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

[@KimFosterMD]

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! 💛

[@WajidAli-qy2tc]

I would love to communicate my experiences I'm registered medical practioner in pakistan

[@WajidAli-qy2tc]

Always live to listen to u

[@abcdefg216]

This video could be mine... (well not the same level of youtube skill but all of the rest). I just stoped and changed 3 weeks ago, now Im on the "same" path as you.

[@ryonensherbatsky8290]

Congratulations Dr. Kim. Please speak more about your desicion to leave your health care career. It is so inspiring.

[@ryonensherbatsky8290]

Please also share about how you healed yourself with autoimmune diaease. Thank you very much indeed.

[@V.stones]

I also did, worked in a pharmaceutical company. I was burnt out. The hours were relentless, and I barely had time for my family. Second, I realized that despite the money, I wasn’t happy. And finally, I figured out that life’s too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t bring you joy.

[@Jonesmatsunaga]

I can relate to that. I’ve been feeling the same way about my job lately. It’s tough to leave a secure position, though. How did you manage the financial side of things?

[@V.stones]

That was the hardest part, honestly. But I’ve always been careful with my money, and I made sure I had a solid plan before making the leap.

[@V.stones]

I also worked with Aaron Morgan Bell, my financial advisor, to figure out how to make it work.

[@MONROEJACQ]

I’ve heard of Aaron Morgan Bell. He’s known for being really good at helping people transition out of high-stress careers

[@V.stones]

Aaron Morgan Bell helped me map out a plan to live off my savings for a while without touching my retirement accounts. He also showed me how to diversify my investments so I could generate passive income. That way, I didn’t have to worry about cash flow while I figured out my next move.

[@dwmcsweeney]

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.

[@j.wilkerson1905]

"Disease Care" nailed it...

[@KimFosterMD]

I'm so glad for you - bravo for making such a bold move! 😊

[@Kat-s5f]

Love that line about disease care! It’s so true.

[@snorttroll4379]

We have a bit crap medicine still. Dark ages. See the stuff aubrey de grey and his cohort are working on

[@pattayaesl7128]

Pet sitter is a better job than hedge fund manager

[@Roberto-Escobar]

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 KZbin videos for my channel that help others recover from Long Covid. Totally resonate with your story.

[@kathleensaenz4717]

Good for you! I loved school nursing... I worked through a Registry as a sub. Now retired!

[@KimFosterMD]

Amazing, Roberto, I love this! It's not easy to make the move, but it sounds like you've created such a fulfilling life for yourself which is wonderful 😊

[@jimhurleywhitakerjr]

So glad for you that you followed your heart. Good for you.

[@MarySambrook]

Please Tell us how ...my Friends need Help, having been jabbed and still Had Covid and no Drs of EITHER persuasion can help them

[@snorttroll4379]

What about them long jab people:) Have a dr friend that was fired for saying preggo women shouldnt take the still not approved jabs. Btw check out aubrey de grey. The stuff he and others are working on, is where the real impact will come in medicine

[@marnav9205]

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.

[@KimFosterMD]

Thank you very much, I appreciate that ☺

[@AlamoDon]

Kim I spent 43 years in private practice. Didn’t accept insurance.Worked for the patient.Was often the 4th or 5th doctor.After 3 years at Mayo Clinic I worked with major clinics and often referred to them.THIS is the road never traveled which led to a fulfilling and rewarding life. ❤

[@kalamakumu3770]

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.

[@KimFosterMD]

I love that you kept your promise to yourself and made a graceful exit. So much courage. Thanks so much for watching 😊

[@lkuriskomd]

Good for you! I have been an MD for 36 years. I totally get what you are saying. I was a primary care doctor for three years. Most of primary care is about crises management and putting bandaids on lifestyle related illnesses. I am a diagnostic radiologist now. I look into people's charts regularly to get more info to interpret their scans. It seems almost everyone has at least one lifestyle disease like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, GERD, etc. These diseases are rooted in how people live and especially how they eat. The health care system is not focused on dealing with root causes which is appalling. That is why my wife and I started our own KZbin channel, Kurisko and Company. Someone needs to educate people on how to be healthy. The health care system sure isn't doing it.

