# 14 Resilience in health care with Dr Dan Pronk

In today’s episode I speak with Dr Dan Pronk about self-care and developing resilience for front line health care workers during times of increased pressure, specifically as we are experiencing right now in Australia. Dan openly shares from his experience working extensively in high pressure, high threat environments and personal experience with both acute and chronic trauma with the contextual understanding of the risks, impacts and constraints. To provide a number of personal habits he has developed, as well as a number of the latest evidence-based tools and strategies for maintaining performance, health and wellbeing and the platform for growth and positive adaptation. I certainly encourage every health care worker to listen to this episode with Dan, share into your community and reach out to him for any assistance.

If you want to get in touch with Dan or follow him on social for practical tips go to:

 https://www.instagram.com/danpronk/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/danpronk/detail/recent-activity/posts/

 https://www.instagram.com/resilienceshield/

 https://resilienceshield.com/

 https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-resilience-shield/

 Dan entered into the Australian Army in 2001 on a scholarship to study medicine. Upon graduation he completed his internship and first year residency in civilian hospitals before posting to his first Army unit and quickly moving into Special Operations following successful completion of the Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment selection course. Dan spent the last five years of his service working between the SAS and the 2nd Commando Regiment and saw operational service in Timor Leste and Afghanistan. Dan was awarded the Commendation for Distinguished Service for his leadership in action during his second of four operational tours of Afghanistan.  

 Following leaving the army in 2014 Dan has held positions as a remote mine site doctor, a ship’s doctor, the Deputy Medical Superintendent of a regional hospital, and the Medical Director of the South Australian Prison Health Service. He co-owns and serves as the Medical Director for the private medical company TacMed Australia. He currently works in the Emergency Department of a regional hospital.  

 Dan holds a Bachelor of Exercise Science, A Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, A Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, a Master of Business Administration, and an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Medical Administrators. He is an instructor on the Royal Australian College of Surgeons’ Early Management of Severe Trauma course, a board member of the Australian Tactical Medical Association, and a former Independent Medical Advisor to the Department of Home Affairs. Dan regularly presents to corporate, military, and government groups on leadership under adversity, resilience, and social psychological theory. He has co-authored a book on resilience titled The Resilience Shield, which uses the evidence base from both the scientific literature, as well as Resilience Shield’s own government grant supported research project, to present resilience as a multifactorial, dynamic, and modifiable construct. He lives in Adelaide, is married to a very tolerant wife and is the proud father of three boys.