Dr. Alan Akira: Move on from Suffering by Celebrating the Journey

Culture and Leadership Connections Podcast

Bio:
Dr. Alan Akira is a board-certified psychiatrist and founder of Mugen Psychiatry in Chicago. He aims to improve psychiatric care access, leveraging his expertise in clinical decision-making, education, and healthcare management. He’s also an Assistant Professor at Rush University Medical Center and has received multiple awards for his clinical excellence and teaching.

Links:

• LinkedIn Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-akira-md/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mugen-psychiatry/
• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Dr_Akira_MD
• Email: [e-mail]

Quotes:
“The world doesn't get any easier. You just tend to get better if you choose to.”
“One might not know where they're going in the future, but most of the time, we know where we don't want to be.”

Episode Highlights:
Dr. Akira explores redefining happiness and success, emphasizing the importance of celebrating not just the results but the journey itself. He shares personal stories and reflections on his childhood and career that have shaped his current philosophy.
Childhood Incidents:
Dr. Akira grew up in a household where his parents had blue-collar jobs, but very little financial stability. As a young teenager, Dr. Akira experienced a lot of confusion, around money issues. These challenges snowballed into stress, anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger. At some point, Dr. Akira questioned whether this was what life had to be. Thankfully, he had mentors who offered him hope, showing him that there was more to life than his lived experience and anxiety.
Cultural and Leadership Influences:
Dr. Akira’s grandparents moved to the United States and opened a fish market in New York. One thing Dr. Akira noticed was that they always put their employees first, and the dividends of this approach paid off in their interactions with customers. For instance, they always found reasons to celebrate with their employees, and it was always authentic. At Mugen Psychiatry, Dr. Akira applies the same principle. He invests in both the clinicians’ present and future because he believes that happy clinicians do a better job.
Temperament and Personality:
Growing up, Dr. Akira was quiet, reserved, and quite introverted—always preferring to sit alone rather than interact with others. No one would have ever imagined him as a psychiatrist. Over the years, he has become an “extroverted-appearing” introvert. He has stepped out of his comfort zone and learned how to have conversations with other people.
Cultural Epiphanies:
Coming from Brooklyn, New York, Dr. Akira had a tough time understanding the Southern accent when he moved to Alabama. He recalls a day when he was attending a literature class, and the teacher was reading Huck Finn with a deep Southern accent that made Dr. Akira question if she was reading in English at all.
What Brings Out the Best in Dr. Alan Akira?
Dr. Akira thrives when there is a fine balance that allows him to lean into things that recharge him. He is working on a study to help him understand what drains him versus what recharges him. He is also learning to appreciate that what recharges him might not work for others.
Soapbox Moment:
Dr. Akira challenges us to learn to define things operatively on an individual level and to allow ourselves permission to double down on what works for us. He also invites us to check out his weekly newsletter on LinkedIn.

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