ABOUT
The Problem
Shame is everywhere in healthcare, but remains unnamed and unaddressed. While shame is a primal and pro-social emotion that can sometimes be appropriate and constructive, medicine’s unrealistic standards have resulted in a widespread and debilitating culture of shame across the field. This contributes to a broad range of negative outcomes among clinicians including burnout, depression, suicidality, impaired empathy, diminished physical wellness, and unprofessional behavior – all challenges that have intensified during the pandemic.
Despite the destructive effect that shame is having among clinicians, almost no research or public storytelling exists about shame in healthcare. Without understanding how shame manifests in medical culture, we cannot address or heal from the harm it causes.
The Series
The goal of the Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest series and its associated impact campaign is to:
Create a forum where clinicians can share their shame experiences, which itself helps dissipate shame and builds a sense of catharsis, community, and belonging.
Offer a shared vocabulary to help clinicians recognize when they are having a shame reaction, along with tools and frameworks for how to manage that reaction.
Imagine a new medical culture that is grounded in health, support, and belonging.
To get involved, head to our engagement resources page.
To learn more, see our press release.
PRESS
10/11/23 - Anthem Awards, Winner Stories, “How The Nocturnists Are Dismantling Shame In Medicine”
9/27/22 - University of Exeter, “200 healthcare workers share experiences of shame as part of new podcast documentary series”
10/4/22 - Medscape, “In the Aftermath of Medical Errors: Podcast Dives Deep.”
1/20/23 - The ZDoggMD Show, "Breaking The Silence: Shame In The Medical Community (w/ Dr. Emily Silverman)”
2/7/23 - Medium.com, “Shame in Medicine: The Lost Forest”
“Honest credible and brave stories. I was moved by each one. An insider experience to the experience of medicine.”