Leaving Medicine: reflections on a career in healthcare

“You should call me. I’ve been doing a very long time,” he said.  He is one of the giants of our field. I have known him for 2 decades. Ever since I was a trainee, he has inspired me to be the best version of myself. I admired him on all levels: his intellect, his…

I’ve always wondered if this were true in fields outside of medicine. I would honestly not know, since I have never worked, or dreamed, or thought about anything else, other than medicine. Judging from all the inspirational posts on LinkedIn, I would assume that this paradoxical dichotomy might only be true in the medical profession.…

Wow. So much for writing every week. Just looked at the date of the last entry and realized I have not written anything in 6 weeks. Why? The Kids. So, we might as well write about them today. I am getting a lot of: “Wow, good for you for wanting to change careers…but what about…

Have you ever wondered why, when burnout and suicide rates among medical professionals are so high, no one seems to leave the profession? We have come a long way in recognizing that burn out rates have reached alarming proportions- we have studied the causes, measured the impact, devised plans to address this epidemic, but not…

Today, the end begins. For months I have been reflecting on my recent triple whammy situation. I am undoubtedly in the middle of a midlife crisis that is lasting too long for anyone’s patience. I have also come to the terrifying realization that I have peaked in my surgical career, and I am staring at,…