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

November 03, 2025The Problem With Other People: How Unspoken Expectations Keep Physicians Stuck | Ep14
What if the frustration you feel isn’t about others, but the silent rules you expect them to follow?

In this insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the invisible "manuals" physicians carry—unspoken expectations about how colleagues, patients, and even family should act. Drawing from personal stories, like clenching his jaw in traffic or feeling let down by unspoken needs, Dr. Hersh reveals how these manuals fuel resentment and disconnection in medicine and life. He introduces tools like emotional adulthood, boundary-setting, and Dr. Jimmy Turner’s "Hell Yes" policy to help physicians take control of their peace and purpose.

From navigating hospital politics to rethinking career demands, this episode offers actionable steps to let go of perfectionism, communicate needs clearly, and choose a life that feels authentic. If you’re a physician feeling stuck or resentful, this episode will inspire you to rewrite your script and reclaim your joy.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Let Go of the Manual: Unspoken expectations (such as hoping a colleague takes initiative or a patient follows advice) can breed resentment when they are unmet. Recognize these silent rules, question their validity, and communicate needs clearly to foster connection and reduce frustration. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how noticing his irritation in traffic revealed his own expectations, prompting a shift to emotional adulthood.
Embrace Emotional Adulthood: Stop handing your peace to others’ actions. Instead of thinking, “If they’d change, I’d feel better,” take responsibility for your emotions by naming them (e.g., “I’m frustrated”) and setting boundaries, like requesting quiet time after work. Dr. Hersh explains how this shift empowered him to feel grounded regardless of external chaos.
Say “Hell Yes” or “Hell No”: Inspired by Dr. Jimmy Turner, prioritize choices that align with your values. Saying no to extra shifts or committees creates space for meaningful yeses—like starting a podcast or coaching—that energize rather than exhaust. Dr. Hersh’s leap into coaching transformed his career and 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.
24 min
October 27, 2025Shame In Medicine: What Every Doctor Feels and Hides with Dr. Will Bynum | Ep13
What if the shame we bury in medicine is actually a signal for growth?

Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Will Bynum to explore the role of shame in physicians' lives. Drawing from Dr. Bynum's personal journey, from a residency error and personal struggles to discovering Brené Brown's work, they unpack shame's definition, its ties to vulnerability (especially for men), and its overlaps with fixed mindsets. The conversation offers practical tools like examining assumptions, shifting focus outward, and practicing self-compassion to navigate shame constructively. They also discuss building shame-competent cultures in healthcare. This episode is essential for physicians ready to unhide, connect deeply, and harness shame's transformative potential.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Define and Examine Shame – Understand shame as a global self-evaluation of being flawed or unworthy, often tied to perceived judgment from others, and challenge assumptions of isolation by recognizing its universality in medicine (90-100% of learners experience it). Dr. Bynum shares how his residency error sparked this realization; use CBT strategies to question thoughts like "I'm alone in this" and reframe fixed mindsets (e.g., "I'm a bad doctor") as growth opportunities.
Practice Self-Compassion and Seek Connection – Treat yourself with the kindness you'd offer a loved one, as self-deprecation can fuel shame cycles in high-stakes physician work. Dr. Bynum recommends Kristin Neff's work. Start by naming shame explicitly in trusted conversations (e.g., "I'm struggling with how I feel about myself") to "shine light" on it, reducing its power and deepening relationships, as both hosts experienced through vulnerability.
Cultivate Shame-Competent Environments – Create spaces where conversations about shame are possible and safe. This starts with reaffirming values like every person’s inherent worth, and recognizing that different specialties may need different approaches. For example, what works with surgeons may look different than with family physicians. Dr. Bynum’s Shame Lab framework encourages shifting from private rumination toward outward connection (asking for help, or considering how our actions affect others) as a way to build resilience. For those who want to learn more, resources like shamelab.org and The Nocturnists’ “Shame in Medicine” series are excellent places to start.
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:
Will Bynum, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He received his M.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2010, completed his residency in the NCC Family Medicine Residency with the US Air Force, and received his Ph.D. in Health Professions Education at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2023, where defended his thesis entitled “Out of the shadows: a qualitative exploration of shame in medical learners”, which was awarded best Doctoral Dissertation by the Association of Medical Educators of Europe.
He is Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Shame Lab, which conducts research, develops training, and delivers consultancy to advance constructive engagement with shame in professional practice.
Website: www.shamelab.org
www.theshamespace.com
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.
45 min
October 20, 2025I'll Be Happy When: The Race That Never Ends In Medicine | Ep12
Ever feel like happiness is just one milestone away, only to find the finish line keeps moving?
Dr. Michael Hersh explores the "arrival fallacy." The trap of believing that the next achievement will finally bring fulfillment. Drawing from his own journey, from counting down fellowship days to chasing financial independence, he reveals how this mindset keeps physicians stuck in a cycle of striving. Dr. Hersh shares actionable tools, like redefining success based on personal values, pausing to notice progress, and letting go of comparison, to help doctors find joy and presence in their current lives.
This episode is a guide for physicians ready to stop chasing "what’s next" and start living intentionally today.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Redefine Success – Shift success from future milestones to daily alignment with your values, like presence with family or meaningful work, to find fulfillment now. Dr. Hersh suggests asking, “If no one was watching, what would I choose?” to clarify what matters most.
Pause to Notice Progress – Keep a monthly record of achievements, challenges, and lessons to challenge the feeling of “never enough” and celebrate how far you’ve come. A simple Google Doc, as Dr. Hersh uses, can anchor you in gratitude and perspective.
Let Go of Comparison – Stop measuring your life against others’ highlight reels on social media. Focus on your unique purpose and give yourself permission to want what aligns with your values, not what looks shiny.
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
October 13, 2025Choose Your Discomfort: How Playing It Safe Keeps Physicians Stuck | Ep11
What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is the key to the life you want?

Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the transformative power of choosing discomfort intentionally. He reflects on how physicians often trade the discomfort of growth for the familiar unease of staying stuck, whether it’s Sunday night dread or the quiet regret of unfulfilled potential. Dr. Hersh shares personal stories and actionable tools, like naming emotions, embracing vulnerability, and taking small, courageous steps, to help physicians lean into discomfort as a path to purpose, connection, and growth.
This episode is a guide for doctors ready to move beyond the comfort zone and create a life that truly matters.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Embrace Vulnerability – Recognize discomfort as a signal of growth, not failure, and lean into it to unlock new possibilities. Instead of avoiding fear or uncertainty, see them as indicators that you’re stepping into uncharted territory where transformation happens. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how starting his podcast felt vulnerable but led to meaningful connections. Try embracing vulnerability by sharing an idea at work, asking for feedback, or pursuing a passion project despite the risk of judgment.
Name Your Emotions – Identify and observe feelings like fear, frustration, or shame without rushing to fix or suppress them, building resilience and intentional action. Dr. Hersh explains how noticing physical sensations, like a clenched jaw during a challenging procedure, helps you process emotions constructively. Practice this by pausing when you feel overwhelmed, naming the emotion (e.g., “I’m feeling anxious”), and noting where it shows up in your body to regain control and choose how to respond.
Take Small Steps – Start with one uncomfortable action, like having a tough conversation or trying something new, to move toward your goals. Dr. Hersh emphasizes that growth comes from small, courageous choices, such as calling his future wife despite the fear of rejection. Identify one action you’ve been avoiding, whether it’s setting a boundary, exploring a new career path, or saying no to an extra shift, and commit to doing it this week, knowing that small steps build momentum toward a more aligned 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.
19 min
October 06, 2025The Hidden Cost of Perfectionism in Medicine with Dr. Amna Shabbir | Ep10
What if the perfectionism that drives your success as a physician is also holding you back?
Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the trap of perfectionism. They dive into how medical culture fosters a "favorite flaw" mindset, glorifying flawless performance while fueling burnout, anxiety, and self-criticism. Dr. Shabbir shares her personal journey, from battling postpartum depression to overcoming cultural and professional pressures, to highlight the costs of perfectionism. Together, they offer actionable tools like practicing self-compassion, fostering awareness, and seeking coaching to help physicians move beyond the "all-or-nothing" mindset and rediscover joy in medicine and life.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Cultivate Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness after setbacks, recognizing that mistakes don’t define your worth, to reduce self-criticism and enhance resilience.
Embrace Awareness: Practice metacognition by observing your thoughts without judgment, using tools like noting self-critical moments to break the cycle of perfectionism.
Seek Support: Invest in your well-being through coaching, therapy, or counseling to process unaddressed emotions and navigate the pressures of medicine.
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:
Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC
Dr. Amna Shabbir is dedicated to empowering high achievers in creating sustainable well-being via professional coaching, speaking, and workshops. She is a dual board-certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine physician, a Master Certified Life Coach, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, trained at Duke Integrative Medicine. As an Ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, Dr. Shabbir advocates for the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals. She is the Founder and CEO of the Early Career Physicians Institute® and Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching, leading initiatives that empower physicians and professionals to thrive.
She also hosts Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, a podcast exploring the crossroads of ambition and wellness. Beyond her professional roles, she embraces her most cherished title—Super Mom to two young girls.
Social Media and Website Links:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.AmnaShabbir
