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Top ICU Doctor on Burnout: One Thing Matters More Than Work with Ognjen Gajic | #TheLastZebraPod

Published on: 10th September, 2025

For Critical Care Intensivist Dr. Ognjen Gajic, avoiding burnout in a demanding medical career isn't about "work-life balance," but harmony. In a clip from The Last Zebra, Dr. Gajic shares a personal story of career rejection that led to a profound realisation at home with his son. He explains why the conventional idea of "balance" is flawed and why prioritising family is the ultimate foundation for a sustainable and meaningful career in medicine.

This insightful conversation from "The Last Zebra" delves into the human challenges that shape a medical professional's life and career, highlighting how personal values are integral to professional success.


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Hosted by Dr. Ugo Ezema, "The Last Zebra" explores the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. It seeks the commonalities among us by focusing on stories that deviate from dogma to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine and humanity.


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Featuring Ognjen Gajic, MD (Critical Care Intensivist)


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'Solecism' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

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About the Podcast

The Last Zebra
Nuanced conversations about different walks of life and those who live them
“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage:

“When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.”

Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones.

In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us.

The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor.

Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary".

The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare.

In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine.

We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice.

These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare.

In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time.

So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.
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Ugo Ezema