In today's episode, Dr. Onwuemenenvites physicians to pause and ask a powerful question:

What am I optimizing for in this season of my career—and who chose that target?

Too often in medicine, we inherit our optimization goals. Early on, it may be productivity or proving ourselves. But as our lives evolve, so do our priorities.

Dr. Onwuemene reflects on how her own decisions shifted across seasons—from choosing proximity to family over prestige in medical school, to prioritizing community when transitioning to faculty, to seeking institutional environments that truly supported physician-led research.

She outlines seven optimization targets physicians may consider:

• Community – proximity to family and meaningful support
• Experience – the type of training or growth an institution enables
• Opportunity – whether advancement pathways are real and documented
• Networks – access to collaborators and intellectual community
• Lifestyle – schedule flexibility and structural breathability
• Time – protected space to build beyond clinical work
• Finances – income, asset building, or long-term wealth strategy

The key is not which category you choose. The key is choosing intentionally.

Every institution is a vehicle. The question is whether it’s designed to help you optimize for what matters most in this phase of your life.

Priorities shift. Seasons change. What served you five years ago may not serve you now—and that’s okay.

Reflection Prompt: What are you optimizing for at this stage of your career? And does your current platform support it?

DM Dr. Onwuemene on LinkedIn and share your answer.