The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast

Are you paralyzed by the size of your goals? If so, you are not alone. When we're thinking of doing something new, we may create a vision that instead of inspiring us, leads to overwhelm and we never get started. I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Nick Jenkins, an internal medicine hospitalist who started with an oversized vision of having his own DPC practice but was able to start instead wit...

Curious about investing in real estate, but unsure where to begin? You may be surprised by the variety of opportunities and accessible options to get you started. Our guest, Dr. Ronnie Shalev, knew she had to expand her horizons after years of burnout as an emergency medicine physician. Today, she is a successful investor, author, and co-founder of Sherwin Properties. Join us for a complete rundow...

Have you ever wondered if how you were raised might secretly influence your career choices as a physician? In this week's episode, Dr. Pam Pappas and I delve into the influence of childhood experiences on physicians contemplating career changes. We explore how growing up with financial instability, trauma, or in an otherwise dysfunctional family can impact our approach to career decisions. Dr. Pap...

With the recent evolution of artificial intelligence programs, they have become a popular tool for a variety of tasks. They can be used to write a cover letter, build a resume, or even plan your meals for the week. But can AI assist physicians who find themselves at the white coat crossroads? In this solo episode, I ask AI a variety of questions from physicians at the crossroads and share the resp...

Are you desiring a career change that is both engaging and impactful? If so, you are in the right place! I am so excited to share this episode on a topic we have not explored much on this podcast: public health. Our guest today is Dr. Lynn Sosa, the Director of Infectious Disease and State Epidemiologist for the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Dr. Sosa shares the journey that got her ther...

You've done your research and are ready for a new nonclinical role; all that's left is landing the interview. However, you're not quite sure if you should send in a resume or a CV, or even what the difference exactly is. You want to showcase your skills and experience, but you may not be sure how to communicate them. In today's solo episode, I'll be sharing 5 reasons why a well designed resume can...

If achieving work-life balance proves challenging within your clinical position, transitioning to a medical director role at a benefit management company could offer a potential solution for you. Benefit management companies are involved with optimizing healthcare services, controlling costs, and improving outcomes for individuals covered under benefit plans.  Our guest today, Dr. Michele Cho Dora...

We all know that good communication is essential in medicine. From connecting with patients to interacting with colleagues, interpersonal communication is key to doing what we became doctors to do - treat patients. But as today's returning guest Dr. Ryan Bayley is here to discuss, the wrong communication style can lead to significant consequences, including losing your hospital privileges, or even...

One of my career mantras is "fix it up before you give it up". That's because leaving medicine is a big deal, but burnout can have you looking for the fastest way out, which isn't always the best option. In order to make the right decision for you, it's helpful to do everything you can to make things better before leaving. In this revisited episode from my first season, interventional radiologist...

Deciding whether to stay in clinical medicine or leave is a high-stakes choice many physicians consider, and it's important to know you aren't alone in contemplating this million-dollar question. If you're at the white coat crossroads, how do you know if you can find a way to be happier in medicine or if it's time to leave? In today's episode, we're revisiting my very first podcast from October 20...

While many physicians shift into nonclinical roles at the mid- or late-career stage, it's not unusual for those as early as medical school or residency to be interested in exploring their nonclinical options. However, it's common to have more confusion than clarity about this topic so early in the game. My returning guest today, Dr. Heidi Moawad, is a neurologist and writer who mentors medical stu...

Let's face it, physicians like to do things perfectly. However, the career change path is uncharted territory for most physicians, and unexpected challenges are bound to occur once we leave the one-size-fits-all road to a clinical career. While some mistakes along the way are inevitable, there are also important techniques you can employ to conquer obstacles during your career change journey. Toda...

No matter your career path, being an effective communicator is an essential skill in any professional setting. Yet, most of us haven't received any formal education in this area, despite our many years of training. To make matters worse, when poor or disruptive communication occurs in the healthcare setting, it can lead to disciplinary action for physicians. And communicating too passively (or not...

