Whitney Chew’s Insights on Death, Burnout, and Healthcare's Gaps

Seeing Death Clearly

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Whitney Chew, born and raised in California, recently moved to New York. As a physician, she completed her residency during the pandemic. However, less than a year after finishing, Whitney realized that being a physician wasn’t her long-term calling. During this time, she witnessed immense death and dying, not only in her role as a physician but also on a personal level with the loss of loved ones. This experience gave her unique insight into both sides of the healthcare system—both as a caregiver and a grieving family member.

The pandemic shed light on the brokenness of the healthcare system and its lack of support for providers, leaving many, including Whitney, burned out and grieving without the chance to process their emotions.

In reflecting on her time as a physician, Whitney speaks about the uncomfortable reality that death is often viewed as a failure in the medical field, even though it’s inevitable. She notes how many physicians, especially oncologists, avoid discussing dying with patients, opting instead to present treatment options, even when they may not be curative. This discomfort creates a communication gap, leaving patients without the full picture of their prognosis.

Whitney also touches on the cultural differences between how death is handled in the U.S. versus other areas of the world, where conversations about end-of-life care are more normalized.

She emphasizes the importance of preventive conversations about death, including advanced healthcare directives, and how much easier those difficult moments could be if people planned ahead.

She also shares with us her personal experiences helping to get her Chinese Grandmother the end of life care she needed while honoring her cultural heritage.

Throughout her career, both as a physician and now as a coach, Whitney’s experiences underscore the need for open, honest conversations about death and the systemic issues within healthcare that hinder them.

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