Show Notes:
Shannon Winakur and Will Bachman discuss Shannon's journey since graduating from Harvard. Shannon came to Harvard with the intention of going into politics and running for office in her hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
Pursuing a Career in Medicine
Shannon talks about her experience in politics when working for Doug Wilder influenced her decision to pursue medicine. She decided that medicine would be a better way to help people, thus, she decided to attend medical school, unfortunately, the decision to enter medical school was easier than the process; Shannon shares the many hoops she had to jump through to get there. She finally studied at Bryn Mawr College. Shannon is now a cardiologist. She worked at Hopkins for a year before following Richard Winakur to Maryland for medical school. She went to University of Pennsylvania for her cardiology fellowship. Shannon talks about the process of deciding what medical field to pursue, explaining that the major branch points are deciding to take care of adults or children and choosing internal medicine or surgery specialties.
Dealing with Multiple Sclerosis
Shannon shares her experience of being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), how it progressed, medication she took, how it influenced her career, and how the diagnostic criteria for MS has changed.
Shannon started out in a more traditional medical role, but after several positions, jobs in different locations, and intense schedules, the toll on her health made her reconsider where she was spending the majority of her time especially after the birth of her daughters. She stepped back and found a better work-life balance as she pursued her medical career. Shannon is currently a practicing community cardiologist.
Becoming a Player on the Ice Hockey Team
Shannon's talks about how her medical career and her discovery of women's ice hockey are intertwined.
She discovered women's ice hockey at Harvard and talks about how hockey has helped her throughout her career. In 2010, she quit playing hockey due to the foot drop caused by her Multiple Sclerosis which affected her ability to run. In 2019, she met a woman in Ireland who taught her how to skate and got her in touch with a women's hockey league called the ‘Mother Puckers’. Despite her foot drop, she was able to play hockey again and she joined a women's hockey league in Laurel, MD.
Dealing with Depression and the Stigma of Mental Health Issues
She also discusses the difficulties she faced in managing her depression while working part-time and dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS). She found it challenging to juggle the work schedule while also taking care of herself and being a good parent and wife. She talks about the benefits of Integrated Health and her experiences with different diets. She has since done a lot of therapy and has found methods that work for her in order to cope, such as getting enough sleep, diet, and taking care of herself. She also stresses the importance of medications, stating “I completely forgot to mention that I take an antidepressant. Given all the stigma and anti-medication sentiment out there, I think it's important that we publicly discuss the use of these medications."
Shannon talks about mental health in the workplace, and how she had hid her diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) from her professional colleagues because she was fearful of being judged or discriminated against. She explains how the Americans with Disabilities Act protects people in such situations, how mental health is now more openly talked about, and how it has made her a better doctor, as she has a better understanding of what her patients are going through. Shannon also talks about the discrimination and chauvinism she experienced in the healthcare system, and how standing up for herself was necessary to keep her job.
Influential Professors and Classes at Harvard
When asked which courses or professors resonated with Shannon, she mentions the History of Astronomy course, Shakespeare courses, Neil Gorsuch, the 113th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and The Constitutional Law class with H.W. Perry, but more than professors and courses, Shannon reflects that it was her friends and the people she met that had the biggest impact.
Timestamps
05:41 How Shannon Winakur Found Her Path to Medical School
13:12 The Effects of Multiple Sclerosis on Career
18:24 Medical Therapy and Ice Hockey
25:42 Health Habits for Managing Multiple Sclerosis and Depression
31:12 Dealing with Depression
35:18 Mental Health Stigma and the Impact on Healthcare Professionals
38:36 Negotiating a Work Situation in the Face of Discrimination in Medicine
39:14 Pursuing a Career in Medicine
41:10 Harvard Coursework and Reflection on Paradigm Shift
44:33 Overcoming Adversity and Thriving
CONTACT INFO:
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shannonwinakur/
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-winakur-51634823/
