I Left My Six-Figure Career As A Doctor After Learning 3 Things 

I hope you enjoy this video! Let me know in the comments if you're in the middle of your own big change (or even contemplating it) -- I'd love to hear your story! 💛

I was a hospital RN that was burnt out and tired of being abused at a hospital. I left when I was sick with long covid. Learned how to recover due to holistic means (medical system said I would never heal). Became a school nurse (low stress and awesome schedule) and it was the best move I made for myself. Now I have the time to read books I truly enjoy, spend time with my family on my days off, and I create RU-vid videos for my channel that help others recover from Long Covid. Totally resonate with your story.

Hallo from Germany. Always wanted to be a family doctor and became one. But I never had my own office because I knew our system too well. So I switched, by coincidence, to Occupational Health. I am selfemployed, work on my own (no personell needed in my case, not even an office) and go to my clients (=companies) that by law need an Occupational Health Doctor. Mostly preventive work. I am not in the hamsterwheel! I can take a day off if I want to. I can take care of my kids, go to their things, I'm never "on call" (unless my wife and/or kids call) 🙂Love it!

I am a Doctor too post graduate in Surgery. 3 years ago I was in a busy hospital. Felt burn out and a lot of stress. But now I feel a bit relaxed since I moved to small hospital. I make round, do opd, perform surgery, attend interconsult. Now I feel much better.

Welcome to the Rockefeller medical system. Your one of the very few with enough courage and convictions to leave the drugs/surgery model. Good job.

Fantastic message. I am ex clinician as well, who walked away from “ broken conventional health care system” without ever looking back with sense of regret ❤

Burned out RN here...haven't been bedside for years, working for insurance companies as CM. Doesn't feel like I'm helping people, just pushing paperwork. Longing for a change..

American Medicine died when the managed care companies took over in the 1990's. That's when I left for a better life outside of being a doctor.

I have lost all confidence with our medical system since Covid19. I don’t trust the system at all anymore.

We don’t have health care in the US, we have disease care. That’s great you had the courage to do what was right for you. I quit a secure job to move across the country and become a self employed pet sitter. Best decision I ever made for myself. I was miserable. Now I’m content. And my personal growth has been transformative.

I’m not in the medical field, but I do believe that life changes are needed in my life. I’ve already left my safe job back in ‘21 and ended up laid off from a company I thought I would be with until retirement. I’m still hobbling along and I believe that’s why your video crossed my path. Encouragement through another’s story. Powerful. Thank you.

In high school, I wanted to be a doctor, but after talking to a bunch of doctors who hated their jobs and the system, I went to engineering school. Enjoyed it, never looked back!

Thank you so very much for sharing! I'm on a very similar journey: first doctor and college grad in my family, MD with 3 specialties under my belt (all part of the journey of trying to undertsand more and treat people in a way that made more sense than popping pills!), tried different working places and schedules, went through burn out twice in my 20 years of medicine, until I finally chose to put myself first and walk away. I'm still at the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey. I want to help people become more empowered about their health in a way that also feels more authentic and aligned to me. The guilt conundrum and everyone under the sun's opinions about your life choices are both very real! Again, thank you so very much! Your words were very helpful and encouraging! May God bless you and your family! 🙏🙏💖💖 PS : A youthful appearance and healthy glow are natural byproducts of taking good care of our health and choosing to live in alignment with who we truly are! Dr Foster's outer appearance is testimony that she truly does practice what she preaches! Brava! 👏👏

As a fellow doctor, I'm listening. Huberman is doing an excellent job on his own after leaving Stanford. As a fellow neuroscientist I love his path and success.

I'm glad I have someone who has the same common ground. I was once an overwhelmed and burnt-out doctor too, but I realized I have a higher priority which is my health and quality time for my family, so I quit working in government and shifted to private which has a flexible schedule. I also run online business and coach people about things that I love.