[@immane75]

I have a similar but short experience , I begun by going into cardiology then shifted to radiology .

[@kevinpezzi6777]

Speaking as an MD: so true!

[@tomm5827]

It’s not the healthcare system that has failed to orient itself towards prevention vs. “crisis management”. You have to be living on another planet if you don’t, by now, know the difference between healthy and unhealthy lifestyle choices. You do not need a healthcare provider to tell you that. The fact that the population continues to smoke, drink, overeat and spend most of their time sitting on their arse in the face of overwhelming evidence that unequivocally demonstrates the destructive effects is why we have such a significant imbalance between healthcare need and healthcare resources. Healthcare providers should consider deprioritizing treatment for patients who choose not to do their part to address lifestyle choices that lead to poor health. That will motivate a lot of people to make changes and over time the medical profession will begin to have restored faith in and enthusiasm for their profession.

[@pierrepierre-nh5qg]

Disease is disturbed ease which at its root is a disturbed conscience, unresolved guilt leading to fear anger and ultimately rage. The behaviour a Doctor observes in a person's body is a symptom of disease not the "disease" itself! Treating symptoms without addressing the disease (unresolved guilt) adds fuel to the fire. Forgiveness, which comes from the ultimate merciful Judge Jesus, creator of everything that exists is the only act of grace that will wipe out guilt with confession and repentance. That's what resting in peace is all about even before we die. A troubled soul at the time of death has not made peace with its maker. Such a soul is not ready to die......however when your number is up, it's up. Bless your soul and don't let pride prevent you from experiencing eternal peace.

[@saddingtonmangena1241]

​@@pierrepierre-nh5qgwhat you said is slightly deeper to comprehend holistically but I agree with everything you said. I feel like we are disturbing God's original plan of 'ease' ,as you said ,thereby resulting in symptoms that are wrongly addressed as opposed to dealing with root-cause. Am a food technologist professionally and a Christian, I strongly encourage you to look at the effects of the modern processed foods we are consuming in line with a verse that says my people perish because of lack of knowledge

[@solohoh]

In 1961, my 3rd year of pre-med, I went to an old Tennessee country doctor and asked him "what does it take to be a doctor?" I will never forget the deep soulful response he gave me -- "you have to be very dedicated." I saw the light and chose to be a land surveyor.

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

I've occasionally thought of being a surveyor. Working outdoors, doing something useful, getting into difficult areas perhaps partway up a mountain but not having to do heavy work like logging or construction once I'm there. Math, and not just what regular people call math but real math like having some understanding of least squares fitting, statistical distrubutions. Working with data used for serious engineering and legal purposes. Variety covering construction, map-making, government. So, I ask: "what does it take to be a surveyor?" I suppose some dedication is involved!

[@ralfbettker-cuza7432]

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!

[@mwngw]

Servus aus den USA! ❤️🇩🇪

[@KimFosterMD]

That sounds perfect! Good for you for making that change! 😊

[@bainosisugua7136]

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.

[@Mrbfgray]

Was thinking there'd be middle ground. Possibly starting own clinic based on *your ideals* also an option. Much more rewarding but guaranteed demanding and long hrs at least for first decade or so.

[@donspence2110]

Working for Big Pharma and Insurance companies does not fly with me.... WE NEED DOCTORS WHO HEAL...HEAL..HEAL !!!!!!!!!

[@slchance8839]

@@Mrbfgray Business owner who also went to medical school here. Starting a business (ie your own clinic) is, in my opinion, much harder than medical school or being a doctor. As a doctor, you have a protocol and are taught what to do in an organized manner. Starting your own business is like learning how to fly a helicopter or play the drums with no formal training: a LOT of costly mistakes and problems from different angles: employee hiring and firing, zoning laws, social security, taxes, building inspectors, radiation safety protocol (X-ray machines), and scheduling, just to name a few. What makes you a good medical student and doctor -- studying, obedience to protocol, conventional thinking -- is not always the same thing needed to be an entrepreneur : -- social skills, leadership skills, vision, out of the box problem-solving, conflict resolution, negotation skills. When placed in a leadership role of a health care team, i've seen young doctors with high grades unable to properly LEAD PEOPLE for the first time, and instead they mumble or bark order or "do their own thing," and the more competent nurses have to take charge (for the umpteenth time, i'm sure).

