Navigating Possibility

Have you ever had a patient or family member treat you badly when you were genuinely trying to help them? Have you ever walked away from an interaction feeling hurt, frustrated, or wondering how someone could be so rude?

If you're a physician, chances are you have.

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I'm exploring the difficult interactions that can happen when we're caring for patients and families who are frightened, angry, overwhelmed, or frustrated with a healthcare system that often fails them. And while their frustration may be completely understandable, that doesn't mean we should have to absorb their mistreatment.

As physicians, we are often the face of a healthcare system that is broken. We're the people standing in front of patients when appointments are delayed, insurance approvals are denied, or answers aren't as simple as they hoped. We may have very little control over the circumstances that created their frustration, yet we're often the ones who receive it.

So what if we could change the way we think about these interactions?

What if, instead of immediately deciding that someone is an entitled jerk, we considered the possibility that they're scared, angry, or anxious? What if we could recognize that their behavior may be about something happening in their lives rather than a reflection of our competence, our character, or the care we're providing?

This isn't about excusing disrespect or asking physicians to tolerate abuse. It's about understanding how the thoughts we have about difficult interactions can influence our emotional experience, and how choosing a different perspective can sometimes help us carry less of that frustration with us.

In this episode, we'll explore:

Why patients and families sometimes direct their frustration with the healthcare system toward physicians.

How the stories we tell ourselves about difficult interactions influence our emotions.

Why someone else's anger doesn't automatically mean you've done something wrong.

How to practice compassion without taking responsibility for someone else's feelings.

Why nervous system regulation matters when we're trying to respond rather than react.

How to set boundaries with patients and families while still recognizing their humanity.

Why physicians need to extend the same compassion to themselves that they offer to their patients.

And I'll share my own experience with this, including the fact that I don't always manage to choose the compassionate thought. Sometimes I'm tired, frustrated, and completely out of patience, too.

Because this isn't about becoming a physician who never gets angry or never feels hurt. It's about recognizing that we have options in how we interpret and respond to difficult interactions, and giving ourselves permission to be human in the process.

The takeaway? Compassion for them. Boundaries for you. And grace for yourself.

You can understand why someone is behaving badly without accepting that behavior. You can care deeply about your patients without making yourself responsible for their emotions. And you can be a good physician even when someone is unhappy with you.

You deserve to be treated with respect, too.

Think about a difficult interaction you've had recently.

Is there another way you could interpret what happened that might help you put it down and move forward?

Not to excuse the behavior. Not to make yourself responsible for someone else's feelings. Just to give yourself a little more freedom in how you experience it.

I'm Christina Adams, MD, an OB/GYN and life coach helping women physicians navigate burnout, career transitions, and the challenges of practicing medicine without losing themselves in the process.

Learn more about 1:1 coaching, resources, and the From Overwhelm to Empowerment course at:

www.christinaadamsmd.com

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another physician who might need the reminder. And if you have a moment, leave a rating or review to help other women physicians find the podcast.

Physician burnout, women physicians, physician wellness, emotional resilience, patient interactions, difficult patients, physician boundaries, nervous system regulation, women in medicine, physician life coaching, healthcare system, compassion fatigue, emotional well-being, physician self-care.

Why do physicians continue to accept practice models that require them to be available all the time, even when those models no longer fit the lives they want to live?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I'm talking about the intersection of physician burnout, people pleasing, and scarcity mindset, using a familiar challenge in OB/GYN as a starting point: the expectation that physicians should deliver their own patients, even when they're not scheduled to work.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to deliver your own patients. Continuity of care can be meaningful, and being present for a patient's delivery can be an incredibly rewarding part of practicing medicine. But what happens when that expectation becomes an obligation rather than a choice?

What happens when we accept a particular way of practicing because everyone else in town does it, because we're afraid patients will leave, or because we worry that asking for something different will make us seem difficult?

We start making career decisions based on fear instead of what we actually want.

In this episode, we'll explore how people pleasing and scarcity mindset influence the way physicians approach their careers, why being a good doctor doesn't require being endlessly available, and how we can begin questioning the assumptions that keep us stuck in unsustainable work arrangements.

Because the opposite of scarcity isn't certainty. It's possibility.

Why physicians accept practice models they may not actually want.

How scarcity mindset shows up in career decisions, from compensation and call schedules to job negotiations.

The connection between people pleasing and the fear of disappointing patients, colleagues, and employers.

The hidden cost of being "potentially available," even when you're technically off work.

Why continuity of care doesn't have to mean one physician is responsible 24/7.

The difference between being a good colleague and being endlessly accommodating.

How to approach career negotiations from a place of choice rather than fear.

Why "everyone else does it this way" is not a good enough reason to accept a particular work arrangement.

How to identify the tradeoffs you're willing to make and begin designing a career that supports the life you want.

Think about something in your current job that you've been telling yourself you have to do.

Maybe it's taking extra call, answering messages after hours, accepting a schedule that doesn't work for your family, or being available when you're not technically working.

