In this bonus episode of Becoming Both, the host, Amanda Quijano, and Missy - an attending and associate program director discuss what it means to support medical trainees holistically while still ensuring they become competent, independent physicians.
They explore the tension between accommodating real life needs—pregnancy, parenting, breastfeeding, illness, and mental health—and the realities of coverage, fairness to colleagues, and the educational value of demanding clinical experiences.
The conversation highlights how training culture often prioritizes the system, how those norms shape leaders’ instincts, and why structural solutions are difficult but potentially necessary.
They also consider how changes made during training may affect expectations and sustainability in attending life, and why improving support is essential to retain a functioning medical workforce.