Podcast: https://dramnashabbir.transistor.fm/episodes
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.amnashabbir.md
Website: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/
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.
39 min
September 29, 2025Overcoming Fear Of Failure | Ep9
What stops you from chasing the life or career you truly want?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the fear of failure—a quiet but powerful force that keeps physicians stuck. Reflecting on his own hesitations and coaching experiences, he explores how the pressure to succeed, ingrained through years of medical training, can make any misstep feel like a personal flaw.
Dr. Hersh offers actionable tools to break this cycle: reframing failure as a stepping stone, practicing self-compassion to quiet perfectionism, and asking what success truly means to you. With insights on embracing progress over perfection and handling the fear of change, this episode is a guide for physicians ready to move past self-doubt and step boldly toward their goals.
Top 3 Takeaways
Reframe Failure – View failure as a data point, not a verdict on your worth. Like Thomas Edison’s 10,000 tries, each attempt is progress toward your goal.
Practice Self-Compassion – Speak to yourself with the kindness you’d offer a child or colleague, especially when things don’t go as planned, to build resilience.
Define Your Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or accolades, focusing on personal values like presence or purpose to guide your choices.
About the Show
Created for physicians seeking more than clinical excellence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the white coat. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode tackles the unspoken challenges of medical life, offering tools and insights to 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.
24 min
September 22, 2025Addicted to Achievement |Ep8
What if the ambition that made you a great physician is now holding you back?
In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the hidden cost of "achievement addiction"—a mindset ingrained in physicians from early education through residency. He reflects on how the relentless pursuit of success, from gold stars to board scores, can morph into a treadmill where happiness fades and the finish line keeps moving.
Dr. Hersh shares personal insights and practical tools to help physicians step off this treadmill. He introduces strategies like redefining success based on personal values, practicing self-compassion to quiet the inner critic, setting firm boundaries, and reconnecting with the original "why" behind choosing medicine. This episode is a candid guide for doctors feeling trapped by constant striving, offering actionable steps to build a life with more presence, purpose, and balance.
Top 3 Takeaways
Redefine Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or metrics, like being present for family or aligning work with personal values, to shift away from external validation.
Practice Self-Compassion – Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a colleague, recognizing mistakes as part of growth, not a verdict on your worth.
Set Boundaries – Protect your time and energy by saying no to extra tasks, leaving work on time, or disconnecting during family moments to prioritize what truly matters.
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.
25 min
September 15, 2025The Silence We Can’t Keep: A Conversation on Physician Suicide | Ep7
Physician and medical student suicide is a silent epidemic, claiming the lives of an estimated 300–400 U.S. doctors each year.
In this episode, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes John and Michele Dietl, parents of Dr. Kevin Dietl. Together, they remember Kevin’s journey, reflect on the pressures and isolation that can come with medical training, and share their advocacy work to break the stigma surrounding mental health.
From the creation of Missouri’s Show Me Compassion Act to their involvement with CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, John and Michelle offer hope, tangible prevention strategies, and a heartfelt reminder: seeking help is not weakness—it is courage. Dr. Hersh also shares the HEART acronym for recognizing warning signs, resources for physicians in crisis, and the urgent need for systemic change so healthcare workers can seek mental health care without fear of career repercussions.
This episode is both a tribute and a call to action: to speak up, to check in, and to believe that no one should face their struggles alone.
Top 3 Takeaways:
Your Life Matters – To your patients, loved ones, colleagues, and most importantly, to you. Seeking help is an act of strength, not weakness.