[@Mrbfgray]

@@slchance8839 Sure. It need not be that big, a partnership of a few other docs often works. But it's not easy either, life ain't easy.

[@KimFosterMD]

That's wonderful that you've been able to find a place that's a great fit for you ☺

[@tshinder]

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.

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

Can you elaborate?

[@diorrybak335]

Would like to know about the career afterwards, what trajectory you took? Former doctors never say that part. I hardly think that they become janitors, forklift drivers or stock shelves at Walmart.

[@KW-qd9vq]

Yep

[@KimFosterMD]

Good for you! 🙌

[@KotoriOnWheels]

Left medicine, I'm working at a rock shop and started a vibrational medicine business and am the poorest I've ever been. 🎉 ​@@diorrybak335

[@TheTfk6]

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 ❤

[@Heimrik01]

Hello miss, can I ask what is your choice now ? Have you decided to pratice natural remedies coming from nature and plants ?

[@donnadrane4977]

My son is engaged to a young woman who just finished her medical/surgical residency. Her residency was five long grueling years, and he will be moving across the country because she will be working in Alaska, where she is from. I hope it goes well for them.

[@alanmichel613]

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!

[@marisol033]

What type of engineer?

[@Happiness379]

@@marisol033yes, I’d like to know, too. And how did you know engineering is the right path and is still feasible in this era?

[@alanmichel613]

Electrical Engineer. Engineering of many types is always needed. Right now it seems Material Science engineering is a big thing no one would guess.

[@bungee7503]

@@Happiness379in New Zealand, there is a branch of engineering called mechatronics, a combination of mechanical and electrical engineering. This is what I recommend; I’m a retired aeronautical engineer, involved with the local university.

[@Schekersculptors]

Omg I’m exact like you. I’m a IMG Dr and I was so unhappy trying to become a physician here in USA. It took 6 years to confront myself and be honest with me that I didn’t want to be a Dr anymore. Now I’m doing a nutrition and PT coach certification and opened my own business. And I never being so happy. Thank you for sharing your story ❤❤

[@myriammohsen8890]

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! 👏👏

[@Aivlyss]

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!

[@KimFosterMD]

I'm glad this resonated with you, and I'm so happy you've found something that fulfills you. Thanks so much for watching! ❤

[@WajidAli-qy2tc]

Wow

[@Adam22157]

​@@KimFosterMD my father is a doctor he made me study medicine ..in 3rd year now at age 28 !! Cuz i changed my major few times but he got me back to medicine again !! I didnot like it and i donot feel it is fullfiling !! And i donot know what to study at college ! What is your advice on that !! 🙏🌹

[@charlesdarwin5185]

Don't blame the system. Acknowledge your poor training and professional weakness.

[@jbridgehall4]

You are so right! I’m in Canada and take responsibility for my health with appropriate diet, exercise etc. but it’s a fight to get blood tests for glucose and cholesterol because I’m not taking statins or insulin, i chose to change my diet! We need a health system that supports those of us who choose to maintain health!!

[@Stephanie.Hudson]

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.

[@annmarieknapp]

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.

[@JTDIYM]

Wdym leaving Stanford?

[@annenittis6506]

I think he is still teaching at Stanford, is he not?

[@isaiahkarekezi5225]

@@annenittis6506same here

[@michaelsais2243]

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.

[@hunterandchavy]

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?

[@CM-qh4wj]

Hi Kim, wow I totally can relate with your story! I went through the same years of struggle as a Registered Nurse! I also developed a critical autoimmune condition and carried it for 9 years until something miraculous happened. I left nursing at some point and then began working for myself and over a couple years I was able to be healed from my autoimmune disease. I'm so grateful for your success story and glad you followed your inner guidance. I am still on the journey of trusting every day that as long as I'm doing what is best for my wellbeing then God will open doors to align with my best purpose! So glad I found your channel!💛💛💛

[@annenittis6506]

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. 😊

[@billroberts3864]

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.

