Pandemic | Dr. Valerie Brooke

Valerie Brooke, MD

Apr 10, 20223 min read

Pretzel Twists and Introspection

When I first stepped onto a yoga mat in my late twenties, I had no idea yoga entailed so much more than just moving my body into more and...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Dec 19, 20212 min read

Professional Accomplishment

In addition to emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, not having a sense of personal accomplishment is the third symptom of burnout....

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Dec 12, 20213 min read

Resilience

What type of person comes to mind when you think of the characteristic of resilience, the ability to continuously bounce back from...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Dec 5, 20213 min read

Depersonalization

The meaning of depersonalization has always alluded me. How can one not feel like a person? I finally understood it when I experienced...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Nov 28, 20212 min read

Compassion Fatigue

When I realized last year I was feeling burned out in my job as a physician, I dove into learning as much as I could about the symptoms...

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Talking to Patients about the COVID Vaccine

Valerie Brooke, MD

Sep 7, 20214 min read

Talking to Patients about the COVID Vaccine

When I admit a patient to the acute rehabilitation hospital, after asking them about the history of their stroke or brain injury,...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Aug 23, 20213 min read

Surrendering to the Surge

The sense of dread in the air inside the hospital last week was paired with the thick smoke and ashes falling from the multiple fires in...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Jul 5, 20215 min read

Boxes and Boundaries

Many years ago, a wise therapist gave me some excellent guidance in how to stay sane while parenting a teenager. “Set up a box of...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

Jun 9, 20214 min read

Resolving Resistance

Several years ago, I had the most challenging interaction I have ever had with a patient’s family member, and even today, the memory of...

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Valerie Brooke, MD

May 26, 20214 min read

Pandemic Traveling and Gym Workouts

This past weekend I traveled via plane for the first time in two years, since before COVID-19 transformed my way of life and leisure. I...

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