Speaking
Keynote Talks & Workshops on Physician Burnout, Leadership, and Culture Change in Medicine
“I continue to hear nothing but rave reviews about your talk.“ - Dr. James, Providence Health
Looking for an inspired, engaging, and impactful physician well-being speaker?
Physician wellness leaders, well-being committees, and conference planners are being asked to address burnout, engagement, and sustainability in medicine while navigating the nuanced and complex nature of physician well-being.
It is challenging to find talks that feel meaningful rather than performative—especially for exhausted and depleted physicians who have heard many well-intended but misguided solutions.
Dr. Mahoney’s talks do not add to frustration or exhaustion.
She speaks through the lens of kintsugi—the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. Dr. Mahoney acknowledges that the realities of practicing in today’s healthcare system are daunting and she offers tools to create something stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable from its brokenness.
Dr. Mahoney’s talks acknowledge the real pressures and failures of the current system while offering perspective-shifting frameworks that help physicians immediately reclaim agency over lives and their practice of medicine.
“Dr. Mahoney’s focus on physicians, their unique pressures, and how they are magnified in current-day practice was poignant. I was at attention and riveted during the presentation.”
- Dr. Curatola, El Camino Health
Perspective-shifting talks that help physicians reconnect with joy and meaning and practice sustainable medicine
For over two decades, Dr. Jessie Mahoney has delivered innovative, relatable keynotes that help physicians practice medicine with greater purpose, sustainability, and humanity—especially in times of profound system strain.
What makes her talks different is not inspiration alone. She helps physicians change how they see themselves, their work, and the healthcare system.
Her talks invite physicians to consider how they were culturally trained in medicine to think, behave, relate to their work, their responsibilities, each other, and themselves.
With this awareness comes power.
Physicians regain the choice of how they respond, lead, and practice medicine despite very real constraints.
Her talks are grounded and hopeful. She doesn’t pretend the system isn’t broken. She helps people find power and meaning inside the mess.
Grounded in Experience
Jessie brings deep credibility to this work — as both a physician and a leader.
She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.
She was one of the first physician wellness leaders in the country, pioneering this work more than a decade before a chief wellness officer was a recognized role and physician coaching a recognized intervention..
She brings wisdom, lived experience, and relatability. She practiced clinically in primary care and hospital medicine. She served as both an operational leader, wellness leader, and an educator.
She lived the pressures her audiences navigate, and she speaks from that reality with humility, clarity, and compassion.
She has coached more than 1,000 physicians and physician leaders across all specialties in the United States and Canada and she works with healthcare organizations, academic institutions, and professional conferences nationwide.
“I am still feeling the glow of empowerment that comes with having new frameworks to apply and skills to practice. How Dr. Mahoney frames lessons hits home in a unique and powerful way.”
- Dr. Jennifer Guy, Surgeon, California Pacific Medical Center
Signature Frameworks That Create Lasting Change
Dr. Mahoney is known for offering clear, perspective-altering frameworks that physicians continue to reference long after events end.
Her talks are memorable and practical, specifically designed to be carried back into clinical and leadership environments—encouraging personal agency while simultaneously shaping more humane, sustainable cultures of medicine.
The School of Unlearning
Dr. Mahoney offers a fun invitation to examine the unspoken rules, habits, and identities absorbed through medical training. Many of these serve physicians well in some spaces but when used without discernment and awareness drive over-responsibility, perfectionism, and exhaustion.
This framework creates space to question what no longer fits and to choose differently.
Asking Better Questions
This framework reframes decision-making and change as a matter of intention rather than effort.
By shifting the questions physicians ask of themselves, their work, and their health care systems, new options for agency, meaning, and leadership open up.
Awareness, Presence, and Agency in Medicine
Dr. Mahoney offers a nervous-system-informed lens to help physicians understand how stress shapes behavior, communication, and decision-making.
Small shifts in awareness create meaningful change without adding anything to your to-do list.
“Dr. Mahoney does a wonderful job of striking the balance of acknowledging the failure of the healthcare system while also inviting that we still have agency and can find meaning.
I particularly loved her invitation to reflect on our "specialty" of unhelpful mindsets and the possibility of engaging in “the school of unlearning.”
I have continued to gain awareness of how these mindsets show up every day for me and my colleagues which is the first step to shifting. I look forward to our next inevitable connection. “
- Dr. Tricia James, Medical Director of Wellness, Providence Portland Medical Center
Honest, engaging, unexpected, inspiring, and refreshingly human.
Dr. Mahoney’s talks honor truth and offer hope - at the same time.
She acknowledges the real failures of the healthcare system while also inviting meaning, agency, and possibility.
She does not minimize the challenges physicians face. She offers a way to relate to them differently.
Full rooms, few to no open laptops, and fully present audiences are the usual when she speaks.
