Interview with Dr. Jattu Senesie
This week's episode of the PNC Podcast is the last interview in our series of physician coaches that offers a systematic approach to achieving life and career success.
John speaks with Dr. Jattu Senesie, a physician coach who is also a member of the Physician Nonclinical Career Hunters Facebook Group. Jattu shares her story of leaving clinical practice, and offers fascinating insights into her coaching process.
Background
Jattu, like many physicians, began her love affair with medicine at a young age. A lifelong STEM fanatic, by the age of twelve she had already decided on a career as an OB/GYN.
With a clear goal in mind, she applied to every program and participated in every relevant group throughout high school and college to ensure that she got into the residency that she wanted.
A native of Washington, D.C., Jattu attended the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, for her pre-med before going on to medical school and her OBGYN residency at Emory University. Upon completing her residency, Jattu returned to D.C. to begin her private practice.
Searching for Satisfaction
Despite her lifelong interest in science and fetal physiology, and her belief that practicing medicine was the best way to actualize it, as soon as Jattu began her medical education she felt ill at ease.
“From the begninning of medical education, I was questioning whether this was going to be the right thing.”
Dr. Jattu Senesie
Despite that, Jattu pressed on with her studies, expecting to fail at some point if it wasn't meant to be. “Everyone always tells you, when you get to the next step it's going to be better.” So, Jattu held out hope, but each accomplishment left her feeling more disconnected from her reasons for getting into medicine than the last.
Her final hope was private practice. Jattu expected the autonomy it offered to allow for a greater level of connection with her patients. Unfortunately, as for so many doctors, this was not the case. “It ended up being even more of a grind.” The paperwork and bureaucracy meant that she had precious little time to make meaningful connections with her patients.
Our Sponsor
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Burnout Strikes
Jattu, like many doctors before her, experienced burnout without really recognizing what it was. After passing her oral boards, she felt that something was missing, but could not articulate it. However, she realized that she was not happy and opted to take a 100-day sabbatical to reevaluate her situation.
“I made all the external changes that you would think would make things better.”
Dr. Jattu Senesie
After the sabbatical, Jattu reorganized her life in every way possible to alleviate her stress. “I made all the external changes that you would think would make things better.” For a little while, it worked. However, it was not long before the burnout returned and she made the difficult decision to quit. Her career success seemed impossible.
Taking the Leap
In quitting, Jattu did something that horrifies her now as a coach. “I quit with no plan!” After years of working within systems and structures, at 35 she decided to turn her back on them and leap into the unknown.
After nine months of searching for her next move, Jattu became certified and started work as a personal trainer. While working there, she encountered an old colleague who introduced her to the world of medical review.
She worked for some time as both a personal trainer and doing medical chart review for Fair Code Associates in the billing audit space. While lucrative, it was still not meeting her need for fulfillment.
“When I first came out of training, I was in that phase of kind of disillusionment and not quite burnout. I felt kind of alone.”
Dr. Jattu Senesie
Discovering Coaching and Career Success
While working two jobs, and feeling somewhat aimless, Jattu decided to engage an executive coach. Experiencing the benefits of coaching, she quickly realized how vital it could be to early-career physicians. So, she decided to get certified herself and begin coaching.
With a focus on catching physicians before they reach the burnout stage, Jattu employs a five-step system to guide her clients to life and career success. The goal of the system is to get her clients to properly evaluate their situation and begin to strategize a future that aligns with their values and goals. Jattu was kind enough to share it with us.
5 Essential Strengths for Success with Satisfaction
See Reality
We are not as objective about our own lives as we are about our work. We should take time to reflect on the good, the bad, the ugly, and the awesome.
Seek Clarity
Get crystal clear on what you want, and resist the tendency to talk yourself out of it.
Seize Priorities
Come up with a statement that clearly delineates what all your fundamental priorities are in life.
Strategize Possibilities
Step out of what you think is possible, to envision what could be possible. Then figure out strategies to achieve those goals in a way that is aligned with your priorities.
Sustain Personal Policies for Self Care
Identify what you need to look after yourself, and implement a regimen of self-care. That way, you are in a healthy place to implement your strategy.
Summary
Now, Jattu does a mixture of coaching people on a six-month basis, speaking on the subject of physician wellness, and facilitating workshops at educational institutions to teach young doctors and prospective doctors about burnout and how to handle it.
“Coaching really fulfills what I wanted from patient care… that meaningful connection with people.”
Dr. Jattu Senesie
If you want to contact Jattu to learn more about her services, you can get in touch through her website, or via the email provided below. She also publishes a blog on physician coaching and a monthly e-newsletter.
Links for today's episode:
Thanks to our sponsor…
Thanks to the UT Physician Executive MBA program for sponsoring the show. It’s an outstanding, highly rated, MBA program designed for working physicians. It might be just what you need to prepare for that joyful, well-paying career. You can find out more at vitalpe.net/physicianmba.
I hope to see you next time on the PNC Podcast.
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Podcast Editing & Production Services are provided by Oscar Hamilton.
Disclaimers:
The opinions expressed here are mine and my guest’s. While the information provided on the podcast is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge, there is no express or implied guarantee that using the methods discussed here will lead to success in your career, life or business.
Many of the links that I refer you to, and that you’ll find in the show notes, are affiliate links. That means that I receive a payment from the seller if you purchase the affiliate item using my link. Doing so has no effect on the price you are charged. And I only promote products and services that I believe are of high quality and will be useful to you, that I have personally used or am very familiar with.
The information presented on this blog and related podcast is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only. It should not be construed as medical, legal, tax, or emotional advice. If you take action on the information provided on the blog or podcast, it is at your own risk. Always consult an attorney, accountant, career counsellor, or other professional before making any major decisions about your career.
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