Same here. I have always been told to study medicine and your life will be “successful” Time and money commitment to be in this profession requires a lot. I myself have ventured into the online space. Thank you for posting this video for those working in healthcare and started questioning if we are truly happy?

I m from Brazil, child Neurology. QUIT private practice after 32 year, burnout, sad and breath less. Best decision ever. Now I teach, finishing a PhD in Psychology- 56 years old.

Thank you for this video. I am a registered nurse on the same path. Just finished my transformative nurse coaching education and am waiting to take my board certification as an NC-BC. I am so disappointed in the healthcare system and finally found something that fulfills me. I admire you for having gone through the process and helping people in a way that actually matters and makes a real difference!

Loved hearing your story Kim. Couldn't help but think of our family physician and what struggles he must endure. He is board certified internal medicine and his physician wife is a pediatrician. They own their practice, but I can sense the stress (even though he is a master at not showing it). He is very stoic and focused on you and does not rush even though the waiting areas can be busy. I've even been able to get him to briefly remove his physician hat and talk about how he is doing and what he does for self care and family time. Bottom line he ended our talk saying, I do the best I can and then just don't worry about it. I also told him for the first time how highly my wife and I thought of him and fortunate we are to have him for our physician (for 18 yrs now, and we are retired 40 yr healthcare professionals too). I hope it gave him a positive pickup for his day, I felt it did. We also know he is the physician to other physicians. You are very engaging and when you described crying after leaving your last day I started to feel tears well up. Your journey is your strength and you are going to be a very special, high level coach. Congratulations and good luck.

I am jealous in a way. I worked 39 years in a stressful job but could not quit and move out over concerns about my family's well-being. Fortunately, that is behind me as I have been retired for 13 years. If I had to do it over again, which of course I do not, I would have liked to do something else where I could have directly helped someone or better yet, to be able to be independent and self-employed helping others. When actually your work situation you don't realize how short life is, and that maybe I should have taken the risk. I am happy for you in the way it worked out.

Thank you for your honesty. Unfortunately I found out how dysfunctional the healthcare system is when I needed care. Today I’m starting a wellness business to help others through their struggles. I do find many people don’t take their health seriously until they face a health scare. ❤️

First of all, thank you for this video. I am a 79 year old former ER doc who burned out and walked away at 48 years of age after 20 years of fast paced practice in a busy suburban ER. I knew I was burned out and tried to help myself by reducing my hours, taking more vacations, etc. But my experience was that I was turning into a robot. The emotion was gone. After 20 years, I felt pretty comfortable seeing pretty much anything, but this persistent anxiety suffused my mind. I also had some health effects, namely essential tremor and runs of atrial fib in the morning when I went to bed. So I "retired" thinking I might try working in a clinic. I still miss the hands on moments of connection. They were rare, but little experiences of being human with a fellow human being. Nevertheless, I had promised myself at the start of my practice that if I couldn't communicate a caring image with my patients, I would leave. That gave me a noble excuse to exit without too much guilt. I've yet to regret that decision. It takes a lot of courage and insight to realize that it is time to move on and make that change. Thanks again.

Wonderful to hear you left what most cannot and is seen as super valued by others, you changed. What a brave woman you are and to me an inspiration. Thank you. 😊

Here watching💖😃✨ Me a stage three breast Cancer Survivor 💖 My Doctors saved my life💖 I appreciate all my health care and looking forward to your posts! Thank you for all you do and give💖 Hugz from Oregon💖😃✨

I think that given the current grind, more and more people who want more out of life will find a their own better path. Lovely video!