Now replace "I have to" with "I've chosen to."

Does that still feel true?

Sometimes you'll realize that you are making a conscious choice and you're comfortable with the tradeoff. Other times, you may discover that you've been accepting something because you've never considered that another option might be possible.

That realization is where change can begin.

You don't have to figure it all out on your own. If you're a woman physician who is feeling burned out, questioning your current career path, or wondering whether there's a different way to practice medicine, I'd love to help you explore your options.

Through physician career coaching, we can work together to clarify what matters to you, challenge the beliefs keeping you stuck, and identify practical next steps toward a more sustainable and satisfying professional life.

Schedule a free introductory coaching call:
https://calendly.com/christinaadamsmd/free-introductory-call

Explore my course, From Overwhelm to Empowerment, for additional tools to help you move from feeling stuck to making intentional choices about your life and career.  Find in on my website here.

There is a shortage of us. There is not a shortage of patients who need us.

Maybe it's time we stopped assuming we have to accept the way things have always been done.

What would you ask for if you stopped assuming you had to accept the status quo?

Thanks for listening to Navigating Possibility, a podcast for women physicians who are ready to move from overwhelm to empowerment and create careers that work for them.

If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another physician who might need the reminder that she has choices, too.

Keywords:  Physician burnout, women physicians, OB/GYN burnout, physician career coaching, scarcity mindset, people pleasing, physician work-life balance, career change for physicians, physician boundaries, physician career satisfaction

What happens when you step away from your usual routine, spend time with women who understand the challenges of medicine, and come home with a notebook full of ideas that make you rethink your own life?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I'm sharing my biggest takeaways from the 2026 Brave Enough conference. From confidence and career transitions to leadership, burnout, and the stories we tell ourselves, these are the ideas that stayed with me long after the conference ended.

One of my favorite reminders? You don't always need confidence before you take action. Sometimes confidence is what you build by doing the work and keeping promises to yourself.

I also share insights from Cy Wakeman's session on separating facts from the stories we tell ourselves, recognizing the difference between venting and processing, and learning to focus our energy on the things we can actually influence.

Whether you're questioning your career, navigating burnout, or simply wondering whether the life you've worked so hard to build still fits the life you want, I hope these takeaways help you ask some important questions of your own.

Taking the leap before you have all the answers: The difference between being prepared and requiring certainty before you act.

Building confidence through action: Why you don't have to feel ready before taking the next step.

Trusting your intuition: How years of experience inform your instincts, even when you can't immediately explain what you know.

Letting go of the spotlight effect: Why other people's opinions may have far less influence on your life than you think.

Fact versus story with Cy Wakeman: Learning to distinguish what actually happened from the meaning we assign to it.

Venting versus processing: How to recognize when you're working through a difficult experience and when you're simply rehearsing the frustration.

Calling people up: The difference between offering support and helping someone recognize their own capacity to move forward.

Finding your sphere of impact: Shifting your energy from what you cannot control toward what you can influence.

Accepting the cost of growth: Why changing your boundaries, priorities, or career may change some of your relationships.

Asking for help: Remembering that success is not a solo sport.

Recognizing misalignment before burnout: Why exhaustion isn't always a problem that can be solved with more rest or resilience.

Maintain, Omit, Reinvent, Expect: A framework for deciding what to protect, what to release, what to rebuild, and what you're willing to expect from your life.

Moving from chatbot to copilot: Rethinking how we use AI to support our work and reduce administrative burdens.

As you reflect on your own career and life, consider these questions:

What are you tolerating right now that you don't actually want to keep tolerating?

Are you waiting to feel confident before taking action?

What facts do you know, and what stories are you telling yourself about those facts?

Where do you have the ability to make an impact?

Is your exhaustion a sign that you need rest, or could it be a sign that something in your life or work is misaligned?

What do you want to maintain, omit, reinvent, or allow yourself to expect?

You may have more agency than you think.

You don't need certainty before taking action. You don't have to make everyone happy. You don't have to solve every problem in the healthcare system yourself. And you don't have to assume that leaving medicine is the only way to create a more satisfying life.

Sometimes the next step is leaving. Sometimes it's changing your boundaries, having a difficult conversation, or finding a different way to practice.

The important thing is to understand the problem you're trying to solve before deciding what comes next.

If you know something isn't working but aren't sure whether you need a new job, a different approach, or a bigger career change, you don't have to figure it out alone.

I help women physicians move from overwhelm to empowerment, clarify what they want, and make intentional decisions about their careers and lives.

Interested in working together? Schedule a free introductory coaching call.

I'm Christina Adams, an OB/GYN physician and life coach helping women physicians navigate burnout, career transitions, and the path toward a more sustainable and fulfilling professional life.

Visit christinaadamsmd.com to learn more about my coaching and resources.

Subscribe to Navigating Possibility for more conversations about physician burnout, career satisfaction, boundaries, self-advocacy, and creating a professional life that works for you.

Remember: You don't have to know exactly where you're going to take the next step. Sometimes clarity comes from moving. 

