Advertise on podcast: Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career

You told yourself this month would be different. You would leave on time. You would get home before everyone else had already eaten. Then the MA called in sick, a patient needed to be squeezed in, and one more question caught you at the door. An hour later you were still there, having never consciously decided to stay. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines the pattern so many physicians live inside without realizing it: the automatic yes. It is not a lack of discipline or a failure to care about your priorities. It is the slow transformation of responsiveness from a professional strength into an identity—and eventually into an expectation you place on yourself. Drawing on the chocolate milk metaphor first introduced in Episode 3, the cardiac concept that diastole is not optional, and real coaching conversations, Dr. Hersh shows how medicine rewards availability until the very act of choosing disappears. He explores why cutting hours alone often fails, how “little moments” of attention accumulate into a life of leftovers for the people who matter most, and why the most powerful intervention is often simply learning to notice the yes that forms before you’ve even finished hearing the request. This episode is not another lecture on boundaries. It is an invitation to recover choice, one automatic yes at a time. Episode Mentioned: Episode 3: The Myth Of Work-Life Balance  Three Actionable Takeaways: Notice the Automatic Yes Before You Answer: Catch the moment your response is already forming. Do not force an immediate “no.” Simply observe how quickly the yes appears. Awareness is the first interruption of the reflex. Ask the Question the Dashboard Cannot Answer: Instead of “Can I make this work?” ask “What is this costing me?” Logistics and capacity are not the same as cost. The latter is what actually determines whether the yes is worth it. Treat Rest as Part of the Cycle, Not a Reward: Diastole is not optional. Rest does not appear after everything else is finished. Fewer clinical hours don't automatically mean more recovery if your mind stays on call. Protect the conditions that allow you to actually fill. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:  🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We talk a lot about what medicine costs physicians: burnout, call, inbox volume, and the constant interruptions. We spend far less time talking about what the career asks of the people who live on the other side of the pager. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Kendra Harvey, a physician spouse of more than two decades, mother of five, and host of the Supporting Physician Spouses podcast. Together they explore the hidden load carried by spouses: the nights, weekends, and plans that shift without warning; the identity changes that happen during training and early practice; and the quiet resentment that builds when conversations never find a place on the calendar. Kendra challenges the common advice to “have no expectations” and instead offers a more nuanced approach, lowering some expectations while fiercely protecting the ones that keep a marriage connected. She shares practical frameworks, including the 2-2-2 rule for intentional time together, the difference between parent-centered and family-centered homes, and the small, consistent actions physicians can take to make life meaningfully better for their partners. This conversation is not about blame. It is about seeing the full picture of what this career requires and choosing, with intention, to do more for the marriage than most people do for theirs. Three Actionable Takeaways: Create a Regular Cadence for Connection: There is rarely a perfect time for hard or meaningful conversations. Schedule recurring check-ins (just like you honor the call schedule) so you address issues before they compound into resentment. Lower Some Expectations, Protect Others: Unspoken or unrealistic expectations (e.g., dinner together five nights a week) create disappointment. Clear, negotiated expectations around communication, kindness, and presence protect the relationship. Make the implicit explicit. Build a Family-Centered Home: Shift from a parent-centered (or kid-centered) dynamic to one where every member of the family has protected time, resources, and consideration. Small adjustments to the calendar and budget can create meaningful space for the non-physician spouse. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Kendra Harvey has lived on the other side of the pager for more than two decades as the spouse of a neurosurgeon and mother of five. She began writing about the physician-spouse experience in 2011 and now coaches physician spouses while hosting the Supporting Physician Spouses podcast. Connect with Kendra: 🌐 Website: It Gets Better Now 🎙️ Podcast: Supporting Physician Spouses 📸 Instagram: @kendra_itgetsbetternow   About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:  🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the skepticism that protects you in medicine is the same force quietly limiting your options outside of it? In this solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh takes listeners inside his own transformation, from the doctor who proudly corrected his wife for calling a lollipop a “sucker” and rolled his eyes at coaching, to the physician who finally got curious enough to try it. He explores how medical training rewards certainty, independence, and the ability to figure everything out alone, and how those strengths can