I resonate with your story and wish you all the very best with your future!! The timing and lessons are so great in your story and everything aligned, of course with its challenges. Becoming a Dr is so hard! I work alongside Dr's of all statuses and they are amazing, i truly look up to them everyday ❤ Its so challenging working in a health system that is stretched of resources and our vulnerable patients treated as numbers and stats. My heart goes out to everyone! I feel ready for a change too. I am a registered social worker who works in a major tertiary hospital, in geriatric care. It took 4 years full time study. I'm loving being a social worker and helping to initiate change and advocate for people. I just wish i had more time with people. I do feel like i want to do more and im looking into studying some post grad psych or counseling skills and becoming a private practice therapist. Like real soon. Im about to have my second ACDF surgery in the space of 18 months and i lost my Dad about a year ago. Im also a single mum of 3. Life is ticking by and i need to make the most of it now. Your story has inspired me even more!! ✨️

To my dearest most precious Kim...I know exactly, exactly, what you are talking about... I used to be a family doctor...and...I knew that what my patients needed most...was a deep connection with me...but I could not give them this...because I always had to rush... I gave up my license in 2020...and now I am a life coach (for god)...and now I am beyond happy...every single day. ❤

Thank you for sharin your story. 2 years ago I decide to be a writer and not persuing career as a stockbroker. I still not making 6-figure, but my income is stable as freelance writer while I working on my blog. And the most importantly: I'm so happy! 🎉

Dr. Kim, I admire you so much for putting in your time as a doctor so you could see first hand how the medical system works ( or doesn't work). You pulled the plug and now are happy because you must feel fulfilled as you coach your clients. Dr. Kim, you are now using your gifting and talent to reach out and meet people where they need guidance and support. I have two degrees and had many jobs over the years and learned so much from each job before I moved on the the next job. I have been a police and fire chaplain for 30 + years and use my past experiences to support folks who are dealing with trauma. Dr. Kim, you are a blessing for sharing part of your story. Continue to be blessed.

Kim, I am really happy for you and wow you are such an inspiration. You are giving me the courage to align with my own values and quit the corporate path. I loved your message, especially at the end there. It was an honor to hear your story and how you made it through despite the trials and tribulations.

You did, the right thing. I was in your position. several years ago. as a specialist. I gave it all up. And now I roam the world. enjoying myself to the hilt. I might turn to coaching at some later stage.

This post is really fascinating. When I was young in the 1990s, I thought of applying to medical school. I was interested in research in radiology. I am a biomedical engineer. I applied and got waitlisted at Colorado. I had a chance to continue applying or get into "one-year bridge" programs available to minorities back then. I am Apache. But I decided medicine wasn't for me. I chose to stay in engineering. However, I did study public health (MPH) at Florida State. I was working as a software engineer at the FL DOH and decided to study for the MPH with night classes. This was before online programs became available (mid 2000s) at FSU. I learned that the fee-for-service model was flawed and drove up the cost of medicine. I also learned that high paying specialties like heart surgery of the 1980s were largely based on the fee-for-service model. Meanwhile, the ideal "cost saving" goal of prevention with public health programs and primary care was largely ignored. I had thought "capitation" and "healthcare reform" in the 2010s would have stopped all that gross inefficiency. Here we are in 2024, and your post makes it clear the fee-for-service model is alive and still causing gross overwork, high costs, and burnout. Prevention would go much further. You noted awful patterns. I can add to that. I witnessed a "caste system" in major academic research centers back then (1990s). I literally had an advisor tell me not go to the in-state university because it wasn't prestigious enough according to him. He suggested medical schools like Stanford or Johns Hopkins for "prestige". That was one ugly pattern. Another was blatant disrespect for other careers in the hospital with a fair amount of bullying. I met many nurses who complained about a hierarchical condescension against them from the MDs. I heard the same from medical physicists or graduate students in various STEM fields doing clinical research. The mindset was the "MD" is on top - "you respect us but we don't respect you". I had one MD tell me she thought her MD was more prestigious than a PhD. To be fair, there were exceptions back then. I met one surgeon who told me he thought it was harder to earn his master's degree in electrical engineering compared to an MD. But doctors like him were infrequent. Keep in mind this was in the 1990s out west. In modern times and different places, it could be better. I know UF Shands Hospital generally has a team approach in working with PhD students and PIs funded by NIH or NSF. The other issue from the minority perspective was affirmative action and DEI. As a minority, I don't agree with such programs if they reduce "merit" at the expense of "diversity". The AA programs with minority quotas go back to President Richard Nixon. Such policies were flawed and don't work. They actually hurt minorities overall. Dr. Richard Sanders has a strong argument with his statistical analysis. So, I witnessed a grossly divided medical student population with many whites and Asians expressing resentment or rage covertly against minorities. The net effect was that the classroom and labs generally were rampant with racial tension and stigmatization of minorities. The AA programs also did not help in two ways: (1) the minority students who were accepted with reduced merit often dropped out or performed poorly and (2) the minority students who truly did have high merit with MCAT, g.p.a., etc. were stigmatized as having "stolen an admission" when they were in fact fully qualified even without AA. So, medical school was a mess in additional ways from what I saw. The last ugly pattern I can note is the malpractice crisis. I saw that frivolous lawsuits against physicians are very common - basically patients trying to win the lottery by suing the doctor. The malpractice attorneys help drive that. I know that such physicians who have been sued suffer severe burnout and depression. Some also leave the career. It's harsh to be a physician with all these factors. Given the massive applicants, I wonder how many of them would withdraw the application if they knew what it was really like? Probably a lot.

