Meet the Ngā Kōrero l Speakers

My name is Michelle and I grew up in Christchurch where I began my teaching career as a High School teacher in 2000. I have since moved to Auckland and I continue to teach in six schools across Auckland. I have taught Spanish and currently am working as an Itinerant music teacher. 

To help myself not burn out over the years, I have found that creating structures in my life that encourage downtime has made the biggest difference. I have learnt to create for myself a space to do Yoga and Meditate even if it is only 5 minutes of calm stretching when I get home or some slow abdominal breathing in the middle of the day. I find the days that I tell myself that I don't have time to be still these are the times I need it the most. Days when I come home stressed from work I find even ten minutes walking with my feet on the grass completely calms me down and allows me to reset. Taking time in nature has such a restorative effect. The dramatic reduction of stress indicators that were found in the studies done on "Japanese forest bathing"  confirm why we feel great after a holiday in nature. A short time in nature can help me to balance during a busy day too. For me avoiding burnout has become easier when I can find the balance. Knowing when I am pushing too hard and when I need to allow my body and mind a chance to recharge naturally.

Dr Louise Webster
(Panel)

Louise has trained as both a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and a Paediatrician, and is the Service Clinical Director of the Paediatric Consultation Liaison and Palliative Care Teams in Starship Hospital. She has initiated a range of staff supports in Starship including regular supportive supervision for teams, reflective debriefs after difficult incidents, and the roll-out of Medical Mediation Foundation training for staff in the prevention and management of conflict between families and staff. Louise teaches on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses for the University of Auckland. She is also a keen musician, playing violin in St Matthews Chamber Orchestra, piano in chamber ensembles, and completing a DMus in composition in 2019 at the University of Auckland. She is a strong advocate for the importance of doctors cultivating and maintaining interests and activities outside of medicine in order to maintain their wellbeing and prevent burnout.

“I am very excited that this webinar has been organised for trainees, and delighted to be part of it. We know that New Zealand has a disturbingly high prevalence of burnout amongst our senior doctors; a recent survey found that 50% of our SMOs met criteria for burnout, and the rates of burnout were highest in our younger female doctors, and those working longer hours (Chambers et al 2016). Depression rates in doctors are twice those in the general population, and rates of depression increase steadily throughout medical school years and into Junior Medical Officer years. We also know that once doctors have become severely burned out, it is a long and hard road to recovery. Prevention is the most effective strategy; this requires changes in the systems and working conditions that doctors encounter, and the encouragement and support of our trainees to prioritise activities that will be protective.”

Dr Glenn Williams
(Panel)

Dr. Glenn Williams MBChB (Auckland) PGDipSurgAnat, PGCertHealSc (Otago), PGCertHS (Auckland). Glenn grew up in Tāmaki Makarau and is a graduate of Auckland Medical School. Since then he has worked across Hospitals and centres in the North Island as a Registrar/Medical Officer.

 In late 2012 Glenn enlisted in the New Zealand Army as a Medical Officer. In 2013/14 he deployed to the African Coast supporting the NZ Navy as the Medical Officer for counter-piracy operations.

 While working for the Army Glenn continued work in ED and ICU units in the northern region and postgraduate study between trips overseas until leaving the Military in 2016 after working alongside NZ Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squadron (EOD). 

 After a short stint as a Radiology trainee Glenn is now dual training in Anaesthesia and ICU and currently works at North Shore Hospital. His interests include ultramarathon running and fitness, doctor’s welfare, tactical medicine, trauma and resuscitation.

 Glenn will share stories about his personal experience with PTSD and depression as a doctor and discuss his own journey of recovery after having to resuscitate a patient no doctor should ever treat – their parent. As a believer in mindfulness, therapy and the healing effect of the outdoors and fitness Glenn discusses being kind to ourselves and our colleagues and uses his experiences to show what has worked for him, what hasn’t and share tips on how he keeps his Mental Health strong whilst negotiating the ongoing challenges in our Profession including the pandemic and life in general.