--- title: Why Dr. Shishuka Malhotra Believes Empathy and Self-Awareness Deserve a Larger Role in Modern Medicine description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. canonical: https://time.com/branded-content/apg/why-dr-shishuka-malhotra-believes-empathy-and-self-awareness-deserve-a-larger-role-in-modern-medicine/ article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2026-08-14T18:32:56.469Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-14T18:12:58.005Z article:section: Branded Contributor Content og:title: Why Dr. Shishuka Malhotra Believes Empathy and Self-Awareness Deserve a Larger Role in Modern Medicine og:description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. 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They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.  Image Credit: Dr. Shishuka Malhotra Image Credit: Dr. Shishuka Malhotra Healthcare professionals today appear to work within systems marked by expanding administrative demands, shifting patient expectations, and persistent workforce strain. Recent research highlights why these pressures matter. One study found an [association between physician burnout and higher rates](https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2026-04-02/burnout-driving-family-doctors-to-quit-medicine-study-finds) of clinicians leaving both their practices and the profession, reinforcing calls to improve working conditions and professional satisfaction to support workforce stability and patient care. A complementary [scoping review on compassion fatigue](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12995330/) adds further dimension. It suggests that compassion fatigue can diminish quality of care, contribute to clinical errors, increase turnover, and impair decision-making, effects that may be intensified when institutional support is limited. Overall, these findings point to a broader question: How can healthcare systems protect clinician well-being while sustaining meaningful therapeutic relationships? For Dr. Shishuka Malhotra, founder of [Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research](https://www.nbclinicalresearch.com/) (NBR), that question begins with acknowledging the emotional realities of clinical practice. She views self-compassion as an important safeguard against psychosocial risks such as burnout, compassion fatigue, and secondary traumatic stress. At the same time, she encourages a thoughtful distinction between self-compassion and emotional detachment. “Self-compassion is giving yourself permission to recognize your limits without losing sight of why you entered medicine,” Dr. Malhotra says. “Patients benefit when physicians have the opportunity to care for themselves while remaining emotionally present.” That perspective has been shaped by nearly two decades of clinical practice, psychiatric care, and research leadership at NBR. The organization conducts clinical research across a wide range of psychiatric and neurological conditions while maintaining an environment that encourages collaboration among physicians, nurses, coordinators, and support staff. This combination of research and clinical experience has allowed Dr. Malhotra to observe how professional well-being and patient outcomes often influence one another. These observations have also shaped her view of the broader conversation around physician burnout. Rather than treating [burnout and secondary traumatic stress](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375020020%5FSecondary%5Ftraumatic%5Fstress%5Fand%5Fburnout%5FThe%5Frole%5Fof%5Fmental%5Fhealth%5Fwork%5Fexperience%5Floneliness%5Fand%5Fother%5Ftrauma%5Fin%5Fcompassion%5Ffatigue%5Fin%5Fthe%5Fhealthcare%5Fworkforces) as inevitable by-products of clinical work, she frames them as signals that the emotional demands of caregiving require more deliberate preparation and support. “Physicians also need practical skills that help them recognize their emotional responses, understand interpersonal dynamics, and sustain meaningful therapeutic relationships throughout demanding careers,” she states. Her perspective draws from psychiatric concepts such as transference and countertransference, which, as she explains, examine how emotions, expectations, and personal experiences influence interactions between patients and clinicians. Developing awareness of these dynamics, she notes, may equip physicians to respond with greater insight while maintaining healthy professional boundaries. “We invest years teaching physicians how diseases develop and how treatments work,” Dr. Malhotra states. “The relationship between doctor and patient also deserves careful attention because trust grows through human interaction as much as clinical knowledge.” That philosophy extends beyond individual physicians to the culture of an entire practice, where caring for patients often becomes a shared responsibility instead of an individual burden. According to Dr. Malhotra, at Neuro-Behavioral Clinical Research, team members are encouraged to communicate openly when they believe another colleague may be better positioned to support a patient that day. Dr. Malhotra views this practice as an expression of professional responsibility instead of personal limitation. “We extend grace to our families and friends during difficult moments. Healthcare professionals deserve that same compassion so they can continue offering their best to the people who rely on them,” she remarks. This philosophy appears to be especially meaningful as clinical encounters continue to evolve. According to Dr. Malhotra, patients now arrive with information gathered from online resources and artificial intelligence tools, often bringing thoughtful questions alongside information that may lack clinical context. She welcomes patient engagement because informed participation can strengthen shared decision-making. Additionally, she believes these conversations place even greater value on communication, trust, and careful explanation. “Curiosity is valuable,” she says. “Our responsibility is helping patients understand information within the full context of their health so they can make informed decisions with confidence.” That emphasis on communication extends throughout NBR. While physicians often work within demanding schedules, Dr. Malhotra believes listening begins long before the physician enters the examination room. She notes that front desk professionals, medical assistants, nurses, and coordinators are encouraged to recognize concerns, listen attentively, and communicate meaningful observations to the clinical team. Distributing this human dimension of care throughout the practice may help patients feel heard from the start of their visit and potentially give physicians a richer understanding of each person’s priorities before treatment discussions begin. For Dr. Malhotra, empathy is a collective responsibility supported by every member of the healthcare team. Her perspective also reflects changing expectations within modern medicine. She observes that relationships between physicians and patients increasingly resemble collaborative partnerships built on shared goals instead of traditional hierarchies. “Greater access to medical information has expanded opportunities for patients to participate actively in their care, making trust an even more valuable component of successful treatment,” Dr. Malhotra says. She adds that patients who feel respected and understood are often more comfortable discussing concerns, asking questions, and participating consistently in agreed-upon care plans. Dr. Malhotra recalls guidance from a mentor that continues to shape her approach. “My psychotherapy supervisor once told me that the moment you work harder than the person you’re trying to help, you’ve already lost the battle. People commit to the work only when they choose it themselves, and they make that choice when they feel genuinely cared for and can trust that you’re standing with them,” she shares. Dr. Malhotra suggests that empathy can strengthen that partnership because trust can encourage meaningful participation throughout treatment. Ultimately, as healthcare continues to adapt to new technologies, evolving patient expectations, and increasing clinical complexity, Dr. Malhotra believes physician well-being and compassionate care belong within the same conversation. Supporting healthcare professionals through self-awareness, healthy boundaries, collaborative teamwork, and relational skills may help strengthen both the clinical workforce and the experience of patients seeking care. When patients have a more positive care experience, it can support improved outcomes and may contribute to greater physician satisfaction, which in turn might help lessen some of the pressures associated with burnout. _This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. 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