I can relate and understand you entirely! As a nurse, I have worked in various hospitals, offices etc. I know how the healthcare system works, and yes, there is zero quality time for any good patient-provider interaction. Most settings will allow 15 minutes visits or so for 1 patient ( which I can't even imagine how you can have any quality conversation with patient). I totally understand why you quit. I still work as a nurse because it is pretty good outpatient setting, but am constantly looking for any side hustles and am investing/saving as much money; just in case I want to quit my work.

Thank you for sharing the real truth of reality in medical practice. My aunt felt the same way as soon as she practiced in Boston. She also performed acupuncture to free up her "boring and exhausted" mind - find a way to balance. As soon as she reached to a point, she walked away from her daily job. Help others in most effective and efficient way. Hear your touchy story, absolutely medical reform is very necessary.

I loved this story!! ❤🙏 thank you for sharing x

I walked away from the practice of law after 25 years to become an American College of Sports Medicine Health and Fitness Specialist. Best adult decision I ever made! I am happy for you.

Thank you for your experience. I am very happy to learn of your choice of "living with the unknown"! Well done.😀

I enjoyed hearing your journey; it’s inspirational. I am feeling those golden handcuffs as I am currently training to be a health coach while working full time. I work in healthcare but in an administrative role but definitely can relate to your feelings about current state thereof. 😊

Kim really loved watching your video. I couldn’t agree less, every word you mentioned in your video. I have been gynaecologist turned to be GP trainee. The way the health care system is. I share the same mind set as yours, to really help patient and treat them as I would treat my own family to derive satisfaction from this profession, but 10 minutes slot plus immense admin work pressure doesn’t allow this. I too am having repeated thought of leaving medicine, but then dependent child and income to meet expenses etc takes over. Honestly I wish some Of us doctors who really wish to give best care to patients have some voice which results in positive change is system. Patients would be so happy.

Interesting video. Thanks. My wife and I have been hospitalists for most of our twenty six years in medicine. She’s part time and looking at alternatives where she feels she can help more people. I still love it. Our healthcare system is broken but from within I think I still make a positive difference to the people of my small community and its hospital as a primary employer. While I can understand much of the skepticism towards the system there are many good people healing lots of people and relieving a lot of human suffering. Unfortunately there are good and not so good people working in healthcare. While still seeing patients full time my load is reasonable, and I teach a lot at a local medical program, and do some admin work too. The teaching makes me very happy. The students are so much fun.

Thank you for this ❤ I am in a similar position- I’m a Nurse Practitioner and have worked in this role and as a RN for 10 years. I’m burnt out and anxious trying to make patients and managers happy rather than caring for patients. I’ve always wanted to become a business owner in a field unrelated to healthcare and am so scared, I feel a sense of loyalty to the profession but that loyalty is also taking its toll. I resonated so much with this video and am taking so many notes!

