Member May 2026: Live, Laugh, Love: Balancing Life as an Inpatient Rehabilitation Physiatrist-Session Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This session, hosted by Craig DiTomasso for the AAPM&R inpatient rehabilitation community, focused on work-life balance, career sustainability, and the future of inpatient physiatry. The panel featured physicians at different career stages who shared personal strategies for managing demanding clinical roles while maintaining family life, identity, and wellbeing.<br /><br />Dr. Nicolette Hernandez emphasized that balance is seasonal rather than equal every day. She described using systems, scheduling personal values first, automating tasks, and protecting cognitive bandwidth. She also encouraged redefining success as simply being an excellent physician, especially during early parenting years.<br /><br />Dr. Asha Dukka highlighted the importance of boundaries, self-awareness, and intentional presence at home. She discussed the emotional and administrative burdens of inpatient rehab, including accessibility, documentation, and insurance-related pressures. Her advice included knowing your values, negotiating fairly, asking for help, and releasing perfectionism.<br /><br />Dr. Crozier shared a longer-career perspective, describing her shift from heavy academia to program building and administrative leadership. She spoke about creating a fun workplace culture, using hired help without guilt, nurturing friendships and hobbies, and preparing for retirement as intentionally as a career. She also stressed that “good enough” is often enough.<br /><br />The panel also addressed peer-to-peer reviews, regulatory burdens, staffing, and the emotional toll of constant availability. Despite these challenges, all speakers expressed optimism about inpatient rehab’s value, flexibility, and ability to change lives.

Keywords

work-life balance

inpatient rehabilitation

physiatry

career sustainability

professional boundaries

burnout prevention

family life

workplace culture

administrative burden

career development