[@KimFosterMD]

Thank you so much for these lovely words, I really appreciate it. I love how you said that you learned so much from each job before moving on, that's exactly it! It's never a waste. I don't regret anything, but I knew it was time to move on. It sounds like you're doing wonderful work in the world ☺

[@tomliu6358]

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.

[@thehistoryprof6750]

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.

[@tomwickham8938]

Like a fast food restaurant. So true@

[@susanhardin5182]

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..

[@Mrbfgray]

Can U do it part time?? Sounds totally different but not entirely--I'm semi retired from welding contracting after 4 decades. Better than ever at it but a bit burned out, still get purpose, provide valuable service to industry. Well above minimal 6 figures readily available. My hardest decision was to NOT go to work as engineer (after securing degree) for corporate. Powerful education that I *use* anyway, in some way or another, everyday.

[@tdgdbs1]

Specialize; I am a nurse anesthetist and found it to be very balanced, rewarded, satisfied.

[@churchofpos2279]

I was an RN for 30 years. My last job was as an CM. I enjoyed the work until the last 5 years, when patients became entitled and abusive. ( I was supposed to solve all of their poor choices). I was forced to retire, when I refused to get the Jab. I did not renew my license. I made a whole lifestyle change, including moving 2500 miles. I am now mortgage and debt free. I work part time in an industry totally not related to healthcare. Now totally living my best life. Would not go back to Healthcare.

[@Mrbfgray]

@@churchofpos2279 Wow that's a usefully telling story. I never considered such a corrosive change in public attitudes in that sphere. Is it the "socialization" of the industry largely to blame? Our healthcare system seems messed up almost across the board, starting w docs not taught prevention but only what drugs to prescribe, and dumber half of public thinking it's 'a human right'.

[@joleenschade]

I feel the same as a nurse practitioner who left patient care to work in case management

[@karenalexander1119]

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. ❤️

[@paulcolin9071]

Same experience multiple times greed has ruined healthcare

[@BDavidHome]

I've commented previously on another channel that ALL conventional doctors should have their own holistic/functional doctor. Love your story and wish you and your family the best.

[@stephkarto]

What you went through deciding to leave your medical career has such a STRONG parallel to all of the thinking, questioning, and reflecting that made me leave an academic career of 18 years and find a different direction.

[@FreshEclecticism]

Hi Kim! I’m a Registered Nurse who has come to the conclusion that our medical system is broken and not in alignment with my values. If I stay in the system in its current structure, I will always be at odds with why I became a nurse in the first place. So I have become a Nurse Coach (National Board Certification pending) in order to do my part to help change the system. It’s scary as hell to do something so new and different, but you were right about living in alignment-it’s a game changer! I’m still working in home hospice while I build my business, helping those I can with the skills I’ve developed as a coach. Looking forward to the day I can be my own boss and practice holistically to help people heal themselves from the inside out.❤ Thank you for this inspiring video, it echos my heart and emboldens me to continue forward!

[@williamkauffman-j9i]

I practiced Medicine under the same pressures, but patient care kept me going. Retired after 30 years with a very good record.

[@michaelsix9684]

sorry to see anyone leave medicine, we need good doctors everywhere, you can always move to smaller town and set up practice there,

[@Megan_P]

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!

[@Sugarplumglitter]

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💖😃✨

[@billderinbaja3883]

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!!

[@manuelsteele7755]

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.

[@orhbo0]

“Capitation” & “healthcare reform” are part of the problem. Everyone who voted for that - contributed to the problem. They voted for themselves to just become a statistical “number.”

[@sowi-reeikuddye5732]

And tort reform will never happen because too many lawyers and pharma company execs own congress, most of congress are lawyers themselves, and none of them are going to give up the cash cow.

[@dalac_93]

Wow! That’s a great analysis. I very much agree!!

[@InnovationTree]

An excellent insight into the industry.

[@manuelsteele7755]

I see my post has been reviewed. There is an excellent video gone viral about a neurosurgeon who left the field for similar reasons. It has reactions from other clinicians who agree with a lot of what he says. Search YT for "I Was An MIT Educated Neurosurgeon Now I'm Unemployed And Alone In The Mountains How Did I Get Here?." I listened to the whole thing, and it mirrored Kim Foster's video in a lot of ways.