Thank you. I enjoy listening to your story. Yes, there is a part of me to abandon my career and start my real passion in life. You are right, It takes a lot of courage to self-trust, risk everything, live authentically, and start the next chapter of life.

I’m a Physician Assistant working to transition as well into health coaching. I’m working on a program right now and it’s been challenging finding the time to do while still working full time. Thanks for the encouragement from your story.

Thanks Dr Kim for your informative videos. I hear the burn-out because of the system and you quit the practice. I still feel for the patients you couldn’t see. After a long wait I had a family physician, a doctor who was 80 years old and died recently. I am now without a family doctor. Sometimes it’s better that we stick with the system and fight for the change, than deciding to quit. In no way I am judging your decision, just I wanted to see it from the other side, it’s not easy for anyone to become a doctor.

Glad you’re happier and more fulfilled. Most people live lives for other people ( such as the expectations of family, friends and society). Unfortunately, most people need a start ( savings & luck, & a skill) a safety net and support from loved ones.

You are an amazing writer, speaker and I totally agree with helping people in a preventative way. Thanks for sharing this video.

I wasn’t a doctor or in healthcare but can relate to this video on every level and also have autoimmune issues. My exit strategy was to jump off the cliff! Lol .. working on achieving personal freedom everyday building my business to make a difference in this World! Thank you for making this video! ❤

Thank you so much.....by the grace of God I left medical school when after my first NSF research grant I saw the "culture" was not for me....but I always felt guilty about leaving my dream so soon. Now of course as a full professor who loves helping students (and myself ) learn leading edge technology advances ... the guilt I felt for so long has left .helped also by seeing the drudgery, boredom and misery many, maybe most, physicians experience in their daily work lives. Your video helps me keep the plug in the jug --the bottle of guilt. Best Wishes on your journey Prof. G

Congratulations on having the courage to step away from practicing medicine and finding your mojo again. Both our US medical and public education systems seem to have become so filled with bureaucracy that it is soul- crushing for many working in the system who have a strong desire to connect with patients and students. In business school I knew instinctively that I was not cut out to work in a large corp with all of its trappings. I chose instead to be an entrepreneur and founded a swimming pool business in SoCal that really made all things possible. The work we did brought joy to thousands of families and I always had the ability to direct our growth and our company culture. It was both very challenging and satisfying, and fed my need to connect with people rather than figures on a computer screen. Cheers!

Hi Kim, thanks for sharing. Your story is so beautiful and real I feel you. I love that you did it in a well thought out and calculated fashion, So inspiring!!!!! There is so much to be said for helping people and following your dreams. Congrats on your success, your glowing, your happiness is priceless.

Absolutely understand and relate to your problems.. Mine are the same.. Yes, life is too short... Just too short.. We owe it to ourselves to be happy

In alignment with your purpose. Super proud of you, this has been inspiring ❤

I have been a family physician for the past 29 years and I too went into medicine because I was interested in ways to help people stay healthy. I have even read the book life extension, which at that time was looked at as quackery and yet now basically has all been proven true And yes, it is a grind and I was interested in Functional medicine and still am interested in that, but it is perhaps better to help people with their lives instead of with their supplements. Now I don’t see as many patients because I get stuck trying to help people look at our short lives and have a lot of spiritual conversations with them, but as you said in your video, I suddenly am not seeing as many patients, but enjoying the visits more, however, I am being told I need to pick up the pace and of course I gotta pay the mortgage in college bills for my son the mortgage for me, the college for my son😅 so I would love to coach some because it truly is fulfilling when people are enlightened to a different kind of life and a different kind of meaning of life

Wow! In the 2:40 to 2:55 part of this video you verified all my experience in the health care system that I have endured the past 2 years......so frustrating... definitely a broken system

Thanks for sharing your doubts. It inspires me. Thanks for sharing!

