At PURA Botanicals, we celebrate women who lead with intention, inspire their communities, and help define what wellness looks like in everyday life. Our PURA Muse series shines a light on women whose values, work, and conscious lifestyles align with our mission of mindful wellness and protecting women's health.
This month, we are honoured to feature Dr. Shazma Mithani, an Emergency Physician in Edmonton, Alberta, who is transforming the way people think about health, education, and self-care.
MEET DR. MITHANI: ER DOC, PODCAST HOST & ENTREPRENEUR
Working in both a busy inner-city emergency room and pediatric ER, Dr. Mithani sees firsthand the growing need for accessible health education. Through regular appearances on local and national media, co-hosting The Doc Talk Podcast, and speaking on topics including health literacy, misinformation, and wellness, her mission is to empower individuals with practical tools to stay healthy and informed.
Q. What inspired you to become an emergency physician, and what continues to motivate you after over a decade?
Before I started medical school, I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. Then, while I was going through medical school, I was intrigued by every rotation that I did. When I did obstetrics and gynecology, that’s what I wanted to be. When I did internal medicine, that was where I saw my career going. Every new rotation left me more confused than the last. It wasn’t until I did my ER rotation, the specialty that truly sees and does it all, that I finally felt at home. I remember my first week of my rotation, seeing a wide variety of situations, ranging from heart attacks to strokes to traumas to appendicitis. Each patient was a new puzzle to put together and figure out. This is why I still love it today - I never know what each shift will bring, and I get to use my detective skills at all times.
Q. You’ve built a strong presence through social media/podcasting. What inspired you to start sharing your voice in those spaces?
The world of medicine has historically been behind a veil and inaccessible by the general public. A lot of that has to do with the paternalistic approach of medicine from it’s early days, that is thankfully changing. I decided to wade into this space to use my social media and podcast to demystify medicine, so that patients could better understand their health and be able to be informed in the conversations they are having with their health care professionals. As we continue to see misinformation and disinformation dominate the online space, it’s even more important for reliable voices to be present to cut through this noise.
Q. What does “wellness” mean to you beyond the absence of illness, and how do you bring it into your daily life? Specific rituals/products?
To me, wellness means overall health and happiness. There is so much clutter in the “wellness” space right now about all of the different supplements you should and shouldn't take, all of the longevity biohacks that will help you stay healthy. The truth is, we already have really great evidence on what helps people live longer, and it’s simple and easy. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, moving your body regularly, staying connected with friends and family, keeping your chronic health conditions in check with your family doctor. That’s all you really need!
Q. How do you balance the demands of a high-stress medical career and family with self-care and intentional living? What advice would you give to other women?
I really make a point to constantly check in with myself on whether I feel balanced - am I saying yes to too many things? Are the things I’m doing still bringing me joy? Am I spending enough time with my loved ones? Do I have enough time to decompress and do the things that fill my cup? I’m constantly recalibrating to make sure I feel good about all of these questions.
It probably sounds cliche, but I really do make sure to find time to do the things I love. Whether that’s a weekly coffee with a friend, playing some tennis with my husband, keeping up with my next book club read, finding time to feel joy is what will keep you going amongst the chaos.
Q. In general, what are the most important habits for maintaining healthy, radiant skin? Any myths you would like to debunk about skincare?
Sun protection! The return on investment here is exponential when it comes to skin health. Wearing (and reapplying) sunscreen everyday (even in the Winter) and wearing UV protective clothing, hats and sunglasses are so important to protecting the skin. Of course there are lots of great, evidence-based actives that can help with maintaining skin health (like vitamin C, retinoids, exfoliation and moisturizing), but sun protection will mean you’re not playing catch up later in life!
Q. Do you have a favorite PURA product that you can’t live without, and why?
With how dry Edmonton is, my two favourite products are the Overnight Watermelon Mask for my face and the (seasonal) Winter’s Eve Hand Cream. What I love most about PURA products is how luxurious they feel. Every product I use feels like high end skincare personalized to my needs, at a very approachable price point. Plus, it means I get to support a local, female owned business.
Find Dr. Shazma Mithani on Instagram, her website and listen to The Doc Podcast.