Dr. Jessie Mahoney speaking to anesthesiologists at CME conference
Dr. Jessie Mahoney giving a talk to Sutter East Bay Leaders
Dr. Jessie Mahoney collaborating with to ACOG District chair in between leadership workshops
UCSF Alumni engaged in a conversation with Dr. Jessie Mahoney after her conference talk
Where Dr. Mahoney’s Talks Have the Greatest Impact
Dr. Mahoney’s message resonates across a wide range of audiences and formats. She is a great speaker for settings where depth, credibility, and emotional intelligence matter.
Her tone and message are grounded, relatable, creative, and rooted in real clinical experience.
Her talks are talked about long after medical and specialty conferences, academic meetings and grand rounds, physician wellness and leadership forums, women in medicine events, departmental retreats and off-sites, and healthcare organizations seeking sustainable engagement and retention
“What you shared about the thought habits that we get trapped in and the practical ways to avoid those traps was so meaningful. It will not be the last time we invite you to speak for sure!”
- Dr. Christina Lasich, Chief Medical Executive, Sutter Lakeside
A few of the Healthcare Organizations that have hired Dr. Mahoney to speak
Trusted by physicians, leaders, and health systems nationwide
-
“Dr. Mahoney is extremely personable and relatable. She has a remarkable ease in her presentation that makes it easy to engage with.” - Director of Wellness, Providence Health
-
“It’s evidence-based, thought-provoking, and necessary to practice in the economic and political environment of healthcare.” - CMO, Hospitalist, Jefferson Healthcare
-
“Jessie has a gift and I am so grateful she choose to share it. It is my mission to help my colleagues who are struggling, like I was before I found her, to spread the word about her everywhere I can. ”
— Chief Infectious Disease, The Permanente Medical Group/Kaiser
If you are looking to offer something grounded, human, and genuinely different
Something that helps physicians and healthcare leaders reconnect with meaning and agency in the midst of modern medicine,
I would be glad to explore whether your event, workshop, or retreat is a good fit for both of us.
“I have had the privilege of working with Dr. Mahoney several times. I highly recommend her to any group seeking a speaker who brings authenticity and compassion to the wellness work for healthcare professionals.
She brings a level of expertise and relatability to her presentations and workshops that is highly respected and appreciated by physicians.
-Emily Swann, Director of Clinical Education, Providence Health
Details & Planning
Every program and talk I offer is unique and personalized for your group.
The first step is to email me to inquire about availability on your date. I receive numerous requests and facilitate many retreats - confirming a date early is always advisable.
Then we will schedule a time to chat on Zoom about your event and specific needs.
My average speaking and facilitating fees are:
Keynote Talks (75-90 minutes): $7,500 plus travel
Half-Day Workshops: $10,000 depending on format, location, and number of participants
Full Day Workshops $15,000
“Jessie is a fabulous facilitator. She is truly a deep, wise, curious, brilliant teacher.”
-Assistant Physician in Chief, Chief Critical Care, The Permanente Medical Group
Speaking Highlights
What if the most powerful tool for navigating crisis, burnout, and impossible decisions isn’t more logic—but more love?
Have you ever received a email from someone who felt calm and grounded when they sent it? Dr. Jessie Mahoney speaking to leaders at ACOG District Meeting.
What besides medicine are you practicing? A sneak peak into the mind of a physician. - ACOG Leadership Workshop Day #1
Virtual Grand Rounds - The School of Unlearning, University of New Mexico, 2024.
Coaching as Kintsugi for physicians and leaders.
Are you focusing on the negative? Dr. Jessie Mahoney giving virrtual Grand Rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Speaking & Workshops
-
Dr. Mahoney speaks on physician burnout, sustainable leadership, culture change in medicine, mindfulness and nervous system science for physicians, and physician identity and conditioning. Her signature frameworks include The School of Unlearning, Asking Better Questions (from her TEDx talk), and Awareness, Presence, and Agency in Medicine. All talks are customized to your audience and goals.
-
Keynote talks (75–90 minutes), half-day workshops, and full-day workshops. Talks can be delivered in-person or virtually. Workshops are interactive and designed for smaller groups. Each program is personalized for your audience.
-
Dr. Mahoney spent over 20 years leading wellness inside a major health system. She doesn't offer generic inspiration or resilience tips. Her talks address the specific cultural conditioning of medical training — the thought patterns, identity structures, and nervous system responses that drive physician burnout — and offer practical, evidence-based tools that physicians carry back into clinical practice the next day. Physicians consistently describe these talks as unlike anything they've experienced.
-
Keynote talks (75–90 min) start at $7,500 plus travel.
Half-day workshops start at $10,000. Full-day workshops start at $15,000. Pricing depends on format, location, and audience size.
-
Dr. Mahoney receives many speaking requests. Confirming a date early is always advisable — especially for spring and fall, which are the busiest seasons for medical conferences and wellness events. The first step is to inquire about availability on your preferred date.
