Get the Episode 10 deep dive: Nicki’s 5 tips for finding a great massage therapist and maximizing your massage experience, 6 science-backed tips for shifting to the calm of a parasympathetic state. Plus, Nicki’s bullet journal template!

Today’s Podcast Guest

Nicki Mercede provides personalized bodywork that supports whole-person healing and trauma resolution. She blends neuromuscular therapy and other bodywork modalities in each session, creating a different approach to chronic pain relief. Your body holds the natural ability to heal itself, her goal is to help guide and stimulate that process. She will meet you where you are at in your healing journey, whether you are looking for chronic pain relief, or a comforting touch to regulate your central nervous system.

Links from this Episode:

• Get this week’s episode deep dive & bullet journal template: https://rachellacosta.myflodesk.com/ep10
• Book a massage with Nicki (and please tell her I sent you!): http://www.massagebook.com/biz/nickimercede
• Follow Nicki on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balancedbodywork.sd/
• If you loved this episode on embodiment, you will love last week’s episode: 9. 5 tools from Eastern medicine you need as a PA, with Michelle Dellene, MMS, PA-C, RYT https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZQ2YkpjlOtkYPho6CZMqe?si=zW7BzXC3T3STdUe0Jt40dQ
• Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor

Want a deep dive into the science behind the tools in this week's podcast episode? It drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and words of wisdom for creating your beautiful PA life? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa

Get the 5 Eastern medicine practices to decrease your stress right here - it's all the juicy insights and impactful changes from this week's episode, delivered right to your email inbox!

Episode Breakdown

Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Michelle Dellene, MMS, PA-C, RYT. In this episode, Michelle shares her journey of healing from multiple sclerosis through the integration of Eastern and Western medicine into her life and clinical practice. Michelle discusses her experiences with medical gaslighting, the impact of her diagnosis on her identity as a PA, and the importance of daily practices such as meditation and yoga. She emphasizes the need for healthcare professionals to prioritize their health and well-being while empowering others in the medical field. Michelle also highlights her leadership role in the American Association of Surgical PAs and her mission to heal the healers through coaching and education on incorporating Eastern medical practices into their lives.

Resources mentioned in this Episode:

• Insight timer meditation app: https://insighttimer.com/
• Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon's Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart by James R. Doty MD: https://www.amazon.com/Into-Magic-Shop-Neurosurgeons-Mysteries/dp/0399183647
• Learn more about transcendental meditation at tm.org
• Jay Shetty is a British podcaster, author, and life coach, best known for his podcast On Purpose: learn more at https://www.jayshetty.me/
• Watch Mel Robbins’ explain her 5-second rule for behavioral change here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9tG_Mrj90M
• Learn more about the American Association of Surgical PAs here: https://www.aaspa.com/

Today’s Podcast Guest

Michelle Dellene is a neurosurgery PA on a mission to Heal The Healers By Bridging The Gap Between Eastern and Western Medicine. Michelle combines her life experience healing from MS through the practice of yoga, meditation and application of the anti-inflammatory protocol with her clinical expertise caring for patients to coach women in medicine how to detox to heal. Michelle was awarded a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology and Cell Science from The University of Florida in 2013 and a Master’s of Medical Science from Nova Southeastern University in 2016. She also serves as The President of The American Association of Surgical PAs, performs as a silk aerial artist and is happily married to her husband Anthony and a proud mother of her six year old daughter Ella. Michelle encourages all listeners to never give up on your healing and live your life to the fullest!

Connect with Michelle:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelledellene/
• Website: www.MichelleDellene.com

I write a special email to my podcast community with even more insights on this week's podcast episode that drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa

Get the Burnout Deep Dive pdf here!

Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Dr. Allison Smith, PT, DPT, PhD, as she discusses the critical issue of burnout among healthcare providers, exploring its origins, symptoms, and the profound impact it has on individuals and the healthcare system. The conversation delves into the concept of mismatches in the workplace, from Maslach and Leiter’s The Burnout Challenge, identifying burnout profiles, and offering strategies for both individuals and healthcare systems to address burnout effectively. Rachel gets some individualized coaching on her burnout, including the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care, alongside the need for systemic changes to support healthcare workers. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the pursuit of a balanced and fulfilling life in the demanding field of healthcare.

Today’s Podcast Guest

Dr. Allison Smith, PT, DPT, PhD, is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Specialist in physical therapy and a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists. In 2021, she completed her PhD at TWU in Houston after finishing her dissertation on burnout in DPT students. Dr. Smith has spent the last 10 years serving an uninsured/under-insured patient population while working for the safety net hospital system for Harris County. Her research interests include improving the work life of health care providers, addressing disparities in access to health care, and the impact of social determinants of health.

Referenced in Today’s Episode

• The Burnout Challenge by Christina Maslach and Michael P. Leiter
• Burnout Series Part 1: 7. From resigning to THRIVING: knowing your worth, the cost of staying, and getting what you WANT, with burnout expert Tracy Bingaman, PA-C

I write a special email to my podcast community with even more insights on this week's podcast episode that drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa

Join me this episode of A Beautiful PA Life Podcast for an interview with Tracy Bingaman, PA-C, who shares her journey from experiencing burnout in her own career to taking back her fulfillment and empowering other clinicians to do the same. She discusses the common symptoms of burnout, including exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of futility. Tracy emphasizes the need for PAs to prioritize self-care and set boundaries in order to prevent burnout. She also highlights the importance of financial stability and creating systems to work smarter, not harder. Tracy encourages PAs to prioritize their own well-being for the sake of their patients and offers practical advice for managing burnout. They also discuss the importance of finding fulfillment in one's career and how to negotiate for what you want as a PA. Tracy provides valuable insights and tips on negotiation strategies and highlights the need for PAs to advocate for themselves and their value.

