Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career

By Doctor Podcast Network, Physician Coach, Michael Hersh MDBusiness Medicine Health & Fitness Education Self-Improvement Careers

Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career episodes

March 23Why Physicians Struggle to Rest (And How to Make It Sustainable) | Ep34
What if the reason true rest feels uncomfortable, guilty, or even wrong isn't that you're lazy, but that you've spent your entire life earning your worth through constant output, so doing 'nothing' feels like you're failing at being you?
In this episode of Better Physician Life Podcast, host Dr. Michael Hersh tackles the paradox many physicians face: we say we want more rest, but when the opportunity arrives, we resist it, reaching for our phones, feeling restless, guilty, or unproductive. Drawing from his own failed attempt to do "nothing" for a full month, he explains how medical training wires us to override fatigue, postpone rest indefinitely, and link our value to output, making true stillness feel wrong or unearned.
He reframes rest as a learnable skill (not a reward), distinguishes passive rest (sitting still) from active rest (purposeful movement without goals), and shares why starting with active rest often unlocks easier passive rest. Dr. Hersh emphasizes small, consistent practice over big overhauls, five minutes of intentional pause, doing things "restfully" without optimizing, and dropping guilt, because rest with guilt isn't rest. He highlights the commute/home transition as the ideal entry point and re-introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset as a repeatable tool to downshift and leave work behind.
This episode is for physicians who feel wired to keep going, struggles to unplug without agitation, or comes back from time off still tense, offering compassion, science-backed insight (diastole analogy), and realistic steps to make rest sustainable.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Rest Is a Skill, Not a Switch: Years of pushing through fatigue condition us to find stillness unsettling, brain scans for tasks, guilt kicks in, phone gets reached for. Rest isn't automatic; it must be practiced in small, imperfect reps. Start with 5 minutes phone-free to begin building the skill.
Active Rest Often Comes First: For high-achievers, passive rest (sitting on the couch, reading for pleasure) can feel agitating. Try starting with active rest—gym without PRs, walks without tracking steps, yard work without a to-do list. Movement burns off stored tension, quiets mental noise, and makes true stillness more accessible afterward.
Drop the "Earned" Mindset: Rest isn't a prize for finishing everything (the work never finishes). It's a requirement for sustainable performance, like diastole for the heart. Guilt turns rest into tension; reframe it as essential fuel. Small transitions like the commute reset are powerful places to practice without overhauling life.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
17 min
March 16Why Physicians Always Feel Behind (And Why Progress Never Feels Like Enough) | Ep33
You accomplish hard things every day: patients cared for, decisions made, family time protected, and yet, almost immediately, your mind jumps to what's still not done. What if the reason nothing ever quite feels like 'enough' isn't that you're falling short, but that you almost never stop to look at how far you've actually come?
In this episode of Better Physician Life Podcast, host Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the pervasive feeling that no accomplishment ever quite registers, that forward motion never pauses long enough for progress to land. Drawing from his own experience of feeling "behind" even during strong stretches, he explains how medical training rewards constant anticipation of the next hurdle while offering little space to acknowledge what's already been achieved. This creates a default state of low-grade pressure: always measuring against what's unfinished, discounting hard-won growth, and assuming discomfort means you should be further along. Dr. Hersh shares how he began intentionally documenting monthly wins, challenges, lessons, and moments that mattered, not for motivation or bragging, but to give his brain evidence of reality instead of perpetual "should be farther."
He discusses why this is especially common in mid-career, subtler progress, higher stakes, fewer external markers, and how looking back provides a second reference point: proof you've handled hard things before and can again. He re-introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset as a practical way to interrupt forward-only thinking during daily transitions.
This episode is for any physician who accomplishes a lot yet still feels like they're chasing an ever-moving finish line, offering compassion, context, and a simple habit to make progress feel real.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Forward Motion Erases Progress: Medicine trains us to scan ahead (next patient, next responsibility, next goal), so we rarely turn around to register what's already behind us. Wins, lessons, and hard moments fade unless intentionally captured, leaving a persistent feeling of "never enough" even when things are moving well.