Keywords: Brave Enough conference 2026, women physicians, physician burnout, physician career change, women in medicine, career satisfaction, physician coaching, burnout prevention, medical leadership

My two-year noncompete recently expired. For two years, I had restrictions on where I could practice after leaving my previous job, essentially blacking out the Jacksonville community where I had lived and practiced for more than two decades.

So when that restriction finally expired, I had a choice.

I could leave the job I'm currently in - I'm currently driving 45 min each way to my hospitalist position.  

And I seriously considered making a change.

I interviewed for two other hospitalist positions. I reviewed contracts. I looked at the financial packages. I explored what might come next.

And ultimately, I decided to stay where I am.

Not because I couldn't leave.

Because I could.

That distinction turned out to be incredibly important.

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I talk about what I learned from finally having options, including the role that a physician retreat played in helping me listen to what actually felt right, rather than simply choosing what looked best on paper.

I also talk about why I think noncompetes are wrong, the power imbalance they create for physicians, why "retention through restriction" is not the same as creating a workplace where physicians actually want to stay, and why I never plan to sign another contract with a noncompete again.

We also get into negotiation and what it looked like to ask my current employer for changes after I had explored my alternatives. I didn't get everything I asked for, but I was able to negotiate an improved financial situation and make the decision to stay from a position of choice.

And then there's the other side of this story: while I'm choosing to stay in my hospitalist role, I'm also taking a scary financial risk by beginning to plan a retreat for OBGYNs in 2027.

Because maybe freedom isn't always about leaving.

Maybe freedom is about having choices.

What it felt like to finally have my two-year noncompete expire

Why I intentionally explored other hospitalist opportunities before deciding whether to stay

What I learned from interviewing for two other positions

The difference between a good financial package and a contract that actually supports the kind of professional autonomy I want

Why one contract essentially felt like "we own you"

Why I am no longer willing to sign a contract with a noncompete

How a physician retreat helped me pay attention to what felt right somatically

The difference between staying because you can't leave and staying because you choose to

Why negotiation doesn't require getting everything you ask for

How having alternatives changed the way I approached negotiating with my current employer

Why women physicians need to become more comfortable asking for what they want

The connection between physician autonomy, noncompetes, private equity, and the economics of independent practice

Why physician retention through restriction is different from retention through relationships

The risk I'm taking by planning my own retreat for OBGYNs

What happens when we stop asking, "How do I get out?" and start asking, "What do I actually want?"

If you knew you truly had a choice, what would you choose?

Would you leave?

Would you stay, but ask for something different?

Would you build something new?

Or would you stay for now while you create your next chapter?

You don't have to know the answer today.

Sometimes the first step is simply giving yourself permission to explore the possibilities.

If you're a woman physician who feels stuck, burned out, or unsure whether it's time to stay, leave, or make a different kind of change, this is exactly the kind of work I do with my coaching clients.

You don't necessarily need someone to tell you what decision to make.

You may need space to figure out what you actually want, identify your options, challenge the beliefs that are keeping you stuck, and create a plan for moving forward.

You can learn more about coaching and schedule a consultation at this consultation link.

Christina Adams, MD
Physician Life & Career Coach
Host of Navigating Possibility

Website: www.christinaadamsmd.com

physician career transition, physician burnout, physician coaching, women physicians, women in medicine, OBGYN career, OB/GYN physician, physician noncompete, noncompete agreement, physician contract negotiation, physician autonomy, physician career change, leaving medicine, leaving clinical medicine, hospitalist physician, physician leadership, private equity in medicine, independent medical practice, physician wellness, career satisfaction, women physician burnout

What happens when you still love medicine - but the way you are practicing it is no longer sustainable?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I’m talking about a difficult situation that comes up for many physicians: recognizing that a particular job, schedule, or practice model is taking a toll on your health, while also knowing that changing it may affect your colleagues, your patients, and the organization you work for.

I recently came across a conversation among physicians about an OB/GYN who was struggling with overnight obstetric call and the significant impact of sleep deprivation on her mental health. She wanted to continue practicing medicine, but she was questioning whether she could continue practicing this way.

And that distinction matters.

Because sometimes the question isn't:

"Do I want to practice medicine anymore?"

It's:

"Do I want to practice medicine this way anymore?"

Those are two very different questions - and they can have very different answers.

What happens when your current practice model is no longer sustainable

The tension between advocating for yourself and recognizing the impact your needs may have on your colleagues

Why physician burnout can't always be solved at the individual level

The difference between personal responsibility and personal blame

Why health systems need to look at the way work is designed - not just tell physicians to become more resilient

Creative alternatives to the traditional "stay or quit" binary

How to think about schedule changes, different practice models, compensation for additional call, lower-volume environments, and other possibilities

When it's time to stop trying to convince your current organization to change

Why you don't have to wait until you're completely burned out to start making changes

The difference between leaving medicine and leaving a version of medicine that no longer works for you

We also talk about research published in JAMA Internal Medicine examining mortality among more than 3.6 million U.S. workers ages 25–74.