When you're burned out and considering leaving clinical medicine, it's natural to treat your career transition like a project that needs to be completed. After all, who loves a good checklist more than a physician? But the truth of the matter is that resolution of this complex issue doesn't always come quickly, especially when you're at the end of your emotional rope. Today's guest, internal medic...

If you've considered pursuing a leadership role, you may have wondered what it's like to be a Chief Medical Officer, or CMO, and what exactly the day-to-day role entails. Look no further  because today's guest, Dr. Serene Perkins, is here to answer your questions about all things CMO. Dr. Perkins is a surgeon who modified her clinical practice to find better balance and discovered her passion for...

When you're considering a nonclinical career, an informational interview can be an invaluable tool in your career change toolbox. Informational interviews can help you learn more about a specific role, build your network, and sometimes even lead to a job offer! However, it's essential to know how to professionally handle each step in the process to get the most out of this helpful opportunity. In...

The physician advisor role is one that can be a bit confusing to understand just from the title alone. Our guest today, Dr. Ron Hirsch, is going to help clarify what physicians advisors do when working in a boots-on-the-ground capacity for a hospital system versus working remotely for a third-party company that provides physician advisory services. Dr. Hirsch will be sharing details about both typ...

What parts of your current role would you change if you could? Flexibility? Work-life balance? Autonomy? Variety? These are among the top aspects of their jobs that practicing physicians wish they could improve. And while this can sometimes be out of reach in the clinical realm, flexing your entrepreneurial muscle can be a fun and exciting way to achieve these goals. Today's guest, Dr. Heather Sig...

Have you ever wondered if you have an inner leader in you? My guest today, Dr. Mayan Bomsztyk, never intended to follow a leadership path in her career, assuming instead that she would practice full-time primary care. Fast forward to today and she's the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Veterans Affairs in the Sierra Pacific Region. Dr. Bomsztyk is here to share how following your instincts along y...

When you think about utilization review roles for health insurance companies, is your first thought, "I don't want to be the one denying someone's care"? This is a common sentiment for physicians who may have been on the opposite end of this role. My guest today, pedidatrcian Dr. Stacie Laff, had similar concerns before she transitioned into a utilization review role after 25 years of clinical pra...

Do you remember Dr. Alec Jacobson from Episode 115? He's a fourth-year pathology resident who realized clinical medicine is not for him and he generously offered to share his career transition story in real-time as a guest on the show. In Episode 115, Dr. Jacobson shared what led him to his decision to leave clinical medicine after residency. Today, Alec is back to discuss the steps he's taken sin...

Have you ever wished you could make improving the EMR part of your job, but shrugged off the idea because you don't have a technical background? My guest today, Dr. Julie Hollberg, is a hospitalist and the CMIO of Emory Healthcare. She's here to discuss how she climbed the informatics ladder and why a technical background is not a prerequisite for this role. Dr. Hollberg will discuss the various w...

You may be aware of the field of medical writing, but have you heard of medical writers who specialize in CME writing? This area of medical writing involves planning, designing, and executing the kinds of CME activities you may be familiar with for maintaining your license. Today's returning guest, Dr. Morgan Leafe, is a pediatrician and medical writer who works in the CME space, and she's here to...

Did you know that little things you do every day in your role as a physician make you a valuable knowledge consultant for companies? It's true! Biotech, pharma, and other industries are always looking for physicians with expertise in a variety of areas to share their knowledge and experience with them. My guest today, Alison Davis, is the General Manager of Corporate Markets for GLG, a company tha...

The root cause for many physicians seeking a career change is burnout. However, for some physicians with burnout, the best solution might be participating in a different kind of clinical work to rediscover their love for the profession. Today's guest, physician and founder of the non-profit One Good Turn, Dr. Ann Messer, is here to share how a volunteer trip changed the entire trajectory of her ca...