72. Mindful Communication with Dr. Marissa Theofanides Artwork

Operate with Zen

While incredibly rewarding and honored vocations, careers in medicine and surgery are fraught with stress, burnout and challenges in work-life balance. OWZ is intended to open dialogue about a mindful approach to surgery - to create a space where physicians and surgeons can enhance their life's work and life experience with a focus on presence, purpose and practical skills. OWZ combines didactic-like monologues to provide baseline information and available scientific data on practical topics like time management, sleep hygiene and burnout; as well as interviews with surgeons and experts to share what works and doesn't work in their daily routines.

All Episodes

Operate with Zen

72. Mindful Communication with Dr. Marissa Theofanides

August 15, 2023 • Phil Pierorazio • Season 7 • Episode 7

“All healthcare is delivered through relationships.” This is the key statement from this episode of OWZ and highlights that effective communication is a key component of delivering excellent patient care. Marissa Theofanides, MD is a urologist at Montefiore in the Bronx and expert in communication skills. She is certified by the Academy of Communication in Healthcare (https://achonline.org/) whose motto is “Better Communication. Better Relationships. Better Care.” In this podcast, we help you understand that communication is a skill – a skill that can be taught, practiced, and improved upon just like throwing a suture or writing a clinic note. Dr. Theofanides lays out a framework to improve your clinic communications that is rooted in mindfulness! Setting an agenda, creating space for effective communication, and assessing understanding highlight the mindful principles of intention, presence, and non-judgement. There’s lots of practical knowledge in this discussion and it promises to make your clinical interactions and your life better! Enjoy!!!

Academy of Communication in Healthcare (ACH): https://achonline.org/