Over the last nine episodes, we’ve listened to dozens upon dozens of clinicians tell their stories about shame. What have we learned? What can we take away from all of this? And where do we go from here?

Medical culture expects clinicians to “fix” illness, not have one – especially not a mental illness. But in reality, mental illness is incredibly common, and a huge source of shame, which may prevent us from seeking help.

At work, we often feel pressured to present a curated version of ourselves, which fits into a certain standard. But what are the side effects of hiding parts of ourselves? And what about the parts that remain exposed?

1 in 10 physicians will get sued at some point in their career – but physicians rarely discuss this, much less prepare for it. How do we bring litigation, and all the stress and shame associated with it, out of the shadows?

For most clinicians, the idea of harming a patient is a worst nightmare. But in a high-stakes profession, practiced by humans in a dysfunctional system, errors are nearly inevitable. So how do we deal with the shame that follows?

In medical culture, shame is often wielded as a teaching tool. We shame learners for not knowing, for forgetting, for making mistakes. When does this serve us? When is it harmful? Is there a better way?

On the path to medicine, we’re constantly taking tests: MCAT, shelf exams, step exams, boards, and more. What is the emotional impact of these tests, and their scores, on medical learners?

We all arrive at the gateway to medicine carrying baggage from our past. How does this baggage impact the way we experience shame in our profession?

Medical culture is filled with impossible ideals. What makes an “ideal doctor”? Where do these “ideals” come from? How are they communicated? And what do they have to do with shame?

The Nocturnists teams up with two shame experts to investigate the nature of shame, and its role in the culture of medicine.

A 10-part audio documentary series on The Nocturnists podcast, “Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest” explores how shame manifests in medical culture.