Today’s Podcast Guest

Tracy Bingaman is a dynamic national and international speaker who helps clinicians land the biggest raises of their careers, scale their income, and achieve financial independence. From the depths of healthcare burnout, Tracy now has a job she loves with abundant time, energy, and money. As a thought leader on burnout, boundaries, and negotiation, she hosts the popular podcast The PA Is In, which recently celebrated 100,000 downloads. Tracy’s mission is to help clinicians redefine success in their lives and careers.

Connect with Tracy:

• Tracy’s Podcast: The PA Is In
• Tracy’s Website: https://www.tracybingaman.com/
• Negotiation Consult: https://tracybingaman.com/negotiation-consult
• Clinician Income Lab Course: https://tracybingaman.com/lab
• Tracy’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybingaman/
• Free Negotiation Roadmap: https://www.tracybingaman.com/roadmap

I write a special email to my podcast community with even more insights on this week's podcast episode that drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa

Episode Pearls

• Kids just want to be normal! Providing a sense of normalcy and finding joy is crucial for children undergoing cancer treatment.
• Let’s be more intentional about our conversations with patients and parents. Instead of asking “how are you?” perhaps a better approach might be “how can I help?”
• Pediatric cancer research needs more funding. Only 4% of federal funding for cancer research is allocated to pediatric cancers. #morethanfour #morethan4
• You cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself—whether you are a healthcare provider or a parent to a child with cancer—is important in order to provide the best care and support to others.
• Parents and families have insights into how to communicate with their kid. Let’s partner with parents to best understand how to talk to their child about a cancer diagnosis—or any hard news. Leveraging the expertise of other healthcare professionals (looking at you, child life specialists, social workers, psychologists! Y’all are the best!) can help to find the best approach for each kid.

Today’s Podcast Guest

Christine Jurgensen, CEO/Founder, Evan’s Avengers Foundation

In 2016, my son, Evan, was diagnosed with Acute Biphenotypic Leukemia, as he had both Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia as well as Acute Myeloid Leukemia. For 3 years, Evan had numerous surgeries, pokes, prodding, IVs, blood and platelet transfusions, two bone marrow transplants, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, and then some. He had so many different chemotherapy medications and total body irradiation, which have saved him. However, they carry current and possible future side effects. I made a promise to my son that I would start Evan’s Avengers Foundation to help fund research to end Childhood Cancer.

With more than 12 major types of pediatric cancers and over 100 subtypes, childhood cancer should not be considered rare. Each day, 43 children, more than a classroom, will be diagnosed with some form of cancer and are at risk of a high mortality rate. Many will later suffer from secondary cancer due to medication used to save their lives. The National Cancer Institute receives its budget from the United States Congress as part of the federal budget process through appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Health (NIH). Despite of this, only 4% of federal government cancer research funding goes to study pediatric cancer, that’s just 4¢ on the dollar. We must write our Congressman and plead them to increase this budget. Make some noise with us and #GoGoldforchildren #GoldStrong #Gogoldforevansavengers

Connect with Evan’s Avengers Foundation:

• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/evansavengers
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/evansavengersfoundation/
• Website http://www.evansavengers.org/
• Donate to Evan’s Avengers Foundation http://www.evansavengers.org/donate/

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I write a special email to my podcast community with even more insights on this week's podcast episode that drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa

Episode Pearls

• You CAN do hard things, overcome hardships, and achieve your goals.
• Most medical programs, including PA programs, do not provide sufficient nutrition education! Colleen shares tips and tools in her podcast, Exam Room Nutrition, and her Instagram @examroomnutrition to help busy clinicians with nutrition education.
• Referring patients to registered dietitians when appropriate can ensure they receive specialized nutrition guidance.
• Take a step back from being prescriptive with advice and instead, meet the patient where they are, and ask the patient what help they need for support in their struggles and provide personalized support.
• Supporting and empowering women and PAs creates a positive sphere of influence to lift up all of us. I’m here to be your cheerleader :)

Today’s Podcast Guest

Colleen Sloan is a pediatric Physician Assistant (PA) and Registered Dietitian (RD) dedicated to promoting healthy habits among children and families. Recognizing the gap in nutrition and medicine, she founded the podcast "Exam Room Nutrition." Through her podcast, Colleen aims to empower healthcare professionals to have more impactful conversations about nutrition. Her ultimate goal is to renew how clinicians approach nutrition. When she's not working, Colleen enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, Leila, and their two dogs. She loves a good cup of coffee, immersing herself in books, and staying active through exercise.

Connect with Collen:

• Instagram
• Website
• Get Colleen’s Behavior Change Toolkit here!
• Listen to Colleen's Podcast Exam Room Nutrition!

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I write a special email to my podcast community with even more insights on this week's podcast episode that drops into your email inbox every Sunday at midnight. Want in? I'd love to have you!

Worried about burnout? You came to the right PA! Get the Burnout Deep Dive here - a resource-rich pdf that will help unlock your burnout. And I created a complete diagnostic assessment for burnout, you can get it here: How Full is My Cup?

Want more evidence-based tools, expert tips, and Words of Wisdom every Wednesday? Check out my Instagram page: @rachel.la.costa