Connect or Die: The Surprising Power of Human Relationships | Starla Fitch | TEDxFargo

Dr. Starla Fitch shows us how the ways we’re seeing may be endangering our lives in this poignant, funny talk. Her stories will make you change the way you look at everything. Discover the deadly secrets to our distorted views of others. A talk to share.

Starla Fitch, MD, is The Connection Doctor and an ophthalmologist who’s made it her life’s mission to help people see more clearly — both literally and figuratively. An eternal optimist, her popular international community began for burned out physicians and medical staff and has expanded into a global network guiding others to connect better — with their families, their co-workers, and themselves at StarlaFitchMD.com. Her infectious spirit lifts up those around her. Dr. Fitch is a board-certified ophthalmologist, and a senior partner in a large group practice in Atlanta. Starla has received the Patients’ Choice Award and the Most Compassionate Doctor Award, received by less than 3% of physicians in the U.S.
Dr. Fitch is the author of #1 international best-seller, Remedy for Burnout, and is regularly featured on national and local media outlets, including CBS, NBC, FOX and NPR discussing the doctor-patient relationship, the power of connection, and career burnout.

[drNazimaMasri]

Connection can settle easily:
1 Setting down your cell phone
2 Expressing a gratitude
3 Sharing the best part of your day with someone you love.

Result:
1 Strengthen our connection
2 Lets us live longer
3 Reduces our anxiety and depression.

[davidsanders]

“Social isolation increases our risk of death by 32%”! Wow, that means the Pandemic has had a greater toll on people worldwide than most of us realize.
Thanks for a delightful talk. ❤️

[nnekatrini]

I love the tie ins to your physical vision. My mom's vision is impaired. Your talk helped me to understand her disability AND see how it's affecting her figurative vision.

[theincompleteskeptic]

Excellent analogies with a higher message. The beginning was tense and overly practiced, killing the appearance of organic release, but every word and all connective ideas were understandable. As the message evolved, bringing intellect down and raising up the heart of WE, I knew I heard an excellent speech.

[colindavidsmith]

Stumbled across your presentation Starla, and really pleased that I did. In my work, I talk about people "Dying to be heard, literally and metaphorically". My sense is that what we are missing, is being heard, or as you rightly saying, being seen clearly. In spite of the tidal wave towards technically connecting, I, like you, are going against it to get others to see and hear each other more clearly, more deeply, more whole heartedly. Thank you.

[kellybeischel]

I've watched this multiple times and enjoy it more each time. What a great difference we'd make in patient safety and quality improvement if we worked on connecting more. Connecting would flatten out some of the authority gradient that ends up harming patients. Win. Win. Thank you for your beautiful message. We all benefit from you sharing your gift with the world.

[InspiredSpacesMag]

Love this talk Dr. Starla. Thank you for helping us "see" each other, the power of connection, and the humanity in all of us. Love the work you're doing--in and out of medicine--and can't help but smile every time I see or hear from you. Thanks for sharing the love! xo

[ChipSpencer]

What a wonderful talk. I think millions need to see this. Thanks for your time and interest in all of us folks.

[wannettaclark]

A very to the heart talk Starla. Thank you for pointing out a few things to me within your talk. Its funny when you know something deep down but when its brought to light your eyes truly are opened. You have a calming voice and will look forward to hearing more from you, Starla.

[gloriabroomfield]

I am a patient of Dr. Halpern and saw you one time. You stayed late to look at my eye when I started breaking out with shingles close to my eye.  I could tell right away that you were a very caring person.  I really appreciate your video on changing the way we look at people.

[sntry]

Sometimes i feel like my thoughts are not worth sharing.
I am so alone because of that.
People accept only what they want to hear but not what they need to hear.
How i speak became more important than what i tell.
We are not expressing anything about ourselves.
We are just ACTING.
We act like students, dentists, teachers, presidents...
Everyone is asleep on their dream of reality.
They are not feeling, they are JUST acting...

[jeffreyd.shapirom.d.]

Starla. An amazing talk, and presented with love and emotion. Thank you for being who you are. I am honored and privileged to work with you.

[lallamareblu]

Dr. Starla Fitch, you're a wonderful soul!

[PamSlim]

Such a beautiful talk. I am so glad that you are doing this work in the world with medical professionals, who provide such critical care for us when we most need it. Great job!

[MimosaQueenoflifeChestnutt]

Dr. Fitch this is a powerful talk!!! I appreciate you and the way you utilized different eye disorders as a visual to help people understand how the way a person views a situation can interrupt their perception. I going to share this with everyone I know!!!

[lindagoldsmith]

Loved the creative intertwining of vision and personal connection and gratitude to create understanding on an emotional level.

[StaceyBroder]

Fantastic job, Starla. I love the use of personal stories combined with how those in your stories were seeing others in relation to the various eye conditions you see everyday... really got your point across!

[mamanewt]

I'm seeing this for a school assignment and I'm glad I was able to see this.

[kimmclain]

After hearing this TED talk, I actually feel like together, we can change the world!! Dr. Starla Fitch encourages us to REALLY see each other, and I for one will be looking to connect to others EVERYDAY!   Kudos on an EXCELLENT PRESENTATION!!

[JeffreyBrantEyeMD]

Excellent presentation! This is very inspiring and perfectly presented! I just started reading your book, "Remedy for Burnout: 7 Prescriptions Doctors Use to Find Meaning in Medicine." Also excellent! Thanks for all you do!