One of the study's most striking findings was that women working in high-income, non-healthcare occupations had a substantial mortality advantage compared with men in those occupations. Among physicians, however, that female survival advantage essentially disappeared.

The study doesn't tell us why - and it doesn't establish that burnout, sleep deprivation, or the healthcare system caused this difference.

But it raises an important question:

What are we asking women physicians to sacrifice in order to succeed in medicine?

And what might happen if we stopped treating those sacrifices as simply the price of being a physician?

If you're struggling in your current career, I don't want you to automatically assume that the only choices are:

Stay miserable.

or

Leave medicine.

There is a lot of territory in between.

Maybe you need a different schedule.

Maybe you need different boundaries.

Maybe you need to renegotiate your role.

Maybe you need a different practice environment.

Maybe you need to stop taking call.

Maybe you need to move from full-scope practice to a narrower clinical focus.

Maybe you need to leave your organization.

Or maybe, ultimately, you do need to leave medicine.

But before you make that decision, it can be incredibly valuable to ask:

What would medicine have to look like for me to want to stay?

That question opens up possibilities that can be difficult to see when you're exhausted and overwhelmed.

Your colleagues' needs matter.

Your patients' needs matter.

And your needs matter, too.

You can take responsibility for your career without taking responsibility for fixing an entire broken system.

And you can recognize that your organization may have legitimate constraints without deciding that you have to sacrifice your health to accommodate them.

Sometimes the answer is to negotiate.

Sometimes it's to adapt.

And sometimes the most important information you can get is discovering that the environment you're in simply isn't capable of giving you what you need.

That doesn't mean you've failed.

It may mean you've learned something important about what comes next.

If you're a woman physician wondering whether you should stay, go, or find a completely different way to practice, this is exactly the kind of work I do with clients.

My 1:1 coaching helps women physicians get out of the "I can't do this anymore" spiral and into a more intentional process of figuring out what they actually want - and what is realistically possible.

You don't necessarily need to decide whether you're staying or leaving today.

You may just need some space to explore the possibilities.

Schedule a free introductory consultation

Resources

Study discussed in this episode:

Mortality Among US Physicians and Other Health Care Workers, published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Read the study →

You may not need to leave medicine.

You may need to leave the version of medicine that is hurting you.

And sometimes the most important career question isn't:

"Should I stay or should I go?"

It's:

"What else is possible?"

If you’ve ever sat in your car before a case, reviewed the chart one more time, or found yourself imagining everything that could possibly go wrong in the OR, this episode is for you.

Fear of surgical complications is something many physicians experience - but it’s not something we talk about very much. And when that fear becomes persistent, it can begin to affect confidence, sleep, enjoyment of medicine, and even decisions about whether to continue practicing.

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, we’re talking about the difference between healthy preparation and anxiety-driven rumination, why our brains can become hypervigilant after a difficult case, and how to calm the nervous system enough to access the skills and judgment you already have.

Because the goal isn't to eliminate all anxiety before a case.

The goal is to be able to feel the anxiety without letting it run the show.

Why fear of complications can become so consuming for physicians and surgeons

The difference between preparation and rumination

Why your brain may keep imagining worst-case scenarios as a way of trying to protect you

How previous complications can change the way you experience future cases

Why increased anxiety doesn't necessarily mean you're becoming a less capable physician

The difference between a complication and a failure

Why you can't guarantee a surgical outcome—even when you've done everything right

A simple four-question pre-case reset to separate actionable preparation from anxiety

How to recognize when you're learning from a complication versus punishing yourself for it

What to consider when fear of complications makes you question whether you should leave clinical medicine

Why “I don't want to practice medicine anymore” and “I don't want to feel this way while practicing medicine anymore” are two very different statements

Before your next difficult case, try asking yourself:

1. What do I know?
Come back to the facts rather than the catastrophes your brain is imagining.

2. What am I prepared for?
What complications are reasonably foreseeable, and what is your plan if they occur?

3. What is outside my control?
This is often the hardest and most important question.

4. What does this case require from me right now?
Not perfection. Presence, attention, judgment, communication, and technical skill.

And then remind yourself:

I don't need to guarantee the outcome. I need to be present for the next decision.

There may be a time when changing your practice, reducing surgical volume, changing jobs, or leaving clinical medicine is exactly the right decision.

But before making a permanent career decision, it can be helpful to ask:

Do I not want to practice medicine anymore?

Or:

Do I not want to feel this way while I'm practicing medicine anymore?

Those questions can lead you toward very different solutions.

If you're a physician who is questioning your career, struggling with burnout, or trying to figure out whether it's time for a change, this is the kind of work I help physicians navigate through 1:1 coaching.

You don't have to figure out your next step alone.

Schedule a free introductory consultation

A significant complication or adverse patient outcome can be deeply distressing for physicians. Persistent anxiety, intrusive memories, sleep disruption, or significant changes in your ability to function deserve appropriate professional support. Coaching can be helpful for career and decision-making questions, but it isn't a substitute for mental health care when that is needed.