Av friend of mine retired when a hospital conglomerate took over the small local hospital system. He was a pediatrician for over 30 years. In his exit interview with a local newspaper he said he practiced to treat individuals not populations. Good for you!!

This is totally accurate. The physicians are not in charge, it is pretty much everyone else, insurance companies, administrators, …. We really saw this during Covid when they were gagged and not even allowed to question procedures or treatments which were clearly not working.

It seems as though you’d be a great advocate for changing the healthcare system. I don’t know what that’d be because it’s not my area of expertise but I do appreciate your concern with it. Great video!

I’m so proud of you! Sometimes, we just need to walk away and live well because life is too short to not enjoy what you are doing. This is called self love. I’m walking away from a 10 year career right now…not knowing what’s happening next …is not because I don’t like the job but my bullying colleagues are making me literally sick. They stole my job portfolio and push me out of my role.

I sold my solo practice in June of 2020 amazingly during the pandemic! Have never been happier!

I'm on the same boat now as we're before finding your true happiness. Thank you for sharing your story. At last, validation of the side work that Im doing now. I just need to recognize the timing & focus 💯 on the side thing.

Hello - I commend you for all of your hard efforts towards building a career in the medical field and then exiting the field for your wellbeing. What a difficult decision. I know the feeling of being "stuck." I just turned 60 years old and have been in the printing industry for over 40 years. It has provided me with a decent living. I have raised 4 daughters, have paid off my mortgage, have no automobile or credit card debt. Financially, I’m not quite ready to retire but I have been plagued with constant stress and unhappiness from my job and the fact that I’ve worked nights for so long. I have missed out on a lot of life due to that schedule. I want to start seeing the sun come up every morning and start feeling "normal." It’s to late for me to consider a new career and really don’t have any incentive to do much of anything in terms of working but I realize that I’ll need to do something for some type of income. I’m at the point where I really don’t care about any consequences of just throwing in the towel and deal with those consequences at a later date. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

Good movie that touches on some of the issues described - The Doctor. William Hurt, Christine Lahti, Elizabeth Perkins.

One big connection I see here is with all of the expats who have left the US to reside in South American or European countries. Primary motivationa being to live or retire on less. But what I've learned from viewing so many of their youtube channels is that many people report dramatic improvements in their overall physical and mental health, due to 1 or more of the following factors: Higher quality affordable foods, more natural excercize due to less reliance on a car, quality of and ease of utilizing healthcare, slower pace of life. I would argue our awful healthcare system is only 1 aspect of our declining quality of life in the US.

May have to follow parts of your example. Thank you. I pray your company succeeds.

Thanks for being so darned articulate!

Kim, I walked away from a career in securities (stocks, bonds, commodities) when I realized that the companies I worked for only cared if THE COMPANY made money, the clients were a secondary concern. I wanted to do something that actually mattered in peoples lives, and that made me feel good about my contribution to society at large. It is very tough leaving a dependable earning stream, a career... leaving what you worked so hard to become proficient at. I learned, and you have learned, that our education and experience can be applied in many different ways. If the conventional path is not fulfilling, seek happiness by finding a new path!!

I made a big change recently. I had served in the Army for 7.5 years and thought I would make it a career. After the poor ending of Afghanistan and my lack of purpose/ drive to stay in the organization after trying new things, I decided it was time for a new chapter. I ended up reconnecting with some old Army friends who became software engineers at Amazon. One dropped out of college and the other has a degree in Psychology. They both went through coding boot camps. I went through one as I left the army and I am now a software engineer in FinTech, without a computer science degree or college of any kind. To me, that was a major advantage to save 4 years of opportunity cost and my GI bill. After doing Combat Arms for a long time in the army, it was hard to walk away, but I was able to successfully redefine myself on paper. The mental transformation was hard though, the hardest I had ever went through, but I knew objectively that not a lot would change even if I went back to the military.

