We know how to follow steps, work hard, and care for others in distress. But how prepared are we for handling the emotions that come up around leaving medicine? It’s easy to get tangled up in the emotional seaweed that inevitably arises. Dr. Morgan Leafe, a pediatrician who transitioned into medical writing and informatics discovered a variety of ways to cope with the challenging emotions around career change. She shares with us 5 strategies she used to make the transition easier and ultimately a success.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/52

Having an adverse patient outcome or a malpractice suit is something we hope we can avoid, but they happen. When they do occur, they can bring on anxiety and depression, take away our joy, and even cause us to leave medicine. Dr. Stacia Dearmin went through a very challenging malpractice lawsuit which inspired her to start her business helping other physicians in similar circumstances. On the podcast she shares her story with us and key strategies for coping with an adverse outcome or a malpractice suit.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/51

How would you like to still use your medical knowledge and keep learning new things, but not be stressed out by the challenges of patient care? If so, being a CDI specialist might be just the ticket. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Jenn Jolley, a general surgeon who put the scalpel down to work in Clinical Documentation Improvement so she could still use her medical training but have more family time. Come find out why she left surgery, what her day-to-day is like, and how to explore this flexible career path.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/50

What happens when you’re excited to get a job offer with a company and they want you to start ASAP but you have to give 90 days’ notice? What if you have a non-compete that restricts the kind of work you can do next and where you do it? These can be issues in both clinical and nonclinical jobs. Physician employment contract expert and founder of Contract Diagnostics, Jon Appino, shares his advice and knowledge on navigating and negotiating these key aspects of your contract when you’re signing or resigning.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/49

Do you question whether you’re good enough to be a doctor? Do you compare yourself to other physicians and second guess your decision-making? If so, you might have the imposter syndrome. This issue can affect the most component physicians and lead to burnout and other problems. Dr. Diane Shannon experienced the imposter syndrome starting in med school and it fueled the burnout that caused her to leave medicine prematurely. She helps us understand the imposter syndrome and offers advice for moving beyond it.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/48

A common concern about leaving medicine is losing your skill set and having the door closed. This can also be an issue if you stay in practice but stop doing certain procedures or surgeries. OB/Gyn physician Dr. Helen Rhodes had a steep uphill climb returning to obstetrics after more than a decade away from the delivery room. We hear the amazing story of how she made it back, the role locum tenens played, and how she found her joy in medicine again. Included are tips for locums and keeping your skills current.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/47

When you’re unhappy at your job it’s a good idea to try and fix it up before you give it up. What might make it better? Do you want to go down in hours? Change your schedule? Do less trauma call? Before throwing in the towel or simply enduring, it’s important to see what can be improved. Our guest today, ENT surgeon and podcaster, Dr. Bradley Block, joins me to talk about how to approach your employer to ask for what you want. We talk about steps to take to help you negotiate and have the best chance of success.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/46

I’m “only” a doctor, I don’t know how to do anything else! If you’ve had this thought or other limiting beliefs about your physician identity, this episode is for you. My guest, Family Physician, and NLP coach, Dr. Maiysha Clairborne, helps us explore how our physician identity can benefit us in the transition process and also how it can become a trap. We address four key questions to ask about your identity as a physician. Find out how to use your physician identity to your advantage and not let it trap you.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/45

Are you stuck in a career wedgie? A career wedgie happens when you’re not happy in your current job but you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to find the perfect next job. This pressure to “get it right” can keep you stuck. Today I’m talking with Dr. Timothy Owolabi, a Family Practice physician who found a great nonclinical job through a series of job changes that didn’t have to be the perfect fit. We dive into 4 key pearls he’s learned along the way that are helpful for physicians making career changes.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/44

How many of us love going to networking events, schmoozing, and asking for advice? No one I know! But the good news is with the internet, networking is much easier than it used to be. Networking can truly open doors as some 60% of jobs are filled through networking and employee referrals. Join us today as my wonderful guest Dr. Laura McKain, founder of the Physician Nonclinal Career Hunters Facebook Group, and pharma expert, shares her practical advice and tips on how to be a successful networker.

You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here:

www.doctorscrossing.com/43