become a trap when applied to career dissatisfaction, burnout, and the quiet question so many physicians carry: Is this really it? Through personal stories, honest reflections on FIRE, productivity metrics, and the online backlash against coaching, Dr. Hersh distinguishes helpful due diligence from the kind of skepticism that stops information-gathering altogether. He shares what he observed in other physicians who stayed skeptical while coaching, and still walked away with clearer decisions, less emotional carryover from clinic, and a different relationship to the same job. This episode is not a sales pitch. It’s an invitation to examine the version of medicine you’re currently living and ask whether it’s the only one available to you. Episode Mentioned;  Episode 16 -  What If You Took the Risk? Physician Entrepreneurship & Change with Dr. Jimmy Turner  Three Actionable Takeaways: Separate Useful Skepticism from Protective Momentum: Skepticism that leads to due diligence is valuable. Skepticism that becomes “this could never help someone like me” without further investigation is simply momentum. Notice which one is operating when you dismiss options that fall outside your current playbook. Ask the Question That Breaks the Loop: “If I don’t do this, what changes?” forces an honest inventory of the status quo. If the answer is “nothing,” you now have data that staying the same is an active choice rather than a neutral default. Compare Your Life Only to Versions You’ve Actually Lived: Rating your career a “7” only makes sense relative to the experiences you’ve had. You cannot accurately evaluate whether a different way of practicing is possible if you’ve never experienced one. Curiosity, not certainty, is the only way to gather that missing information. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:  🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if one of the biggest sources of physician stress isn't a lack of control but a misunderstanding of where control actually exists? In this insightful solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines the tension physicians experience between trying to control outcomes that were never fully theirs to guarantee while simultaneously giving away control over the parts of life that actually belong to them. Using a personal story about a carefully planned family vacation disrupted by illness, Dr. Hersh illustrates how easily physicians fall into an all-or-nothing mindset about control. He explains why medical training reinforces the belief that more effort always produces better outcomes and how that belief begins to break down in real-world medicine. The conversation moves beyond clinical practice to everyday life, exploring how physicians unknowingly surrender control over their evenings, attention, and family time while fighting battles they can never fully win. Dr. Hersh offers a practical framework for distinguishing between what deserves your effort and what deserves your acceptance, helping physicians reclaim the choices that truly matter. This episode is a powerful reminder that while you can't control every outcome, you can always choose how you show up for the people and moments that matter most. Three Actionable Takeaways: Separate Outcomes from Choices: Not every outcome in medicine or life is within your control. Your responsibility lies in the quality of your decisions, not the certainty of results. Focus on making thoughtful, evidence-based choices rather than trying to guarantee perfect outcomes. This shift reduces pressure and helps you stay grounded in reality. Identify the Decisions That Still Belong to You: Even in a demanding healthcare system, many choices remain yours: when you leave work, how you manage your inbox, whether you reopen Epic at night, and how present you are with loved ones. Recognizing these small but powerful areas of control helps you reclaim agency and restore balance daily. Replace All-or-Nothing Thinking with Precision: Instead of asking whether you are in control or not, break situations into specific parts. Ask what exactly is yours to influence and what is not. This precise thinking mirrors clinical reasoning and helps reduce overwhelm, allowing you to act intentionally rather than defaulting to frustration or helplessness. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do physicians remember one complication more vividly than thousands of successful cases? In this deeply reflective solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines the hidden emotional burden physicians carry after an unexpected complication or unfavorable patient outcome. While the clinical work may be finished, the internal conversation often continues, replaying every decision, questioning every action, and quietly wondering what the outcome says about who they are as a physician. Dr. Hersh explores the difference between learning from a case and punishing yourself for it, explaining how physicians often confuse honest self-reflection with self-condemnation. He discusses why complications become identity questions, how perfectionism and medical training reinforce these beliefs, and why compartmentalizing difficult cases without processing them can quietly contribute to burnout over time. Most importantly, this episode reminds physicians that one complication deserves careful review, not lifelong self-condemnation. Separating the facts of the case from the story we tell ourselves is an essential step toward both professional growth and personal well-being. Episode Mentioned: Episode 24:  Surgical Complications and Self-Doubt: How Surgeons Recalibrate After Hard Cases with Dr. Amy Vertrees Three Actionable Takeaways: Separate the Facts from the Story: Review difficult cases objectively to identify genuine learning opportunities, but avoid turning one outcome into a judgment about your worth or competence as a physician. Process Difficult Cases Instead of Shelving Them: Compartmentalization helps you care for the next patient, but unresolved emotional weight accumulates over time. Make space to reflect before moving on. Remember That Risk Is Part of Medicine: Every procedure carries known risks, even in the hands of experienced physicians. A complication does not erase years of excellent care or define your entire career. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do the skills that make physicians exceptional in the exam room sometimes make relationships at home more difficult? In this thought-provoking solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines one of the most common yet overlooked challenges physicians face: the tendency to solve problems when loved ones simply want to be heard. Drawing from personal experiences with his wife and daughter, as well as conversations with physician clients, he explains how years of medical training condition doctors to identify problems, formulate solutions, and close the loop, even when that's not what's needed. Dr. Hersh explores the emotional burden physicians often carry, the hidden fear that drives the need to fix everything, and why releasing responsibility for solving everyone else's problems can strengthen relationships rather than weaken them. He also offers practical strategies for becoming more present, listening without an agenda, and replacing the need to fix with the willingness to simply help. This episode is a powerful reminder that while fixing resolves problems, helping shares burdens, and the people who love us often need our presence more than our solutions. Three Actionable Takeaways: Ask Whether They Want Help or a Solution: Before offering advice, pause and ask yourself whether your loved one is looking for answers or simply wants someone to listen. Presence often matters more than problem-solving. Notice the Urge to Fix: When you feel the impulse to jump in with solutions, recognize it as a sign of care, not a command to act. Choosing to listen first creates deeper trust and connection. Focus on Connection Instead of Resolution:Rather than measuring success by whether the problem is solved, measure it by whether the people you love feel heard, supported, and understood. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when the career you once believed would last forever no longer feels like the right fit? In this insightful solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the emotional and psychological realities that physicians face when they begin to consider career transitions. Whether it's reducing clinical hours, exploring leadership, pursuing non-clinical opportunities, or simply wondering what comes next, the biggest obstacle often isn't logistics; it's identity. Dr. Hersh explains why physicians struggle with becoming beginners again after years of expertise, how uncertainty differs from complexity, and why many career changes are driven less by dissatisfaction with medicine itself and more by the systems surrounding it. He also discusses the importance of moving toward a meaningful future instead of simply escaping a difficult present. This episode offers practical wisdom for physicians who are questioning their current path while reminding listeners that successful transitions are rarely giant leaps; they're built through small experiments, thoughtful reflection, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. Three Actionable Takeaways: Focus on What You're Moving Toward: Before making a career change, identify what you're hoping to build, not just what you're trying to leave behind. Purpose-driven decisions create more fulfilling transitions. Separate Your Identity From Your Job Title: Being a physician is part of who you are, but it doesn't have to define your entire identity. Your skills, values, and impact can extend far beyond clinical practice. Start With Small Experiments: Career transitions don't require immediate, life-changing decisions. Explore consulting, leadership, teaching, coaching, or other opportunities gradually to discover what truly fits. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when medicine quietly becomes the place where you give your best self, leaving your family, relationships, and personal life with whatever energy remains? In this solo episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh examines a painful but common pattern among physicians: becoming exceptionally skilled at showing up for patients, colleagues, and healthcare systems while becoming increasingly absent from the moments and people that matter most at home. Through stories from physicians across specialties, Dr. Hersh illustrates how years of training physicians to override exhaustion, uncertainty, emotion, and personal needs can slowly evolve into a life built around endurance rather than presence. He discusses the concept of betrayal in medicine, the slow realization that hard work and reliability don't always lead to recognition or fulfillment, and how many physicians unknowingly become experts at enduring their own lives. The conversation explores identity fusion, productivity pressures, emotional exhaustion, and the tendency to postpone change until crisis strikes. Ultimately, this episode offers a compassionate reminder that physicians do not need