Looking Back Builds Trust & Grounding: A simple practice of documenting monthly highlights (big and small—decisions made, battles fought, family time honored, lessons learned) creates evidence of growth you would otherwise discount. It shifts the reference point from "where I should be" to "where I actually am," reducing self-doubt and the constant need to brace.
Mid-Career Progress Feels Invisible: Early training has clear markers (exams, promotions); later career progress is subtler, more judgment-based, and less externally validated. Without pausing to acknowledge it, discomfort gets misread as "I'm behind" instead of "this work is just harder and more complex now."
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
16 min
March 09Physician Work Dread: Why You Don’t Want to Go to Work (And What Actually Helps) | Ep32
Do you know that heaviness in your chest on Sunday afternoon, or the moment you sit in the parking lot, unable to get out of the car, even though you're not burned out or ready to quit? What if that 'work dread' isn't telling you to leave medicine, but to look more closely at what's really weighing you down?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into "work dread", the chest-tightening resistance, parking-lot hesitation, and mental preoccupation that hits before patients arrive or the week begins. Drawing from his own years of dreading Mondays, sitting in the car scrolling, and fantasizing about retirement as escape, he explains why this feeling is so common for physicians and rarely means you need to blow up your career.
Instead of vague dread signaling "something's wrong with me or my job," it's often information about specific frustrations buried under administrative burdens, inefficiencies, and the habit of delaying relief. Dr. Hersh shares how naming the exact triggers (overwhelm, skipped meals, dreaded tasks) shrinks the feeling, opens small solvable shifts, like insisting on a lunch break, and helps separate real annoyances from the story that "life only gets better once this is over."
He introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset, a guided audio and worksheet to interrupt automatic bracing and create space before/after work. This episode is for any physician who's physically present but mentally already dreading the next shift, offering clarity, compassion, and practical steps without forcing positivity or major life changes.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Name It to Tame It: Vague dread feels overwhelming and final—"I don't want to do this anymore"—but getting specific—"What exactly am I dreading today?"—reveals targeted issues like overwhelm, skipped lunch, or frustrating admin tasks. Naming shrinks the heaviness, turns it into solvable problems, and stops it from collapsing the whole job into "the problem."
Stop Arguing with Reality: Physicians are conditioned to delay gratification, "once I get through this phase...", so dread often comes from bracing ahead of time or telling yourself relief is only post-retirement. Reframing work as something to show up for—not just endure—frees mental energy and reduces the weight of unhelpful stories about the day.
Small Shifts Create Big Relief: Push for tiny, realistic changes like scheduling a protected lunch on busy days despite pushback, rather than waiting for the perfect job or exit. These build evidence that you can influence your day without dramatic overhauls, while tools like the Five Minute Commute Reset interrupt the pre-work dread cycle.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
16 min
March 02Physicians, Properties, and Entrepreneurship with Dr. Alex Schloe. | Ep31
What if the thing that's 'missing' in your life as a physician isn't leaving medicine... but building something outside of it that gives you true freedom—at work and at home?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh interviews Dr. Alex Schloe, a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, and real estate entrepreneur. Dr. Schloe shares his journey from childhood entrepreneurial roots to building a real estate portfolio focused on assisted living, short-term rentals, and more— all while serving in the military and prioritizing family. He discusses how real estate offers stability and autonomy, and allows practicing medicine part-time in direct primary care, reducing burnout and reclaiming time for what matters most. The conversation covers navigating physician skepticism toward side ventures, the mindset shifts needed for entrepreneurship, the importance of community and vulnerability, and practical steps to start building alternative income streams. This episode is ideal for physicians who feel something is "missing" and are exploring ways to create more freedom, fulfillment, and impact, both in medicine and beyond.
Top 3 Takeaways
Start Small and Build Momentum in Real Estate: Begin with accessible opportunities like physician loans for house hacking or primary residences, then expand into rentals, short-term stays, or assisted living. Education through podcasts, books like ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’, and ‘BiggerPockets’, and self-study during residency drives progress without derailing clinical focus. Passive or semi-passive income creates "mailbox money" that snowballs into greater flexibility, like reducing shifts or practicing part-time.