Break the Silence – Speak openly about mental health, watch for warning signs in yourself and others, and don’t hesitate to start a conversation.

Systemic Change is Essential – Licensing and credentialing practices must eliminate stigmatizing questions to allow healthcare workers to access care without fear.
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
📞 Call or text 988 or chat via 988lifeline.org (Free, 24/7, confidential)
📞 Physician Support Line: 1-888-409-0141
📞 NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-6264

About the Show:
Better Physician Life is for doctors who want more than clinical competence—it’s about reclaiming purpose, balance, and fulfillment beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode blends honest reflection with practical strategies to help physicians live and lead with intention.
About the Guest:
John and Michele Dietl are the parents of Dr. Kevin Dietl, a fourth-year medical student remembered for his brilliance, kindness, humor, and deep commitment to medicine. Kevin tragically died by suicide just months before graduation, leaving behind a legacy of determination, compassion, and an enduring reminder of the urgent need to address physician and medical student mental health.
Their advocacy was instrumental in passing Missouri’s Show Me Compassion Act, a law requiring the state’s medical schools to meet regularly to address student mental health. They also supported legislation creating the Assistant Physician role, enabling medical graduates without residency placements to serve in underserved areas under supervision.
In addition, John and Michelle work closely with CHADS Coalition for Mental Health, an organization providing suicide prevention, anti-bullying, and emotional wellness programs to tens of thousands of students annually. Through speaking engagements, policy change, and community outreach, the Dietls honor Kevin’s memory by working to break stigma, eliminate barriers to care, and remind others—especially physicians and trainees—that seeking help is an act of courage, not weakness.
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
September 08, 2025I Didn't Go Into Medicine To Become This | Ep6
“I didn’t go into medicine to become this.”
It’s a quiet thought. But most of us have had it at some point in our careers. We start with purpose, with energy, with an eagerness to help. And then… the years add up. Patient after patient. Room after room. The tragedies and the hard conversations. The exhaustion of being everything for everyone else. We hold it together with a thin veneer—until it cracks. And somewhere along the way, we notice we’ve become someone we barely recognize. The snapping. The shutting down. The quiet retreat inside ourselves.
In this episode, host Dr. Michael Hersh and guest Dr. Kemia Sarraf, dive into the unseen toll of medical training and practice. Reflecting on their shared journey through residency, they discuss how unprocessed stress compounds into burnout and disillusionment. Dr. Sarraf introduces powerful tools like co-regulation—how connection with colleagues disrupts trauma—and the importance of "resourcing" to prevent embodiment of harm. This episode blends personal storytelling with actionable strategies, offering physicians a path to heal, reconnect with their purpose, and lead with compassion in their demanding roles.
Top 3 Takeaways
Acknowledge and Name Trauma – Recognize that trauma in medicine is not a personal failure but a systemic issue; naming it opens the path to healing.
Practice Co-Regulation – Build connections with colleagues to disrupt traumatic stress; shared experiences and support are powerful tools for resilience.
Prioritize Resourcing – Identify and access what you need (e.g., time, community, self-compassion) to prevent stress from becoming embodied trauma.
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. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals.
Connect with Dr. Sarraf:
🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia
📸 Instagram: @drkemia
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS
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.
46 min
September 01, 2025You Don't Know What You Don't Know | Ep5
Can awareness transform your medical practice and personal life? Host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the deceptively simple concept of “you don’t know what you don’t know” on Better Physician Life. Reflecting on his own shift from coasting on autopilot to embracing intentional awareness, he shares how physicians’ ingrained need to “have all the answers” can create invisible mental ruts.
Drawing on his own experiences, Dr. Hersh introduces practical tools, like the “thought download”—a no-filter brain dump to separate facts from stories—and “habit anchoring,” which ties mindset check-ins to daily routines like showering or bedtime.
He addresses the brain’s negativity bias, offering strategies to pause, question unhelpful thoughts, and celebrate small wins to build resilience. This episode weaves personal storytelling with actionable advice, providing physicians with tools to break free from mental tire tracks, reduce burnout, and rediscover choice in their demanding routines.
Top 3 Takeaways
Practice Thought Downloads – Write down all thoughts without judgment, then separate facts from stories to challenge unhelpful assumptions and gain clarity.
Use Habit Anchoring – Tie mindset check-ins to routines (e.g., showering, bedtime) by asking, “What am I thankful for?” or “What went well today?” to build awareness.
Celebrate Small Wins – Log three daily successes, even minor ones, to retrain your brain to see beyond problems and foster mental resilience.
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.
23 min