You Can’t Guarantee the Outcome: Managing Fear of Surgical Complications is available now on Navigating Possibility.

If this episode resonated with you, share it with another physician who may be carrying more fear into the OR than anyone realizes.

You are allowed to take your work seriously without believing that you have to control everything.

Keywords:  fear of surgical complications  surgical anxiety  physician anxiety  surgeon burnout  

When Physician Burnout Comes Home: Protecting Your Marriage and Family

What happens when physician burnout doesn’t stay at the hospital?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I’m joined by Dr. Lisa Muehlenbein, a PhD psychologist, health psychologist, coach, and founder of the MedLife Matrix. Lisa works specifically with physicians and their families to help them navigate the unique challenges that medicine can create inside a marriage and family.

We talk about something that doesn’t get nearly enough attention in conversations about physician burnout: the impact of burnout on the people waiting for you at home.

And this conversation is not about adding another item to the already overwhelming list of things women physicians are supposed to be doing better.

Instead, it’s about recognizing that when a physician is living in chronic survival mode, the entire family can begin living in survival mode, too.

Lisa shares her own experience as the spouse of a physician, including putting her academic career on hold while raising four children and supporting her husband’s medical career. During COVID, she returned to school, eventually earning her bachelor's degree and continuing on to complete her PhD research examining physician burnout and the marital relationship from the spouse's perspective.

Why physician burnout often affects the entire family - not just the physician

The invisible load carried by physician spouses and families

What happens to communication and connection when a physician has been in survival mode for years

Why spouses can begin to feel lonely, misunderstood, or like a single parent

How burnout can affect a physician’s relationship with their children

The career sacrifices physician spouses sometimes make - and the challenges of returning to the workforce later

How major career decisions affect the entire family system

The question of whether medicine itself, a particular job, or the way a family is living is actually the problem

Why changing jobs doesn't necessarily solve burnout if the same patterns come along

How couples can identify their shared priorities when evaluating a new job or career change

Why medicine can feel like a “third party” in a marriage

Creating boundaries around call, work hours, weekends, vacations, and family time

The importance of making career decisions as a partnership rather than unilaterally

Simple ways couples can reconnect, even when time and energy are limited

Lisa shares a practical strategy for couples who don't have much time at the end of the day: set aside just a few minutes to check in with each other.

One approach she recommends is “High-Low-Buffalo”:

High: What was the best part of your day?

Low: What was the hardest part?

Buffalo: What was the weirdest, wildest, or most unexpected thing that happened?

It doesn't require an elaborate date night or hours of uninterrupted conversation. The goal is simply to create a regular opportunity for connection.

One of the most important questions we explore is:

What are the highest priorities for our family - and does the way we're working support those priorities?

A new job might mean more money but less family time. Less call might mean less income. A career change might create new opportunities but require the family to completely rethink how responsibilities are divided.

There is no universal right answer.

But these decisions deserve to be family decisions, not decisions that happen around the family.

Because when you say yes to something in medicine, you're often saying no to something else. Understanding that tradeoff - and deciding together what you're willing to give up and what you're not - is an important part of building a sustainable life in medicine.

Dr. Lisa Muehlenbein is a leading expert on physician burnout and its impact on both medical families and healthcare organizations, with over 30 years in the health and wellness industry and nearly three decades as a medical spouse. She holds a PhD in Psychology specializing in Health Psychology and is a Nationally Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). Dr. Muehlenbein partners with organizations - including the American Medical Association Alliance, Florida Medical Association Alliance, and the Collier County Medical Society - to help integrate physician families into wellness initiatives, strengthen workplace well-being culture, and support long-term physician vitality. Her work has been featured in Elysian Magazine, The Forum by the Collier County Medical Society, and the AMA Alliance Physician Family Magazine. As host of The MedLife Support Podcast and creator of the MedLife Matrix™ methodology, Dr. Muehlenbein empowers medical families and organizations to overcome burnout, foster connection, and thrive together.

Connect with Lisa:

Website: https://www.themedlifematrix.com

Mastering the MedLife Matrix Course: https://www.themedlifematrix.com/mastermedlife

Podcast: The MedLife Support Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-medlife-support-podcast/id1867028871?i=1000744036887

Dissertation Research: Physician Burnout and the Marital Relationship: Spouse Perspective https://www.themedlifematrix.com/resources

Instagram: @themedlifematrix and @themedlifesupportpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-muehlenbein-phd-3088b73a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themedlifematrix

A reminder for physician families

Burnout isn't just an individual problem.

When the physician is struggling, the impact can ripple through the marriage, the family, and ultimately the physician's ability to show up at work and provide the care they want to provide.

And that means creating a sustainable career isn't just about asking, “Can I keep doing this?”

Sometimes the more important question is:

“Can we build a life around medicine that works for all of us?”

Keywords:  physician burnout, medical marriage, physician spouse, physician family, physician relationships, women physicians, physician career change, physician coaching, physician wellness, work-life balance for physicians

You finally made the decision.

