive payouts. Meanwhile, physicians often stay silent, leaving the narrative about medicine to be shaped by media outlets, documentaries, and plaintiff attorneys who are highly organized and strategic about influencing public perception.

We also unpack a crucial misconception: a verdict or settlement does not necessarily mean bad care. Medicine operates in a world of uncertainty, yet the public expectation of perfection has never been higher. Complications, missed expectations, and true mistakes are very different things, but in courtrooms and headlines, they’re often treated as the same.

Gita shares practical insights into the litigation process, including why the deposition is one of the most important moments for a physician defendant. She also discusses the work she does helping physicians prepare for these high-stakes conversations so they can show up with clarity instead of fear.

Finally, we zoom out to the bigger picture. From legislative advocacy to improving how medicine talks publicly about risk and error, physicians need to become more informed, more strategic, and more willing to speak openly about malpractice and its consequences.

Because the truth is: if we want the system to change, we have to be willing to understand it and talk about it out loud.

Learn more about Dr. Pensa's LEAP course here.

Listen to Doctors and Litigation: The L Word podcast here. Season 3 episode 4 features Dr. Nirav Patel, the radiologist who is an example of what is possible.

Join Empowered Surgeons Group here.

In 2019, two patients complained to the Board of Registration in Medicine about me.

At the time, it felt deeply unfair. I felt hate. I felt indignation. I felt like a victim. I even fantasized about horrible things happening to the people who complained about me. They were my villains.

But, through my own coaching journey, I began to understand that pain is not individual; it is inherited, relational, generational, and cultural. These two complaints were sources of clean pain, but they were not the source of my suffering; my decision to indulge in drama was the real cause of my suffering.

In this episode, I'll teach you the important lessons I learned from that year.

I now feel immense gratitude for experiencing what it's like to be investigated by the Board, and I'm so happy I can bring these lessons to all of you.

If you want to take this work deeper and master the lessons I now teach, you're going to want to join us inside Empowered Surgeons Group here.

Not ready yet? Definitely get on my email list here so as not to miss any free or paid offerings.

Sign up for the webinar, "Mistakes, Complications and Missed Expectations" on March 26th at 5 pm EST here.