What happens when a future physician confronts the past, present, and future of medical labor rights? In this thoughtful and timely conversation, Dr. Lee Sharma sits down with Dr. Tarun Ramesh, soon to begin his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, to unpack his NEJM article, “Striking a Balance,” which examines the ethics, history, and global impact of physician strikes.

Together, they explore why doctors are increasingly turning to unions—from South Korea’s historic 2024 resident strike to post-pandemic organizing in Boston. Dr. Ramesh offers compelling insights on how burnout, corporatization, and lack of clinician voice are fueling a new era of collective action. With historical context and global comparisons, he helps frame a vision for balanced policies that prioritize both physician wellbeing and patient safety.

From the risks of punitive backlash to the policy promise of minimum staffing laws and advanced notice provisions, this episode is a masterclass in labor advocacy, ethics, and modern medical leadership.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Protect Without Punishing: Punitive government responses to physician strikes (e.g., South Korea) can erode trust. Constructive frameworks with legal safeguards can maintain continuity of care.
2. Multiple Paths to Voice: Unionization is one tool, but organized medicine, hospital committees, and leadership roles are equally vital avenues for clinician advocacy.
3. Physicians as Policy Partners: Excluding doctors from healthcare policy—whether in strike negotiations or hospital ownership—means ignoring frontline wisdom that drives better patient outcomes.
   

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Dr. Tarun Ramesh is a medical student at Harvard and incoming internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital. His article “Striking a Balance” was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, exploring physician collective bargaining through a global lens. His academic work centers on health economics, workforce policy, and the evolving dynamics of clinician labor. He has deep research experience in hospital financial models, and his advocacy work reflects a deep commitment to clinician wellbeing and health system transformation.

Twitter: @TarunR99

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tarun-ramesh/

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

Connect: scalpelandsword@gmail.com

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

What happens when a combat medic turns to the law to continue his mission of service? In this deeply inspiring episode, Dr. Lee Sharma welcomes Zej Moczydlowski, who shares how his years providing care in austere environments from Sub-Saharan Africa to the ER taught him to lead through crisis, work across hierarchies, and find humanity in hardship.

Zej discusses the unique dynamics of medical teams in the military, where saving lives sometimes meant pushing past traditional roles and stepping into leadership with humility and resolve. He also reflects on his pivot to law school, his passion for international justice, and how medicine taught him to manage pressure, handle trauma, and stay focused on outcomes, not ego.

From delivering babies in Tampa to debriding wounds in South Sudan, Zej’s stories reveal a powerful truth: the skills we carry into conflict—professional, emotional, and ethical—can shape the justice we pursue. His dream? To prosecute war crimes and protect the most vulnerable through global legal systems. This episode is a masterclass in courage, compassion, and conviction.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Lead with Team, Not Title – Zej’s experience shows how military medical teams succeed by flattening hierarchies and focusing on outcomes, not credentials.
2. Bridge Conflict with Care – Even in combat zones, medicine can become a tool for diplomacy and healing. From OB care to trauma response, Zej shares how care builds connection.
3. Turn Off, Turn On – Learning when to emotionally detach and when to re-engage is a skill both in war and in law. Resilience is about regulation—not just endurance.

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Zej Moczydlowski is a U.S. Army Special Operations Combat Medic and recent graduate of Washington University School of Law. He is pursuing an LL.M. in International Legal Studies at NYU, focusing on international criminal law, armed conflict, and atrocity prevention. Zej has worked in some of the world’s most austere environments—including South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Uganda—where he led trauma care in combat zones and humanitarian crises.

In law, he’s interned with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the U.S. District Court in California. Zej is also a published author in the Harvard International Law Journal and has contributed to the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative under Professor Leila Sadat. His mission-driven path continues as he prepares to advocate for human rights and prosecute international war crimes on the global stage.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zejmski/

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.

What does it take to thrive in medicine beyond clinical excellence? In this episode, Dr. Lee Sharma speaks with Dr. Resa Lewiss about the small, everyday actions that can make a big impact on your career. Dr. Lewiss shares how she turned feelings of being left out of the "professional playbook" into a guide for others, offering practical tools like pausing before reacting, scheduling emails thoughtfully, and recognizing conflict early.

They also explore the deeper cost of unresolved conflict in the workplace, from burnout to poor patient care. Dr. Lewiss explains how to spot gaslighting using the D.A.R.V.O. framework and why having a trusted support circle—your personal board of directors—can make all the difference.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

1. Recognize Conflict Early – Learn the signs of subtle and systemic conflict (like gaslighting) and begin documenting patterns to better respond and protect yourself.
2. Schedule with Intent – Respect your team’s boundaries by drafting emails when inspiration strikes—but scheduling them to send during working hours.
3. Build Your Board – Create a personal board of directors: people you trust who offer honest, thoughtful guidance during professional challenges.

About the Show:
Behind every procedure, every patient encounter, lies an untold story of conflict and negotiation. Scalpel and Sword, hosted by Dr. Lee Sharma—physician, mediator, and guide—invites listeners into the unseen battles and breakthroughs of modern medicine. With real conversations, human stories, and practical tools, this podcast empowers physicians to reclaim their voices, sharpen their skills, and wield their healing power with both precision and purpose.

About the Guest:
Dr. Resa Lewiss is a board-certified emergency physician, professor of emergency medicine, and a pioneer in point-of-care ultrasound. A graduate of Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, she has trained and taught at top institutions including Harvard and Mount Sinai. She is the co-author of MicroSkills: Small Actions, Big Impact, a guide to practical workplace strategies that address conflict, leadership, and psychological safety. A frequent keynote speaker and advocate for equity in medicine, Dr. Lewiss uses storytelling and strategy to empower healthcare professionals at every level.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/resaelewissmd/

About the Host:
Dr. Lee Sharma is a gynecologist based in Auburn, AL, with over 30 years of clinical experience. She holds a Master’s in Conflict Resolution and is passionate about helping colleagues navigate workplace challenges and thrive through open conversations and practical tools.

Connect with Dr. Lee Sharma:
📧 Email: scalpelandsword@gmail.com
🌐 Website: East Alabama Health - Dr. Sharma

The Scalpel and Sword Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.