to wait until they are burned out, ready to quit, or falling apart to seek support. Sometimes, the goal isn't transformation. It's simply creating enough space to experience your own life while you're living it. Three Actionable Takeaways: Stop Waiting for Catastrophe: Functioning and being okay are not the same thing. You don't need to be in crisis before acknowledging that something important is costing you more than you want to pay. Notice the Cost of Endurance: The ability to push through exhaustion and stress may have helped you survive training, but over time, it can become a barrier to being fully present in your own life. Begin paying attention to what your endurance is costing you. Redefine Success at Home: Many physicians strive to excel professionally while unintentionally offering their families the most depleted version of themselves. Small changes that create more presence at home can have a profound impact over time. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife     If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens after we understand trust, uncertainty, and depletion? How do we actually put those ideas into practice when life becomes unpredictable, stressful, and painful? In this final part of their four-part series, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf to bring together the foundational concepts they've explored over the past several episodes. Together, they discuss why the goal is not to eliminate hardship, uncertainty, or traumatic stress exposure, but to develop the skills, relationships, and resources needed to move through those experiences without causing unnecessary harm to ourselves or others. Drawing from neurophysiology, leadership science, trauma responsiveness, and deeply personal stories, Dr. Sarraf explains why "story follows state," how nervous system activation shapes the narratives we create, and why connection remains one of the most powerful antidotes to toxic stress. They also discuss grief, moral distress, traumatic exposure, leadership responsibility, and the importance of preparing teams for difficult moments before they happen. The conversation highlights Lodestar's programs, including Brave Leadership, All of Us, Trauma Mitigation Masterclass, coaching, and restorative coaching, illustrating how leaders and organizations can intentionally build cultures rooted in trust, safety, and sustainable human connection. Ultimately, this episode reminds us that while exposure to uncertainty, adversity, and suffering may be unavoidable, the harm that often follows does not have to be. With practice, intentionality, and the right support systems, individuals and teams can remain connected, resilient, and deeply human even under pressure. Three Actionable Takeaways: Remember That Story Follows State: The narratives we create are heavily influenced by the current state of our nervous systems. Learning to recognize activation and regulate before reacting allows us to respond more intentionally and compassionately. Prepare Teams for the Rapids Before They Arrive: Hard moments are inevitable. High-performing teams build trust, safety, communication skills, and supportive relationships before adversity strikes, rather than trying to create them during a crisis. Lean Into Connection During Uncertainty: Connection remains one of the most effective disruptors of toxic stress. Cultivating supportive relationships and allowing others to show up for us preserves energy, hope, and resilience. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do highly capable people become deeply depleted without realizing it? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf for the third installment of their four-part leadership series. Together, they unpack one of Lodestar's most impactful teaching tools: the Reservoir Model. Using the metaphor of a reservoir, Dr. Sarraf explains how capacity, resilience, energy, rest, and depletion interact in our daily lives. She challenges traditional approaches to resilience that focus solely on doing more and instead encourages listeners to examine what is draining them, what replenishes them, and how they can become more intentional about protecting their energy. The conversation explores why rest is not a reward but a biological necessity, how spillways silently drain our capacity, the importance of identifying supportive “spotters” in our lives, and why striving for perfect balance often creates more frustration than fulfillment. Through practical examples and leadership insights, Dr. Sarraf offers a compassionate framework for helping physicians and other professionals show up fully for the people and work they care about most. Three Actionable Takeaways: Audit Your Spillways: Identify the activities, habits, and commitments that continually drain your energy. Rather than eliminating everything, experiment with turning down or closing spillways that no longer serve you. Treat Rest as a Requirement: Rest is not something to be earned after completing endless tasks. Like the heart's preload phase, rest is essential for restoring capacity and sustaining meaningful work. Listen to Your Spotters: Trusted family members, friends, and colleagues often notice depletion before we do. Learning to hear their feedback as helpful data rather than criticism can prevent burnout and preserve well-being. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens to people and teams when certainty disappears? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf for the second installment of their four-part leadership series. Together, they examine the profound impact uncertainty has on our nervous systems, our relationships, and our ability to think, lead, and collaborate effectively. Drawing from neuroscience, trauma responsiveness, leadership science, and neurophysiology, Dr. Sarraf explains why uncertainty is one of the most metabolically expensive experiences humans endure. She explores how prolonged uncertainty heightens threat responses, increases cognitive biases, erodes our ability to recognize cues of safety, and contributes to exhaustion, polarization, and diminished well-being. The conversation highlights practical ways leaders can become intentional cues of safety, helping teams regulate stress, restore trust, and remain connected even when answers are unavailable. Through examples from healthcare, military leadership, and Lodestar's Brave Leadership program, Dr. Sarraf demonstrates how uncertainty can be navigated skillfully and why hope grows when people feel equipped with actionable tools. Three Actionable Takeaways: Recognize the Cost of Uncertainty: Uncertainty consumes significant cognitive and emotional resources. Understanding its effects can help leaders approach themselves and others with greater compassion. Become a Cue of Safety: Leaders can intentionally create environments that reduce threat responses through transparency, consistency, nourishment, physical presence, and predictable structures. Slow Down During Activation: When people become reactive, their nervous systems require time to regulate before meaningful conversations can happen. Pausing and co-regulating help preserve relationships and improve communication. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife     If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do talented teams sometimes struggle despite having highly skilled members? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf, founder of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching, for the first of a four-part series exploring the hidden drivers beneath burnout, leadership, and team culture. Together, they challenge the notion that trust, safety, and connection are merely "soft skills" and instead present compelling evidence that these elements are foundational to high-performing teams. Drawing on neurophysiology, leadership research, trauma responsiveness, and experience working with physicians, military personnel, educators, attorneys, and law enforcement professionals, Dr. Sarraf explains why tending to the nervous system is essential to helping teams perform under pressure. They discuss psychological safety, Google's Project Aristotle findings, the four pillars of trust, trust wobbles, repairing ruptures, leadership vulnerability, and why trust can be built much faster than most people realize. This conversation offers practical insights for leaders seeking to create healthier teams, improve communication, and return to the kind of meaningful work that first inspired them to enter medicine. Three Actionable Takeaways: Build Trust Intentionally: Trust grows from four pillars: these are authenticity, reliability, compassion, and competence. Identifying your own "trust wobble" helps you strengthen relationships and lead more effectively. Lead Through Nervous System Awareness: High-performing teams thrive when leaders intentionally create cues of safety that reduce stress and allow team members to think, collaborate, and perform at their best. Repair Ruptures Transparently: When trust is broken, acknowledge the impact, invite feedback, and communicate how you plan to move forward differently. Honest repair strengthens relationships over time. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a practicing physician suddenly finds themselves on the other side of the chart?  In this powerful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Peter Crane, a rural family physician living with metastatic cancer. Dr. Crane shares his deeply personal journey,  from discovering a 26-centimeter sarcoma at age 43 to undergoing radiation, major surgery, and ongoing treatment, and how this experience reignited his love for medicine and clarified what makes a medical career truly sustainable. Together, they discuss why physicians often lose sight of their original calling, the importance of intentional career reassessment, financial preparedness, the power of saying “no,” and the need for physicians to reclaim agency in their professional lives. This conversation is both moving and practical, a reminder of the profound privilege of practicing medicine and how to protect that joy for the long term. Three Actionable Takeaways: Reassess Your Career Intentionally: Around years 8–12, take stock of your work. Ask yourself: “If this were my business, is this how I would choose to practice?” This reflection prevents resentment and helps you design a career that fits. Build Financial and Personal Sustainability: Secure your finances early, maintain disability insurance, and create space for rest, meals, and recovery. True longevity in medicine requires more than just reducing hours; it demands control over your time and energy. Focus on Gratitude and Impact: When days feel heavy, intentionally remember the unique privilege of being a physician. Highlighting the positive difference you make (rather than only the frustrations) transforms daily experience and supports long-term fulfillment. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified family physician practicing full-spectrum rural medicine in Idaho. After a life-altering diagnosis with a rare sarcoma at age 43, his perspective on medicine was profoundly transformed. He is the creator and host of the Doctors Making a Difference podcast, where he highlights physicians making a meaningful impact through leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and innovative practice models. Connect with Dr. Peter Crane:  Podcast: Doctors Making a Difference  Website: doctorsmakingadifference.com  YouTube: Doctors Making a Difference About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if physicians don’t actually want to leave medicine but just want more control over how they practice it? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh is joined by Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez for an honest conversation about telemedicine, physician autonomy, and navigating alternative career paths within healthcare. Together, they explore why so many physicians are drawn to telemedicine and flexible work models, but also why many doctors underestimate the operational, regulatory, and business realities that accompany these opportunities. From medical directorships and PC ownership to compliance concerns and burnout in virtual care, this episode dives into the questions physicians should ask before jumping into telemedicine. Dr. Damasco shares his personal experience transitioning into telemedicine during the COVID boom, while Phoebe offers insight into the regulatory and operational side of digital healthcare, including the risks physicians unknowingly assume when they accept certain roles. This conversation is both a practical guide and a broader discussion about physician leadership, career design, and reclaiming influence in the future of medicine. Three Actionable Takeaways: ● Flexibility Without Clarity Can Lead to More Burnout: Many physicians pursue telemedicine looking for freedom, but without understanding what they truly want from their careers, they can quickly recreate the same dissatisfaction in a different environment. ● Physicians Need to Understand the Business and Compliance Side of Telemedicine: Medical directorships, PC ownership, and telemedicine roles often involve responsibilities physicians do not fully understand. Asking deeper operational and regulatory questions is essential for protecting both licenses and careers. ● Physicians Belong at the Center of Digital Healthcare: Telemedicine and digital health are shaping the future of medicine. The more physicians step into leadership, operational, and strategic roles, the more influence they can have on building healthcare systems that actually work for patients and providers. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guests: Dr. Leo Damasco is a pediatric and emergency medicine physician who has spent years working in telemedicine and virtual care. He helps physicians better understand the realities of telemedicine careers, operational structures, and how to navigate digital healthcare opportunities safely and strategically. Phoebe Gutierrez specializes in healthcare compliance, operational strategy, and regulatory affairs within digital health and telemedicine. She works closely with physicians and healthcare organizations to help build compliant, sustainable telemedicine infrastructures while educating clinicians on the risks and realities of the industry. Podcast:  Telemedicine Talks Website:  telemedicinetalks.com Slack Community: Available through the Telemedicine Talks website About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the setback you’re experiencing is not failure, but incomplete information? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh reflects on Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and the famous story of “Three Feet from Gold.” While physicians are often taught persistence through years of medical training, the challenge later in their careers is not simply working harder; it is learning to navigate uncertainty when the next step is no longer clearly defined. Dr. Hersh explores how many physicians interpret disappointing early results as evidence that an idea, career pivot, leadership path, or side project is unrealistic. Whether it’s pursuing leadership, negotiating schedule flexibility, consulting, or building something outside clinical medicine, early obstacles often become personal verdicts instead of opportunities for reassessment. This episode is a reminder that stalled progress does not always mean the goal is wrong. Sometimes the problem is not effort, but perspective, timing, strategy, or fatigue. And sometimes the most important career decisions deserve the same thoughtful reassessment physicians naturally apply inside the exam room. Three Actionable Takeaways: ● Early Setbacks Are Not Always Final Answers: A disappointing first attempt does not automatically mean the idea is wrong. Physicians often mistake incomplete information, poor timing, or lack of experience for evidence that they should stop altogether. ● Exhaustion Can Distort Career Decisions: Many doctors evaluate major life and career questions when they are mentally drained after clinic, call, or long workdays. Fatigue can make temporary frustration feel permanent and cause physicians to abandon ideas prematurely. ● New Career Skills Require Beginner-Level Patience: Leadership, negotiation, consulting, business, and entrepreneurship are skills that naturally feel uncomfortable at first. Physicians are accustomed to expertise, which makes the discomfort of learning something new especially difficult to tolerate. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians. Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next. You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.