Dr. Miriam Zylberglait is a triple Board-Certified physician who started the first ten years of her career in her native country of Peru, before moving to the United States to continue her profession. She specializes in internal medicine, geriatrics, and obesity medicine. Dr. Zylberglait’s interests include well-being, burnout, mental health, and leadership development.
She is the author of the Bestselling book, The 3G Cycle of Life: The Secrets for Achieving Joy, Meaning, and Well-Being. Dr. Zylberglait has received numerous awards, including Mentor of the Year (AMWA 2021) and American College of Physicians Young Achiever (2017).
Can you take us back to your childhood? In particular, how did this shape you into the successful professional you are today?
I grew up in Peru. I come from a small family, with just one younger sister, a very proactive mom, and an incredibly positive dad. Like many, we went through good and bad times, on many levels. But my dad always told us, “I may not be able to buy fancy clothes or take you on trips, but you will always have love and education, and with that you will be able to conquer the world.” Strong values, unity, even during adversity, and support even when not necessarily in full agreement, created a sense of safety and belonging that is still there for me.
If you could sum up some key takeaway messages that readers should gain from reading your book, The 3G Cycle of Life: The Secrets for Achieving Joy, Meaning, and Well-Being, what would they be?
I will use as the first takeaway something that my son told me when he was 7 years old. “This is your life, this is your choice, this is your journey.” What is more powerful than that? My goal is that through the stories, data, and interactive activities of the book, people will acquire new knowledge, develop new skills, and even most importantly, they will feel empowered to live their lives based on their own values.
They will also have the emotional strength for removing themselves from the “victim status” and start taking responsibility and control of their lives. We have the power of choice and decisions. It requires accountability, the ability to embrace change, and especially self-awareness and self-compassion. But as soon as you put those things into practice, you will be able to retake control of your actions and reactions.
You are also putting a lot of time into research. Can you talk to us about the need for this and why more emphasis should be placed on this research?
My motivation to write the book, advocate for mental health, and to create my own well-being practice is the unacceptable rates of suicide (46,000 per year in the US) and mental health illnesses, obesity, and many other conditions related to stress, lack of self-care, and that are the result of a nonempathetic, and impersonal, healthcare system.
If you could highlight a few examples, what is the most rewarding part of your job?
Being a physician is a privilege. I can’t imagine myself doing something different. We can positively impact the health of our patients. And if you practice medicine in the way that I do, including the social and emotional aspects, you can really change the quality of life and well-being of your patients and even their families. Beyond that, the rewards are even more meaningful if you are present at each encounter, not only with your body but also with your heart. Each “thank you” or smile or expression of relief are the best retribution I can receive. They give me the energy to keep going, they nourish my purpose, and they are vitamins for my soul.
What is the best way to unwind after a long work week?
I will love to say that I can unwind myself 100% after a long work week; alas, this is something that I am still working on. And I share that, because all these changes in our behaviors don’t happen as miracles. They take time and effort, and they may result from many trials and errors. So, the first step is 1) Recognize that we need to pause to recharge, that this is not a sign of weakness or being lazy, and that we deserve to enjoy life. 2) Accept that the change from working during weekends to enjoying ourselves may be difficult, we need to change our chip. This may cause guilt, and that is why self-empathy is so important. 3) Last but not least, team up with those around you. My son reminds me that I can’t be on the phone all day, and my husband will remove me from the computer. I also use technology for reminders – alarms that remind me of “self-care time” and a sleep mode on the phone, so I don’t receive emails or messages after a specific time.
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