Great story Dr Foster.Guess what,you are not alone especially after the pandemic.

Great video! Wishing you much luck and success!

I agree with what you say. Life is too short to spend all our time at work. Family and health are more important

Thank you for sharing your story! Such an inspiration!

Thank you for being compassionate and ethical! The medical system is profit-driven, not health-focused. More doctors like you could change it, but many choose to conform due to financial incentives.

Good for you. I think you made the right decision. My uncle was a surgeon and he led a very stressful, unhappy life despite the fact he had his own hospital and was extremely wealthy. I admire your courage to take that road less traveled route. 👍

Kindness of Strangers & Neighborhood can make life relax .

I bet you'd be a great RU-vid podcaster. You have the education, presentation and communication skills. You should interview someone functional medicine Docs.

I come from a family of doctors. I saw the profession take the spirit and joy from my father. I chose to follow a different path. I went into the finance industry. For 37 years I have done very well, but the stress and the corporate environment has also taken their toll on me. Now I’m considering early retirement, but I am concerned that I don’t have any interests outside of work. Thank you for sharing your story.

Looking at taking my training in genetic counseling online. Also frustrated with the traditional medical system, but was trained in preventative care, now want to take it to another level helping people be proactive in their cancer prevention. Just started "The Proactive Patients". Still work as a traditional cancer genetic counselor, but seeing if I can make this more fulfilling by reaching more people, giving them the tools they need to navigate our backwards medical system.

Well the algorithms brought me to you ... not much that I can add. You are a bright shining representation of what it is to be human and I hope to personally meet the likes of you at some point in the future. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.

Thank you for sharing your decision. I have done the same. Very happy. Shalom

You are an amazing story teller, i just came across your channel, and keep up the great work! You earned a subscriber!

Omgosh this is me in pharmacy. Thank you for this. 😊

Congratulations on your courage to leave your successful career and finding success in other roles. I would have liked to have heard more about how you transitioned INTO your new roles as Life Coach and Entrepreneur, what contacts did you have or need to develop, how did you develop your strategy for entering those roles, how did you construct a business model that proved viable and financially rewarding, etc. When you say you are a Coach and entrepreneur, what exactly do you do, and with whom? Perhaps in another video? Thanks!

Wow, great video. Good to hear from a person that was inside the system, medicine has become a business not to help patients in a holistic way.

I am internal medicine specialist aged 54 and I am tired of doing call duties for so many years and going through real depression. I want to leave medicine but I don’t know what else i can do. I am a painter too and although I never have had an exhibition but everyone says I am too good at painting. I have a good fashion sense, I dream of starting a garment business and third last thing I have a good teaching experience to medical students. But, despite all this I am still lost and working at a hospital.

You made the right choice. I immigrated to US from France 30 years ago, where I have a brother who is physician there (kidney specialist). I could compare the two medical systems as a patient, me and family. Although the two systems have a lot in common, along what you describe, I always pitied the US medical doctors more: I saw the US medical system riddled with more headaches and constraints- all-powerful private medical insurances , legal liabilities, cost and access to care for patients. Not to mention cost of tuition for students! Really, I was feeling bad for the doctors I had to see in US (rarely fortunately). This said we had two successful surgeries in the family. Doctors here were quite competent, but so were the doctors in France. My cardiologist in US mentioned to me she had two excellent French professors at San Francisco university, and my brothers mentioned to me a few areas where France was a little ahead of US.

You are really a doctor by heart. I like medicine because of your concerns: prevention and holistic approach❤

You are so talented and smart. Thank you for sharing your story!

Loved your story, and definitely can relate!

