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

What if the hardest part of being a surgeon isn’t the case in front of you… But the one still living in your head at 2 a.m.? In this powerful episode of Better Physician Life, board-certified general surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), and physician coach Dr. Amy Vertrees gets brutally honest about the part of surgery no one teaches: how to handle complications without destroying yourself. From de...

Ever walk in the door after a long day and realize your mind is still charting, triaging, and planning tomorrow?  In this practical episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh opens up about the moment his daughter asked, “Dad, why aren’t you playing?” and how that question changed everything. He explains why medicine trains us to live in constant motion, why multitasking at home is actual...

What if New Year’s resolutions aren't the answer, but goals rooted in your "why" could transform your year? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh shares his shift from post-fellowship coasting to purposeful goal-setting. He explores why resolutions fail (no plan, no why), the fear holding us back, and how to set rooted goals with curiosity, systems, and celebration. Perfect f...

What if regret isn't truth, but a story stealing your present? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks regret's grip on physicians—from specialty choices to life paths. He reveals how regret is indulgent and impedes progress. Dr. Hersh explores the impact of shifting from “what if?” to "what now?" through reflection, naming gifts, and intentional action. With examples o...

What if coaching isn't just hype, but evidence-backed medicine for your well-being? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Adrienne Mann and Dr. Tyra Fainstad, as they share their skeptical starts with physician coaching and how it evolved into a groundbreaking program. Drawing from personal rock-bottom moments and a large-scale study showing reduced burnout, imp...

What if the key to better patient interactions isn't more time or expertise, but how you show up? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Bradley Block as he shares his journey from communication struggles to mastery. Starting his podcast after a frustrating clinic day that cost him family time, Dr. Block reveals why efficiency serves everyone—from waiting patient...

What if your "good enough" life is quietly eroding your potential? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores complacency—the subtle numbness that sneaks in after success, making routines feel stale without crisis. Sharing personal stories, like his own "rinse and repeat" year and a client's guitar breakthrough, he challenges physicians to rate their lives (1-10), questio...

What if the constant feeling of "not enough" is the real virus draining your life in medicine? In this reflective episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the scarcity mindset that permeates physicians' lives—from chasing RVUs and promotions to feeling there's never enough time for family or self-care. Drawing from personal stories, like the anxiety of new hires or a canceled Th...

What if embracing change could unlock a more fulfilling life in medicine? In this inspiring episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Dr. Jimmy Turner, an academic anesthesiologist, certified coach, author of Determined: How Burned Out Doctors Can Thrive in a Broken Medical System, and co-host of the Money Meets Medicine podcast. Jimmy shares his journey from skepticism to...

What if your future self could tell you what matters most right now? In this Insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh invites you to imagine the older, wiser version of yourself—10, 20, or 30 years from now—and consider what they’d thank you for today. Reflecting on his own journey of neglecting health, missing family moments, and feeling stuck, Dr. Hersh shares how medicine’...

What if the frustration you feel isn’t about others, but the silent rules you expect them to follow? In this insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the invisible "manuals" physicians carry—unspoken expectations about how colleagues, patients, and even family should act. Drawing from personal stories, like clenching his jaw in traffic or feeling let down by unspoken...

What if the shame we bury in medicine is actually a signal for growth? Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Will Bynum to explore the role of shame in physicians' lives. Drawing from Dr. Bynum's personal journey, from a residency error and personal struggles to discovering Brené Brown's work, they unpack shame's definition, its ties to vulnerability (especially for men), and its overlaps with fixe...

Ever feel like happiness is just one milestone away, only to find the finish line keeps moving? Dr. Michael Hersh explores the "arrival fallacy." The trap of believing that the next achievement will finally bring fulfillment. Drawing from his own journey, from counting down fellowship days to chasing financial independence, he reveals how this mindset keeps physicians stuck in a cycle of striving....

What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is the key to the life you want? Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the transformative power of choosing discomfort intentionally. He reflects on how physicians often trade the discomfort of growth for the familiar unease of staying stuck, whether it’s Sunday night dread or the quiet regret of unfulfilled potential. Dr. Hersh shares personal stories and actionable...

What if the perfectionism that drives your success as a physician is also holding you back? Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the trap of perfectionism. They dive into how medical culture fosters a "favorite flaw" mindset, glorifying flawless performance while fueling burnout, anxiety, and self-criticism. Dr. Shabbir shares her personal journey, from battling postpartum d...

What stops you from chasing the life or career you truly want?  In this episode of Better Physician Life , Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the fear of failure—a quiet but powerful force that keeps physicians stuck. Reflecting on his own hesitations and coaching experiences, he explores how the pressure to succeed, ingrained through years of medical training, can make any misstep feel like a personal...

What if the ambition that made you a great physician is now holding you back? In this episode of Better Physician Life , Dr. Michael Hersh explores the hidden cost of "achievement addiction"—a mindset ingrained in physicians from early education through residency. He reflects on how the relentless pursuit of success, from gold stars to board scores, can morph into a treadmill where happiness fades...

Physician and medical student suicide is a silent epidemic, claiming the lives of an estimated 300–400 U.S. doctors each year.  In this episode, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes John and Michele Dietl, parents of Dr. Kevin Dietl. Together, they remember Kevin’s journey, reflect on the pressures and isolation that can come with medical training, and share their advocacy work to break the stigma surroundi...

“I didn’t go into medicine to become this.”  It’s a quiet thought. But most of us have had it at some point in our careers. We start with purpose, with energy, with an eagerness to help. And then… the years add up. Patient after patient. Room after room. The tragedies and the hard conversations. The exhaustion of being everything for everyone else. We hold it together with a thin veneer—until it c...

Can awareness transform your medical practice and personal life? Host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the deceptively simple concept of “you don’t know what you don’t know” on Better Physician Life . Reflecting on his own shift from coasting on autopilot to embracing intentional awareness, he shares how physicians’ ingrained need to “have all the answers” can create invisible mental ruts.  Drawing on...

Dr. Michael Hersh gets honest about the silent rules many physicians live by: always be available, always stay clinical, never stray from the traditional path. But what happens when those rules begin to feel like a cage rather than a calling? Through personal stories, reflective exercises, and heartfelt insight, Dr. Hersh invites listeners to examine the story they've inherited about what it means...

Balance isn’t about managing your time perfectly. It’s about giving yourself permission to live fully. Dr. Michael Hersh gets real about the myth of work-life balance and why it often falls short of reality. With honesty and insight, he explains how medicine seeps into every corner of life, making separation nearly impossible. Rather than trying to extract “life” from an already blended identity,...

What happens when the white coat no longer feels like the right fit? In this episode, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the real-world journey of physician reinvention not as a dramatic overhaul, but as an intentional, grounded shift toward meaning and alignment. He shares why mid-career restlessness isn’t a crisis but a clue, and why the question “Is this it?” may be the beginning of a more honest, fu...

What if success doesn’t feel like it should?  In this premiere episode of Better Physician Life , Dr. Michael Hersh opens up about his own experience feeling stuck in what looked like a successful career. He describes the slow, persistent whisper that told him something was missing, despite having checked all the boxes of traditional medical achievement. Rather than treating that restlessness as a...

What if the life you built wasn’t wrong… it just no longer fits? In this introductory episode of Better Physician Life , Dr. Michael Hersh shares the deeply personal story of how outward success slowly gave way to quiet disconnection. From leading in clinical practice to missing bedtime stories and laughter in the next room, he walks us through the subtle unraveling that so many physicians silentl...