Pediatrician Dr Maggie Kozel speaks about leaving medicine

As a formerly idealistic pediatrician whose eventual disappointment in clinical practice led to her leaving medicine altogether, Maggie Kozel MD has put into words what I felt about being a practicing physician and have been unable to express adequately!

Dr Kozel's newly released memoir, "The Color of Atmosphere - One Doctor's Journey Into and Out of Medicine" (reviewed here) provides a poignant look into the aspirations of a young woman who found the perfect escape from her dysfunctional household - Medicine.

After life as a doctor in the "universal healthcare system" of the Navy, she entered private practice in the civilian world that most of you and I know - only to discover how mismatched she was to the role that was being demanded of her by insurers and even her patients.

I won't repeat my review here, but instead, I invite you to listen to an interview with chemistry teacher Dr Kozel on Easter break from her school last week.

In our 25-minute conversation, we explore:

her thoughts about her "physician's identity"

what drove her to become a published author

how she learned to write

what she chose to do instead of clinical practice

what life after medicine has been like for her and her family

what is currently absorbing her attention

When you have finished listening to this interview podcast, come back to The Entrepreneurial MD  to add your thoughts or questions.