Thanks Dr. Foster, for sharing your story here which I just happened across. I enjoyed listening to it --- aside from the specifics of your career & choices --- because it's simply refreshing to hear a sane, kind, personable & warm individual's story, in a SEA of RU-vid and TikTok junk that constantly feeds us (or is it just to me?) full of road rage videos, meanspirited "Karen" encounters, loony political cultists, and the whole gamut of modern-day clickbait that seems to prevail in America 2024. Though I'm not in the medical field in any capacity whatsoever, I sympathise with all the disillusionments you relate, and which we the general public has been increasingly hearing about for at least a few decades now. I have to say, when I visit our own family doctor, even though he's part of a big "corporate" medical group (which I suppose is now the arrangement for almost every family doc? --- compared to my Mom taking me to ours sixty years ago in his little converted-house office), I don't feel rushed or 'glossed over' or any such things....but I'm sure there must be stresses he & his colleagues deal with like you describe I'm just not aware of. I'm glad you addressed your angst about leaving (though you haven't really "left") a profession that society needs so much, because that crossed my mind early in the video too. By the END of the video I too am convinced you seem to have made a brave decision that you not only needed to make for your own & your family's wellbeing, but that probably now allows you to do what you fundamentally felt passionate about in the first place: helping people have their best health. (I 'get it' that this platform is also a way for you to promote your health coaching services, and that's fine; though I'm pretty dismissive of all the various "life coaching" angles so many coaches are "selling" on the internet, only because they're so prevalent rather than that I think they're necessarily a waste of time/money, I'll look into more of your videos to learn more.) Thanks again for sharing your story & your expertise!

Thanks for this thought provoking video. I am interested in psychological well-being coaching. I am currently a psychotherapist and much like your story I spent many years training and yearning for my career. However, in my case I was older and am now approaching retirement years but still feel I want a blend of free time and using m6 skills to offer something to people who struggle. I am particularly interested in helping who women who are challenged b6 ageing and transition issues. However yes the voice I hear in m6 head is that I have done enough now and now is not the time of life to develop something new.

Very well said. Your own happiness is more important than what other people’s social explantations of you are.

You said you were 56 at the time…you look like you are 32 now!

Your charisma overwhelms me. Wow!

Nice to hear of your change. As a health professor at a major research institution, I came to this conclusion as well. I teach health promotion and started health coaching program here. Once you delve into the history of modern medicine, the role of the pharmaceutical industry in patient care, and the actual causes of health/wellness you begin to realize that the whole system is rigged, and not about health, but about profit. Much of the clinical research is also fraudulent and filled with private interest bias. Not much you can trust in primary medicine, as taught in med schools and practiced in reality. Would love to discuss more, but this will have to do.

Amazing that a person can make that move after many years in the system. My old doctor will tell me not to believe everything I see online. Ironically I believe in everything I learn online now.

What a beautiful story! Incredible courage and self-belief surely played a role in making such a huge decision. Life is not just about money, social status, or having a successful career. Sometimes, we let society and the opinions of people around us influence our life decisions. At the end of this journey, what will make you feel that life was worth living? In my opinion, it will be remembering all the life memories without having any regrets and knowing that one did the best in this life. I would hate to be on my last minute thinking about all the things I could have done differently and never done anything about it.

This sounds strangely similar to the teaching profession. We teachers are leaving in droves. Mostly because of over worked/underpaid/under valued. Also, the system is a mess. Too much clunky regulations & bureaucracy hindering good teaching. Add on top, IEPs & no real way to manage behaviors giving way to chaos. For me, the lack of flexibility is the line in the sand. I need part time, I need to also have time for my family & myself, and I need enough freedom in class to organically teach without constant micromanagement. I’m an ACE teacher & you can tell by what I produce in my students, but if a box doesn’t get checked then ya get dinged….and there’s a million boxes to check. If you ask me, these systems need a complete overhaul to meet the needs of today both for professionals & those they serve or the talent will leave. I’m also leaning much more toward small & local businesses over corporations. We need to rebuild local business & community. The big question is HOW? I think it’s going to be a long road of rebuilding new systems, maybe smaller & more agile.

Thank you ❤!! It helped me out .

One of the best videos I’ve watched! Thanks for sharing!