You're leaving.

Maybe you've accepted another job. Maybe you've decided to pursue a nonclinical career. Maybe you've simply realized that your current job is no longer sustainable.

You give your notice - and then discover that deciding to leave and actually leaving are two very different things.

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, we talk about the often-overlooked emotional experience of the 90-120 day notice period: continuing to show up at a job you've already decided to leave, navigating guilt and awkward interactions with colleagues, and dealing with the reactions of people who may not be happy about your decision.

For women physicians especially, leaving a job can bring up an enormous amount of guilt and responsibility. We are accustomed to taking care of everyone else, picking up the slack, and making things work. So what happens when making things work means sacrificing yourself?

And what happens when an organization starts testing your boundaries once you've given notice?

We talk about recognizing when an employer is asking you to do more than you agreed to, understanding your contractual obligations, and resisting the pressure to accept unfavorable treatment simply because you're leaving.

I also share some personal stories about things that have been said to me when I've left jobs - and what I've learned from those experiences.

Why the period between deciding to leave a job and actually leaving can be so emotionally difficult

Why physicians may experience guilt when giving notice

The difference between feeling guilty and actually doing something wrong

What to do when colleagues react negatively to your resignation

Why other people's anger, stress, and burnout may be getting projected onto you

How organizations may try to push the boundaries of your agreement during a notice period

Why you should understand your employment contract before agreeing to additional responsibilities

What happens when your workload or compensation changes after you give notice

Why you don't have to accept unreasonable treatment simply because you're leaving

The importance of maintaining professionalism while protecting your boundaries

Grey rocking as a strategy for dealing with unreasonable or emotionally charged people

Why you don't have to endlessly explain or defend your decision to leave

How to acknowledge someone else's feelings without taking responsibility for them

Why you can feel sad, guilty, scared, or uncertain - and still know that leaving is the right decision

One of the tools we discuss in this episode is grey rocking, a boundary technique that can be useful when dealing with unreasonable people or conversations that are no longer productive.

When someone is angry or upset about your decision to leave, it can be tempting to over-explain.

You explain why you're leaving.

They challenge your reasons.

You explain those reasons.

They challenge those.

And suddenly you're spending an hour defending your right to make a career decision.

Grey rocking means becoming neutral, calm, and - well - boring.

You don't argue. You don't over-explain. You don't provide endless emotional material for someone to debate.

Sometimes the most powerful response is simply:

"I've given this a lot of thought, and I've made my decision."

You can acknowledge someone's frustration without allowing their reaction to determine your decision.

Because there's a difference between someone saying:

"Help me understand your decision."

and:

"Convince me that your decision is acceptable."

You can engage with the first.

You don't have to participate in the second.

You don't have to spend your notice period proving that you deserve to leave.

You don't have to make everyone comfortable with your decision.

You don't have to carry the emotional weight of your organization's staffing problems.

You don't have to accept unreasonable demands simply because you're leaving.

And you don't have to convince everyone that your reasons are valid.

You can be compassionate and firm.

You can be professional and protect your boundaries.

You can acknowledge that your departure creates challenges without taking responsibility for solving all of those challenges.

And perhaps most importantly:

You can feel guilty and still go.

Feeling uncomfortable doesn't necessarily mean you're making the wrong decision.

Sometimes it simply means you're doing something that other people don't want you to do.

If you're a woman physician who is burned out, frustrated with your current job, or wondering whether it's time for a career change, you don't necessarily need to make an immediate decision to quit.

There is often a middle ground between "stay exactly where I am" and "I have to get out."

Coaching can help you get clear on what's actually wrong, determine what might be changed in your current role, evaluate your alternatives, and make a career decision from a place of clarity rather than chronic overwhelm.

Sometimes the answer is to negotiate.

Sometimes the answer is to set better boundaries.

And sometimes the answer really is to leave.

The goal isn't simply to help you quit your job.

It's to help you make a career decision you can feel confident about.

If this episode resonates, I'd love to talk about how we can work together.

I work 1:1 with women physicians who are:

✨ Schedule a free coaching consultation to explore what’s next.

About the Podcast Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power

Navigating Possibility is the podcast for women physicians experiencing burnout, career dissatisfaction, or major transitions in medicine.

If you're a woman doctor considering leaving clinical practice, exploring nonclinical careers, or seeking a more sustainable and aligned path, this podcast is for you.

I’m Dr. Christina Adams—OB-GYN, physician coach, and former burned-out doctor. I help women physicians move from survival mode to self-trust, clarity, and empowered career decisions.

Each episode includes:

This is your space to breathe, reflect, and remember who you are beneath the white coat. You are not alone. There is a growing movement of women physicians reclaiming autonomy, identity, and possibility.

✨ Subscribe, share with a colleague, and help reshape the future of medicine.