Prioritize Family and Protect Time as Non-Negotiables: True balance means setting boundaries. Finish notes at work, leave the computer behind, and dedicate sacred family time (e.g., evenings with kids unplugged). Entrepreneurship requires sacrifices like late nights, but as income grows, redesign your schedule, for example, part-time clinical work, to be present for family milestones. Financial freedom enhances presence and reduces stress, making you a better doctor and parent.
Overcome Skepticism, Fear, and Identity Challenges Through Community: Physicians often face internal doubt, imposter syndrome, or criticism from peers for pursuing non-clinical paths. Surround yourself with supportive rooms—masterminds, podcasts, or like-minded physicians—to accelerate growth and see what's possible. Risks are manageable; invest only what you can afford to lose. Pivots are always available, and alternative income protects against burnout or disability while allowing you to serve patients more joyfully.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Guest:
Dr. Alex Schloe is a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, husband, father, and real estate investor specializing in residential assisted living, rentals, and entrepreneurship. He hosts the Physicians and Properties Podcast, teaching physicians how real estate can give them the freedom to practice medicine and live life on their terms. He co-hosts The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast and is involved in the RAL Room Assisted Living Mastermind. His focus is on high-impact, cash-flowing investments that align with family priorities and meaningful service.
Website: https://physiciansandproperties.com
Podcast: Physicians and Properties Podcast
Assisted Living: https://theralroom.com (RAL Room)
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexander-schloe-md
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
36 min
February 23You Get to Be Angry: The Emotion Physicians Aren’t Supposed to Talk About | Ep30
Have you ever felt anger hit you so fast you didn’t even see it coming, and then felt ashamed for feeling it at all?
Anger isn’t a character flaw, it’s a normal human emotion, and physicians feel it more than we like to admit. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explains why anger often arrives as a secondary emotion covering disappointment, fear, shame, or loss of control, why suppressing it leads to sarcasm, impatience, or snapping, and how it leaks sideways when we refuse to acknowledge it.
You’ll learn that anger is a messenger, not the enemy, and that real control comes from slowing down the moment: interrupting the physiological reflex, naming what you feel, asking what’s underneath, choosing when to address it, and repairing when you miss the mark.
This isn’t about never feeling angry, it’s about responding with intention instead of reacting on autopilot, both at work and at home.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Anger is rarely the first emotion, it’s the cover. It often sits on top of something quieter like disappointment, fear, shame, or feeling out of control. When you only manage the anger, you miss the real message. Ask: “What just happened inside me? What felt threatened?”
Suppressing anger doesn’t make you calmer, it makes it leak sideways: It shows up as sarcasm, impatience, rigidity, or snapping at the people you care about most. The goal isn’t to eliminate anger; it’s to slow down enough to choose what happens next.
A pause is power, not weakness. Notice your body (tight jaw, clenched hands), take a breath, name what you’re feeling, and decide: address now or later? Delaying with intention “I want to talk about this, but not like this” protects relationships and restores clarity.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
21 min
February 16Physician Overwhelm: 5 Practical Strategies to Reduce Stress and Regain Control | Ep29
Do you ever finish a ‘good’ day feeling like you’ve accomplished nothing because everything still feels urgent and unfinished?
Overwhelm doesn’t just hit physicians out of nowhere; it builds quietly from carrying too many unanswered questions and subtle resistance. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh breaks down what overwhelm really is and what it isn’t, why it feels so heavy even on busy-but-manageable days, and the five key shifts that help physicians take back control.
You’ll learn how to treat resistance as valuable data, close the mental loose ends your brain is carrying, stop wrestling with unwanted thoughts, shift from “I can’t handle one more thing” to clear priorities, and build simple systems that reduce decision fatigue and create traction.
This isn’t about working harder or adding more hours; it’s about responding differently to what’s already in front of you so you can stop feeling like the day is running you.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Overwhelm is not about workload; it’s about unanswered questions. Your brain treats every loose end like a threat, keeping you on high alert. Closing those mental loops, even with “I’ll decide tomorrow at 2 PM” reduces the weight dramatically.
Resistance is information, not failure. That “ugh” feeling when opening a chart or email signals something unclear, overbooked, or exhausting. Get curious instead of judgmental, ask “What am I resisting? What’s the smallest next step?” and the pressure eases.
