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Empowering Medical Teams: Dr. Kerri Palamara on Transforming Residency Through Coaching and Connection
01/20/2026
Empowering Medical Teams: Dr. Kerri Palamara on Transforming Residency Through Coaching and Connection
In this episode, Dr. Stuart Slavin welcomes Dr. Kerri Palamara, Gill and Allan Gray Family Endowed Chair and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, to discuss the evolution and impact of physician coaching in graduate medical education. Dr. Palamara shares how her journey led to developing scalable, faculty-driven coaching programs that foster psychological safety, agency, and authentic connection among residents and faculty. The conversation explores the distinctions between mentoring and coaching, the core skills required for effective coaching, and the positive ripple effects on wellbeing, resilience, and departmental culture. Drawing on principles of positive psychology and self-determination theory, Dr. Palamara illustrates how structured coaching interventions can reduce burnout, enhance fulfillment, and empower clinicians to find their voice—even within challenging healthcare systems. Through practical insights and research-backed outcomes, this episode highlights how investing in coaching transforms not only individuals but the entire medical learning environment, making thriving possible for all. Podcast Chapters (00:00) – Intro and Welcome (00:13) – Guest Background: Dr. Kerri Palamara (00:54) – Discovering Coaching: Faculty Engagement & Residency Curriculum (02:33) – Rethinking Support: Creating a Coaching Culture (04:12) – Mentoring vs. Coaching: Key Differences (05:20) – Building Psychological Safety and Boundaries (06:13) – Core Coaching Skills: Listening, Reflecting, Asking Questions (07:42) – Positive Psychology and Strength-Based Approaches (09:40) – Training Faculty as Coaches: Logistics & Curriculum (11:37) – Scalability and Feasibility of Coaching Programs (12:25) – Impact on Coaches, Residents, and Department Culture (14:27) – How Much Coaching is Enough? (15:16) – Tolerating Uncertainty and Medical Errors (15:50) – Addressing Systemic Challenges & Fatalism (16:50) – Handling Coach-Resident Mismatches (18:03) – Authentic Connection and Deep Listening (18:28) – Agency, Autonomy, and Self-Determination Theory (21:00) – Closing Thoughts and Resources
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