-
Yes — and this is often the most impactful approach. A keynote can serve as an introduction that opens the door to a deeper engagement, such as a follow-up virtual coaching series or an immersive team retreat. Many institutions start with a talk and return for ongoing programming. Explore coaching programs. Explore retreats
-
Medical and specialty conferences, grand rounds, wellness and leadership forums, women in medicine events, departmental retreats and off-sites, and healthcare organizations focused on engagement and retention. The talks resonate across career stages and specialties and work well for audiences ranging from residents to CMOs.
-
“Dr. Mahoney is a warm and kind human who is absolutely delightful to work with.” - Director of Clinical Education & Clinical Operations, Providence Health, Oregon
Recent Speaking Engagements
UCSF Department of Internal Medicine Annual Retreat
Sutter East Bay Leadership Forum
ACOG District V & VI Leadership Meeting
Providence Health Wellness Summit 2024 & 2025
Jefferson Healthcare, Medical Staff Symposium
California Pacific Medical Center, Women in Medicine
TPMG San Rafael Medical Staff Dinner
University of New Mexico Grand Rounds
Coalition for Physician Well-Being, Joy and Wholeness Summit
UCSF Alumni Weekend
TPMG National Women Physician's Day Celebration
Women of Dartmouth Global Summit
Sutter Lakeside Leadership
American College of Cardiology Mid-Career Women in Leadership Program
Holiday Seminars, Aspen Anesthesia
Women in Neurology Conference
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, National Obesity Conference
American and International Conference for Physician Health
El Camino Health Grand Rounds
Society for Hospital Medicine, Pacific Northwest Region
UCSD, Department of Infectious Diseases
The Permanente Medical Group Physician Wellness Conferences
TPMG Total Performance Improvement Plan Sessions
Tufts Medical Group
Canadian Women in Medicine, Gather
“Dr. Mahoney’s talk is more than just inspiration—it’s a roadmap to sustainable well-being in medicine.”
What Would Love Do?
The Most Powerful Question We Are Not Asking
We are taught that “good” decisions are rooted in logic—pros and cons, data, predicted outcomes—and that we should leave emotion out of it. This approach often leaves us feeling depleted, resentful, and disconnected from ourselves, our patients, and what matters most.
In her TEDx talk, Dr. Jessie Mahoney introduces love-based decision-making—a practical, values-driven approach that incorporates care for self, others, and the greater world into every decision. This isn’t sentimentality; it’s a profoundly clarifying framework that prevents burnout, reduces over-responsibility, and regret fosters authentic connection. One simple question—What would love do?— transforms, reduces regret, preserves energy, and deepens relationships
Drawing on over 25 years in medicine, 17 years as a leader in one of the nation’s largest medical groups, and her lived experience in a 32-year neurodiverse marriage, Dr. Mahoney shares her simple science-backed, immediately usable decision-making practice.
“It’s been one of THE most impactful things anyone has shared with me, in my life .” - Dr. Nina Agarwal
"The School of Unlearning”
Tools to Help You Reconnect with Passion and Purpose—So You Can Keep Doing the Work You Love!
As physicians, we take an oath to do no harm—but we’re rarely taught how to extend that principle to ourselves. Medical training instills thought patterns that help us endure the journey, yet these same patterns can make it harder to build sustainable, fulfilling, and healthy careers. They contribute to the ongoing stress and distress of working within a broken system.
Dr. Mahoney’s talk is a must-hear for medical professionals at conferences, leadership forums, scientific meetings, grand rounds, and wellness summits. Her message resonates with everyone in healthcare, offering an insightful, solutions-focused perspective on well-being and career longevity.
With warmth, wisdom, and relatability, Dr. Mahoney shares essential strategies for navigating today’s medical landscape. Her engaging, lighthearted approach makes complex challenges feel more manageable, leaving audiences feeling inspired, hopeful, and empowered.
Attendees walk away with:
An understanding of the physician mindset so they can move forward with clarity and more ease
An actionable framework for change
A toolbox of science-based, easy-to-implement strategies to optimize mindset and physiology
Renewed energy, clarity, and joy for navigating their careers with buoyancy, compassion, and lightness
“This is what compassionate leadership looks like.”
“Her message transcends healthcare."
Leadership Development Workshops
Traditional leadership models, rooted in hierarchy and outdated frameworks, no longer equip today’s medical professionals with the skills needed to lead with impact. The leadership tools I was taught in chief school, medical school, and even at my Ivy League college were designed for a different era.
Effective leadership in 2025 requires much more.
Treat your team to an inspiring, perspective-shifting experience that goes well beyond traditional executive coaching. They will learn how to support physicians in today’s healthcare landscape with intentionality, purpose, clarity, and emotional intelligence. They will learn how to cultivate presence, mindfulness, and self-awareness in high-pressure environments.
Imagine a team of leaders who have shed outdated leadership paradigms and instead lead with creativity and curiosity, embracing adaptability and innovation in the face of constant change.
Sustainable leadership and the practice of medicine begin with personal well-being and understanding how to “lead with a lens to wellness.”
"I have been craving this kind of conversation in medicine.”
“I wish more leaders talked like this. “