In 2016, at the very beginning of my medical career, I experienced something I was never prepared for — burnout.
I had chosen medicine at the age of five because I genuinely wanted to help people. Becoming a hospitalist felt like a dream realized. Yet within my first years of practice, that dream slowly turned into dread.
When Passion Turned into Exhaustion
As a hospitalist, I worked alternating one-week shifts. At first, the time off felt restorative — but over time, I noticed something disturbing: I was coming back less recharged after each break.
I felt:
- Emotionally and physically exhausted
- Detached from my patients
- Increasingly cynical
- Less productive than I had ever been
I started to dread returning to work — a job I once loved. I didn’t know the language of burnout then, but I knew something was wrong.
The Moment Everything Changed
Eventually, I began working with a physician coach. That partnership changed my life.
Not only did I learn that I was experiencing burnout — I learned how to mitigate it, prevent it, and advocate for my own wellness.
How I Started Healing
I began taking intentional action:
- Set firm boundaries around my schedule
- Reduced shifts and explored part-time options
- Advocated for scribes and reduced administrative burden
- Prioritized sleep, nutrition, hydration, and movement
- Reached out to colleagues, family, and friends for support
- Reclaimed hobbies I had abandoned — writing, drawing, painting, gardening, and travel
Slowly, I began to feel like myself again.
Reclaiming My Career
As I regained control, I realized something powerful:
I didn’t have to leave medicine — I had to redesign it.
I explored:
- Locums work
- Telemedicine
- Utilization management
- Medical expert witness work
- Coaching
Each step helped me build a career that supported my life instead of consuming it.
Why I Became a Coach
My burnout didn’t break me — it redirected me.
Today, I am a life and business coach, podcaster, author, and speaker dedicated to empowering physicians navigating burnout. My mission is simple:
To help doctors reclaim control, rediscover meaning, and advocate for wellness in a healthcare system that desperately needs healing.
A Message to Every Physician Reading This
If you are exhausted… detached… questioning your calling — I see you.
Your burnout is not weakness.
It is wisdom calling you back to yourself.