📬 Stay Connected • Join the weekly newsletter for burnout recovery tools and career transition insight

Connect on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaadamsmd02/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557977027465

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-adams-md-5b7642175/

Keywords: physician burnout, women physicians, physician career change, leaving a job, quitting your job, giving notice, resignation, physician career transition, toxic work environment, workplace boundaries, setting boundaries at work, physician wellness, women in medicine, career dissatisfaction, burnout recovery, physician coaching, career coaching for physicians.

Your Skills Are Bigger Than Just Medicine: Finding Career Possibilities Beyond Clinical Practice

What if you could use the skills you developed as a physician in a completely different career?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I’m joined by Dr. Swati Shah, an OBGYN physician whose career has taken her through clinical practice, public health, locum tenens, OB hospitalist medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, and entrepreneurship.

Dr. Shah shares her candid career journey and what she has learned about physician career transitions, nonclinical careers for physicians, networking, transferable skills, and finding possibilities beyond traditional clinical practice.

Her story is a powerful reminder that your medical degree doesn't have to define the only way you can contribute. The skills you've developed as a physician can be valuable in many different settings - and sometimes you don't recognize those skills until you step outside the clinical environment.

We talk about how Dr. Shah transitioned from practicing OBGYN into the pharmaceutical industry as a medical science liaison (MSL) and how relationships she built years earlier ultimately helped open that door.

We also explore why physicians often underestimate their own skills and experience when considering a career change. Running a clinical team, managing a schedule, participating in committees, conducting research, teaching, public speaking, coordinating projects, and advocating for patients are all skills that can translate into careers outside of medicine.

And perhaps most importantly, we talk about giving yourself permission to slow down before deciding what's next.

If you're a physician experiencing burnout, questioning your career, considering a nonclinical career, or simply wondering what else might be possible, this conversation is a reminder that you have more options - and more transferable skills - than you may realize.

Dr. Swati Shah's journey from OBGYN practice to public health, locum tenens, OB hospitalist medicine, and the pharmaceutical industry

How Hurricane Katrina influenced her career path

What a medical science liaison actually does and how physicians can transition into pharmaceutical industry roles

The role networking played in Dr. Shah's career transition

Why seemingly insignificant professional connections can create opportunities years later

How to identify your transferable skills as a physician

Why physicians frequently underestimate their leadership and management experience

How clinical responsibilities can translate into project management, team leadership, organizational management, research, and critical thinking skills

Why volunteer work and community involvement can demonstrate leadership

How women physicians may hold themselves back when they don't meet every requirement listed in a job description

The importance of networking even when you're not actively looking for a new career

Why taking time away from the constant pressure of medicine can help you figure out what you actually want

How physician burnout can be a signal to reassess your career and your priorities

Exploring nonclinical career options for physicians

How Plans Connect helps healthcare and life sciences professionals connect and grow their careers

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is the way Swati breaks down what physicians actually do every day.

If you're an anesthesiologist who manages the OR board, that's organizational and project management.

If you manage the call schedule, that's time management and team coordination.

If you participate in evaluating new technology or devices, you may have experience with cost analysis and decision-making.

If you've conducted research, you have research and analytical skills.

If you've led a clinical team, you have leadership experience.

And if you've organized a community event, coached your child's team, volunteered, or taken on leadership responsibilities outside of medicine - you may have even more skills than you realize.

The challenge isn't necessarily acquiring new skills.

Sometimes it's learning how to recognize, name, and communicate the skills you already have.

Career transitions don't always happen because you have a five-year plan.

Sometimes they happen because you realize that the career you've built no longer fits the person you've become.

Sometimes you need to make changes within medicine.

Sometimes you need to find a different clinical environment.

And sometimes you discover that your skills and interests could take you somewhere completely different.

You don't have to know the answer immediately.

As Swati reminds us, taking some downtime can be an important part of figuring out what comes next - especially after years of high-stress work, sleep deprivation, or burnout.

Your medical training isn't wasted if you choose a different path.

You have already built an incredible set of skills. The next question is where you want to use them.

Dr. Swati Shah is an OBGYN physician, healthcare consultant, entrepreneur, and travel advisor. Her career has included clinical medicine, public health, locum tenens, OB hospitalist medicine, and more than five years working in the pharmaceutical industry as a medical science liaison.

Through Plans Connect, Swati helps physicians and other healthcare and life sciences professionals recognize their transferable skills, build their professional presence, strengthen their networks, and explore career possibilities.

She also hosts networking events designed to connect people across healthcare and the life sciences, and is the host of Mid Month Meeting of the Minds, her monthly You Tube podcast series.

Learn more about Dr. Shah, Plans Connect, and upcoming networking opportunities through her professional platforms.

Website:  https://www.plansconnect.org

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/plansconnect/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3jNzevBDmM3WjTl9oWvoz8GC6a2OwJJpN-2IzpLfsxPGmuiRV8pJyuFsU_aem_sQCf4O2p6_dM4Q3cZ0WzoQ

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/plansconnect-llc/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2dCnMLJ097vXXkIbNlttu70vOZIdWi2DkNKrwLzcYaQVdt_9QmfaOu7tY_aem_NFCgT9KYfBgGiyDUFtuuiw

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@plansconnect

If you're a woman physician who is burned out, questioning your current role, or wondering whether there's another way to build a career you actually enjoy, you don't have to figure it out alone.