Structure beats willpower. Small, consistent systems (a 5-minute EMR pause, a weekly reset, clear yes/no guidelines) reduce decision fatigue and move you from reaction mode to traction. You don’t need more time; you need fewer loose ends and better support.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
19 min
February 09How Physicians Can Take Back Control: Agency vs. Autonomy in Modern Medicine | Ep28
What if the “agency” being offered to physicians isn’t empowerment—but a more polished way of staying inside the lines?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines the quiet shift from physician autonomy to what is now being labeled “agency,” and why that distinction matters more than it sounds. He unpacks how autonomy once meant real authority paired with responsibility at the bedside, while today’s version of agency often amounts to influence within systems physicians don’t control.
Dr. Hersh explores how this mismatch (being held accountable without having true authority) drives burnout, moral injury, and a loss of purpose that many doctors struggle to name. He reframes agency not as something granted by organizations, but as something claimed through daily decisions, personal standards, and leadership from wherever you are.
The episode also highlights physicians who are no longer waiting for permission—those building micro-practices, choosing locums, pursuing direct care, coaching, or nonclinical roles—not as escape plans, but as deliberate ways to practice medicine with integrity. This is a call to stop waiting for autonomy to be handed back and to start reclaiming ownership, one decision at a time.
Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways
Autonomy is authority; agency is influence: Autonomy means having the authority to make final clinical decisions based on judgment, training, and ethics. What’s often labeled “agency” today usually means operating within pre-set rules, metrics, and constraints. Notice when language is being used to soften the loss of real authority, and be clear about what you still control within your role.
Agency is practiced through daily choices: You may not be able to change every policy, but you can choose how you show up, how you advocate, how you connect with patients, and what you’re willing to tolerate. Real agency shows up in standards, boundaries, and the willingness to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable.
When autonomy is limited, design your own path: Many physicians are already reclaiming control by building micro-practices, choosing direct care or locums, moving into consulting or nonclinical roles, or redefining how they practice within existing systems. If autonomy isn’t coming back from the top, start building it yourself—one decision, one boundary, one calculated risk at a time.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
15 min
February 02When Doctors Get Sued: Surviving Medical Malpractice with Dr. Gita Pensa | Ep27
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh speaks with emergency physician Dr. Gita Pensa about what it’s actually like to be named in a malpractice lawsuit—and how to get through it without losing your footing. Drawing from her own 12-year case, Dr. Pensa explains the emotional impact most physicians aren’t prepared for, including shame, doubt, and isolation, alongside the practical realities of what to do after you’re served.
They walk through early mistakes to avoid, how to protect your focus and identity while a case is ongoing, and why litigation is an unspoken part of the “fine print” of medicine. The conversation also covers how to find support without compromising your case, how to approach depositions and testimony with clarity, and why these skills can be learned—rather than endured in silence. This episode is for physicians facing litigation now, or who want to be better prepared if it ever happens.
Top 3 Takeaways
What to Do First After Being Served: Your first call should be to your insurer or risk management team so a defense attorney can be assigned. Avoid chart access, addenda, or independent research outside of attorney–client privilege. Don’t rush to conclusions. Give yourself time to gather information and stabilize before making decisions.
Managing the Psychological Hit: Shame, fear, and isolation are common responses to litigation and don’t reflect your competence as a physician. You can (and should) talk about how you’re feeling with trusted people without discussing case details. Litigation is part of medicine’s unspoken fine print. It doesn’t erase your value or your career.
Focus on the Parts That Matter: For most physicians, litigation performance comes down to the deposition and, in fewer cases, trial testimony. Learning how the system works helps right-size fear and restores a sense of control. With preparation, coaching, and support, this becomes a skill set, not a personal referendum.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Guest:
Dr. Gita Pensa is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at Brown University. She's the creator and host of the podcast Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, and developer of the Litigation Education and Performance (LEAP) courses used by hospitals and insurers. Drawing from her own 12-year malpractice lawsuit, she coaches physicians in active litigation and consults nationally on navigating its psychological and performance challenges.
