How I Doctor with Dr. Graham Walker 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
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:
https://www.offcall.com/learn/podcast/nocturnists-host-dr-emily-silverman-made-herself-sick-working-back-to-back-shifts
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