Why I Build Women’s Circles (Not Wellness Committees) for Women Physicians
That PICU story I shared in my last blog post? Where I retreated to the call room after intubating a baby?
I was physically steady — trained, focused, capable. But inside? I was unraveling.
The silence was deafening. My heart was racing. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was having my first panic attack.
That moment cracked open something I couldn’t unsee: I didn’t know who I was beyond the chart, the badge, the protocols.
And the system’s response?
Pizza parties. Ice cream socials. Mandatory wellness trainings.
I didn’t need a balloon arch and free snacks. I needed someone to look me in the eye and say, “You’re not broken. You’re just disconnected.”
So I built that space. For myself. And now — for all of us.
What We're Taught vs. What We Need
In traditional medicine, “wellness” often looks like:
🔹A 7 a.m. mindfulness session no one has time to attend
🔹Wellness emails that feel like more work
🔹Fruit baskets as stand-ins for actual support
But real healing? It needs:
Space. Stillness. Storytelling. Safety.
That’s why I build women’s circles — not wellness committees.
💬 Tell Me Your “Me Too” Moment — DM me: When did you realize the system wasn’t enough?
What is a women's circle?
Women’s circles are safe, nurturing spaces where all who identify as women can be seen, heard, and celebrated. Each session includes a theme, grounding practice (like breathwork or visualization), guided journaling, optional sharing, and intention setting. No advice unless asked for. The goal isn’t to fix anyone — it’s to create a space where you can return to yourself.
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My intention is to help women reconnect with their intuition and explore what it means to be wild, raw, and unapologetically themselves.
The 5 Values Behind Women Physicians Collective
1. Community Over Curriculum
You don’t need another online module. You need someone to look at you and say, “Me too.”
We heal faster when we’re witnessed — not when we’re evaluated.
2. Reclaiming Our Humanity
We’re not here to be superhuman. We’re here to be fully human — in a system that often forgets that’s allowed.
Choosing boundaries, stillness, and joy isn’t indulgent. It’s liberating.
3. No-Pressure, High-Integrity Space
Don’t want to share? Don’t. Camera off? Totally fine. No makeup, no small talk, no fixing required.
This is a judgment-free zone where your presence is enough.
4. Small Joys Are Sacred
We dance with our toothbrush. We drink herbal teas named after smutty books. We read ACOTAR by the fire and delight in the small joys.
The ritual of honoring joy as medicine — even in the middle of chaos. That's a rebellion in and of itself. 🔥
5. Education That Nourishes
We offer women’s-health education that’s physician-designed and actually restorative, not performative. Because you deserve to learn in spaces that see you as a human first.
The Vitality Loop Micro-Moves
The Vitality Loop is WPC’s signature framework for sustainable renewal. It helps you reconnect — even in 5 minutes — using the 5Ps: Pause. Protect. Play. Purpose. Power.
Here’s how that looks in a real physician’s week:
🔹Pause → Sit for 90 seconds with hand on heart + breathe into the question “What do I need today?”
🔹Protect → Set one “non-negotiable” this week
🔹Play → Jam to your fave songs while brushing your teeth. Dancing optional, strongly encouraged.
🔹Purpose → Ask a colleague: “What lights you up outside medicine?” + have an unexpected convo.
🔹Power → Consider what is draining your energy + make one small shift to decrease time spent on it.
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FAQs About Women's Circles
- What happens in a circle? Each session begins with a theme and grounding (breathwork, visualization, journaling). Then, optional sharing and intention setting. No advice unless requested. Just space to be seen and heard.
- I’m introverted. Will I feel out of place? Not at all. You’re welcome to observe quietly. Your presence is more than enough.
- Is this therapy? No. Circles are physician-led peer support, not treatment. Many of our members also see therapists — this adds another layer of connection.
- What makes this different from other physician groups? You’re not your CV here. You’re a full person — welcomed, witnessed, and never asked to shrink.
🌸 Join our Women’s Circles Inside WPC — Real connection, real education, no performance.
Conclusion
We don’t need another ice cream social. We need each other.
If you’ve ever whispered, “I just want to feel like myself again,” You’re not alone. You’re not broken. You’re just ready to reconnect.
Pull up a chair — we saved you a seat.
🔍 Read the Founding Story — From call room panic to community builder and how I started feeling like myself again.
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Vitals stable. Spirit wild.
~JMac
Jessica M. McIntyre, MD, FAAP
Pediatric hospitalist + founder of Women Physicians Collective, helping women physicians reconnect with who they are beyond the chart.
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