Website: https://doctorsandlitigation.com
Podcast: Doctors and Litigation: the L Word Podcast
LEAP Courses: doctorsandlitigation.com/leap-courses
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
36 min
January 26 Physician Feedback: How to Take Criticism and Keep Growing | Ep26
What if the moment you cringe at ‘Can I give you some feedback?’ is actually the exact moment you start growing fastest?
For physicians, feedback rarely feels like a gift. It feels like proof we messed up. From brutal ICU rounds to hallway comments years later, we were trained that mistakes equal danger, so any critique hits our identity, not just our performance.
In this episode, Dr. Michael Hersh dismantles that fear and hands you a new lens: feedback is data, not a verdict.
Learn why the discomfort is actually evidence you care, the simple pause that stops defensiveness in its tracks, and how to ask “What part of this might be true?” without surrendering your self-worth. You’ll also get practical scripts for giving feedback that are specific, timely, impact-focused, and collaborative, so you build trust instead of resentment at work and home.
Stop bracing for shame and start using feedback as the fastest path to growth, leadership, and stronger relationships. Because the physicians who get better fastest aren’t the ones who never hear criticism, they’re the ones who learned how to listen.
Get the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: www.betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset
Top 3 Takeaways:
Pause Before You React: When feedback hits, take one deliberate breath. That tiny pause keeps your old “fix-it-fast” reflex from shutting down the part that actually helps you grow—listening. You can always decide later what’s useful; you can’t un-hear what you never let land.
Ask “What Part Might Be True?” Instead of “Am I Terrible?”: Feedback is data, not a verdict. Treat it like a lab result: separate the signal from the noise. Even if 90% feels off, the 10% that’s accurate might be the exact insight that changes how you lead, communicate, or connect. Take what serves you, leave the rest without shame.
Give Feedback That Actually Lands: Be specific (“I noticed you didn’t make eye contact”), timely, and tie it to impact (“patients felt rushed”). Make it collaborative with questions like “How did that feel for you?” Safe, clear feedback builds trust; vague or delayed criticism only breeds resentment at work and at home.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
20 min
January 19The Power of No: Physician Boundaries Without Guilt in Medicine | Ep25
Every extra “yes” at 9 p.m., the quick message, the last-minute add-on, the coverage you didn’t have room for, is quietly stealing your life one compromise at a time.
In this powerful episode, Dr. Michael Hersh exposes why physicians are professionally trained to over-give and why saying no feels like betrayal of the very identity medicine gave us: the helpful, reliable, never-let-anyone-down doctor.
He reveals the uncomfortable truth—you can do everything perfectly, and someone will still be disappointed—and why that disappointment is never yours to carry. Boundaries aren’t rejection or rigidity; they’re simple, kind “if-then” statements that protect your time and energy so you can finally give your best instead of whatever is left. Learn why every yes already contains a no, usually to yourself or your family, how to stop people-pleasing without guilt, and the mindset shift that turns every “no” into a louder, more honest “yes” to what actually matters. If you’re tired of running on fumes and ready to take your life back, this episode hands you the exact tools to start today.
Get the 5-Minute Commute Reset: betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset
Top 3 Takeaways
Every Yes Already Contains a No: The real question is who you’re saying no to. When you automatically say yes to extra calls, late messages, or last-minute patients, you’re silently saying no to your family, your rest, and yourself. Boundaries make that choice deliberate instead of accidental, so your yeses become intentional, and your life finally reflects your real priorities instead of everyone else’s urgencies.
Boundaries Are Simple If-Then Statements, Not Walls: “If you text me work after 7 p.m., then I’ll respond tomorrow morning.” “If you try to add on when I’m fully booked, then I’ll offer the next available slot.” These clear, pre-decided responses remove guilt in the moment because the decision is already made. You’re not rejecting people, you’re protecting the version of yourself they actually need.
Someone Will Always Be Disappointed, And That’s Never Your Fault: Medicine trained us to believe that if anyone is upset, we failed. Reality: You can be excellent, kind, and thorough, and people will still feel frustrated. Boundaries don’t stop their feelings; they stop you from carrying emotions that were never yours to begin with. Accepting this frees you to lead with integrity instead of people-pleasing.
About the Show:
Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.
About the Host:
Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.
His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.
Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.
🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching
📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife
If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.
Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.
You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
17 min