"We all go through our early lives in the S-curve of our medical education–college, medical school, residency, early practice. As you reach the mastery phase, I would posit that there is a downward dip as we realize that we are no longer in that exciting hypergrowth phase. The search for a new curve happens, the desire to ascend the second mountain, to find a more meaningful purpose.

How do you begin to find that purpose? Some people take a sabbatical or quit their job entirely. Some physicians look for leadership positions or transition to a non-clinical role. But while this may fix some of the career discontentment, you will stay in the dip, the valley, the bottom of the U-curve without a true search within yourself. It is through a reassessment of your true values that you will find your why."

Beverly Joyce is an obstetrician-gynecologist and physician coach.

She shares her story and discusses the KevinMD article, "Physicians and the midlife dip." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/03/physicians-and-the-midlife-dip.html)