Sometimes the answer isn't to quit.

Sometimes it's to negotiate.

Sometimes it's to make a change within your current role.

And sometimes it really is time to go.

Coaching can help you get clear on what's actually driving your dissatisfaction, identify your options, and make a thoughtful decision about what comes next.

Learn more at christinaadamsmd.com.

Schedule a coaching consultation here.

What if you don't actually need to leave medicine - you just need to practice it differently?

In this episode of Navigating Possibility, I’m joined by fellow OBGYN Dr. Traci DeSplinter, who is 25 years out of residency and has recently made a significant career pivot.

After years in employed general OBGYN practice, Traci found herself questioning whether she wanted to continue in a practice environment where the culture had changed and increasingly long shifts were taking a toll. But she also knew that she wasn't ready to give up the parts of medicine she loved most: caring for women over time and building meaningful, longitudinal relationships with her patients.

Rather than simply retiring or moving into hospitalist work, Traci created another possibility.

She launched a direct specialty care practice focused primarily on women in midlife, combining comprehensive gynecologic care with menopause management, metabolic health, weight management, and preventive care.

In this conversation, we talk about what it actually looks like to reinvent your medical career—including the emotional, financial, and logistical pieces that don't always get discussed.

What prompted Traci to reconsider her career after 25 years in general OBGYN practice

How changes in organizational culture and increasingly difficult call schedules influenced her decision

Why hospitalist work wasn't the right fit for what she loved most about being an OBGYN

How becoming a direct primary care patient herself introduced her to a different model of healthcare

What direct specialty care looks like from both the physician and patient perspective

Building a practice around longer visits, accessibility, and longitudinal relationships

Why Traci chose to focus her practice on women in midlife

The additional training she pursued in menopause care, lipid management, and obesity medicine

How she is using a combination of direct care and locums work while building her new practice

The unexpected lesson she learned from returning to obstetrics in a healthier work environment

The importance of mentorship, coaching, networking, and finding a community when making a major career transition

The imposter syndrome and self-doubt that can accompany starting something new

Why reinventing your career doesn't mean you have to close the door on your previous career

The importance of midlife preventive health and thinking about how we want to age

Why it's never too late to create something new

One of my favorite parts of this conversation is Traci's realization that she wasn't necessarily burned out on obstetrics itself - she was burned out on the environment in which she was practicing it.

That distinction is so important.

Sometimes the answer isn't "I need to leave medicine." Sometimes it's "I need to figure out what needs to change."

And sometimes, as Traci demonstrates, the answer is creating an entirely new way to practice.

At 58, she is building a new professional chapter on her own terms - and her answer to the question, "What does possibility look like in your career right now?" is beautifully simple:

Hopeful. Boundless.

If you've been wondering whether it's too late to change direction, whether your skills can translate into something new, or whether there might be another way to practice medicine that better aligns with your values, I hope this conversation gives you some ideas to consider.

Dr. Traci DeSplinter is a board-certified OBGYN with 25 years of experience in practice. She has transitioned from employed general OBGYN practice into direct specialty care focused primarily on women in midlife.

Her practice incorporates comprehensive gynecologic care, menopause management, metabolic health, weight management, and preventive care, with an emphasis on providing women with the time and access needed for more comprehensive care.

Website: www.refinedwomenshealth.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciDeSplinterMD

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/tracidesplintermd/

A question to consider

Are you actually ready to leave your career—or are you ready to change the way you're practicing it?

Sometimes those are two very different questions.

If this episode resonates, I'd love to talk about how we can work together.

I work 1:1 with women physicians who are:

✨ Schedule a free coaching consultation to explore what’s next.

About the Podcast Navigating Possibility — A Podcast for Women Physicians Ready to Reclaim Their Power

Navigating Possibility is the podcast for women physicians experiencing burnout, career dissatisfaction, or major transitions in medicine.

If you're a woman doctor considering leaving clinical practice, exploring nonclinical careers, or seeking a more sustainable and aligned path, this podcast is for you.

I’m Dr. Christina Adams—OB-GYN, physician coach, and former burned-out doctor. I help women physicians move from survival mode to self-trust, clarity, and empowered career decisions.

Each episode includes:

This is your space to breathe, reflect, and remember who you are beneath the white coat. You are not alone. There is a growing movement of women physicians reclaiming autonomy, identity, and possibility.

✨ Subscribe, share with a colleague, and help reshape the future of medicine.

📬 Stay Connected • Join the weekly newsletter for burnout recovery tools and career transition insight

Connect on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinaadamsmd02/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557977027465

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-adams-md-5b7642175/

Keywords: 

physician career transition, physician burnout, women physicians, OBGYN career transition, physician entrepreneurship, direct specialty care, direct care practice, menopause care, midlife women's health, alternative careers for physicians, physician career change, reinventing your medical career