Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine

1: Balancing Professional Demands and Personal Well-Being

Episode Summary

Transitioning from scrubs to style, Dr. Meshia Wallace, pulmonary and critical care physician, joins Scalpel and Sword to share how she balances her medical career with her passion for fashion. Learn why setting boundaries is essential for physicians to thrive professionally and personally.

Episode Notes

In this episode of Scalpel and Sword, Dr. Lee Sharma, sits down with Dr. Meshia Wallace, to share her journey from nursing to pulmonary and critical care, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries to protect both her professional calling and personal passions, like fashion. From navigating the intense demands of 2020 to mentoring female residents to find their voice, Dr. Wallace offers practical advice for physicians—especially women—on prioritizing self-care and establishing boundaries to sustain a fulfilling career. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone seeking to balance medicine’s demands with personal growth.

Biggest Takeaways:

  1. Prioritize Your Calling – Identify your top priority (e.g., medicine) and structure boundaries around it to ensure other pursuits, like content creation, complement rather than compete with it.
  2. Practice Setting Boundaries – Start with small boundaries in low-stakes situations, like saying no to extra hours, and build confidence to enforce them in bigger contexts, drawing inspiration from mentors or peers.
  3. Schedule Self-Reflection – Reassess priorities and boundaries annually (e.g., every January) to align your professional and personal life with your evolving goals, ensuring time for rest and rejuvenation.

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Dr. Meshia Wallace is a pulmonary and critical care physician at East Alabama Health in Opelika, Alabama, where she serves as director of pulmonary medicine and mentors residents—earning the title of favorite instructor.

An international medical graduate from Ross University, Dr. Wallace also has a background in nursing and deep cultural roots in Jamaica and Brooklyn. Known online as The Style MD, she blends her love for fashion and medicine, creating content that inspires and empowers since 2020.

Connect with Dr. Wallace:
📺 YouTube: @the_stylemd
🎵 TikTok: @the_stylemd
📸 Instagram: @the_stylemd

About the Host: 
Dr. Lee Sharma – An obstetrician in Auburn, AL with a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution, and has over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1993. A physician passionate about helping colleagues address conflicts and thrive in medicine through practical strategies and open conversations.
 

Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma: 

Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com

Website: www.doctorpodcastnetwork.co/scalpelandsword