[@AnysNadhilah]

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.

[@wrxstock2820]

Me too.

[@joytulip2]

Thank you for sharing your story of courage! I think we need to be willing to reinvent ourselves every time we grow … and that growth trajectory moves with greater self-awareness, self-love, and wisdom. Your story has inspired me!

[@heyitsjay22]

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

[@Wong-Jack-Man]

Same I finally went to my physical after 4 yrs since last. I just feel like its more of a business transaction.

[@dig1272]

​@@Wong-Jack-ManI have not seen my dermatologist for my annual skin exam since Jan '23 (oops! Had many changes in my life) so I called last week to make an appt. and was told 9/3/24. Okay, she is busy, but I had something I felt should be looked at soon (in case it is a pre cancer thing) so I asked if she could just see me to look at that in the meantime. The receptionist was quiet, I got nervous and said I guess I could go back to my MD to look at it and she said, yes, do that. Unbelievable! I habe been seeing this MD for 25 years AND I am considered highest risk for skin cancer (The Dr told me that due to my genetics and prior skin cancerous mole in my early 20's). I am now looking for a new dermatologist, but not hopeful.

[@goodattitude7542]

My wife left her doctor when she said to get the shot right away and have your kids get it too. No thank you and good-bye!!

[@Mrbfgray]

GOOD. You never should have trusted it. Look at the history, they invented and pushed opioids in the '90's to present. They tell us type 2 diabetes is only manageable by drugs when it's curable via lifestyle. On and on and ON. Dad had prostate cancer treatments do serious damage when it turned out later it could have been left alone and not likely impacted his life. I was raised at the tail end of routine removal of tonsils, a mistake. List is endless. (not to say they don't do terrific service in other ways, structural repairs from injuries, trauma care, etc.)

[@mybighandle]

Politicized.

[@AnggiSahamCantik]

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! 🎉

[@Ashi.Anizain]

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.

[@jabblesowen4583]

I worked at as Assistant Living Home. The Elders cries over regrets of lost opportunities. So make it happen Transition plan And do it within 12 months Stress will start To come off knowing your trajectory God bless & good luck 🍀

[@WatchDrMoe]

But you have a dream! Most of my clients don’t even have the courage to ask the question!

[@WatchDrMoe]

And so many people I meet slide back into what we know, but you don’t have to!!!

[@Ashi.Anizain]

@@jabblesowen4583 thank you!

[@juliomaroki4358]

Go to teaching.

[@fmg4537]

Canadian family doctor here. I’m getting close to 2 years post residency. Saw the writing on the wall and I’m focused more on lifestyle and functional medicine. Had debated on being a life coach as well because sometimes I spend a lot of time coaching people, sometime we don’t do a lot of medicine and I love it. Would love to pick your mind if you’re up for it. If not, great video!

[@ivanvarykino8202]

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.

[@juliesaadwellness]

I’m one of those :) The way people drive in my city (Medellín) stresses me out, and the air quality has a lot of bad days, but yes I’m much less stressed, it’s easy to eat well, and I go for a walk every single day and get to see parrots. :) The healthcare that I have here hasn’t been perfect, as a lot of doctors are still behind the times on many things both here and around the world, but my doctors’ appointments always start on time and it’s usually easy to get seen pretty quickly. All in all, I’m happy here and I’m not interested in going back to the U.S. for anything more than a visit. :)

[@ivanvarykino8202]

@@juliesaadwellness Yes, of course. I was speaking in a bit of generalization. But it seems based on many accounts I've read and listened to that some Doctors receive their educations in the US and then return to their countries. And that overall, people have even reduced medications they were taking here after experiencing an overall reduction in their level of stress after leaving the US. Stress kills, and is the main reason why I retired early from an IT career. Fortunately, I don't have financial challenges but would still leave here if it weren't for my 2 teen daughters. So in meantime I travel vicariously through stories like yours and others on youtube 😄 Continued happiness and good health to you!

[@juliesaadwellness]

⁠@@ivanvarykino8202 Oh totally. I’m in my mid 40s, but have several friends who retired a bit early and moved down here. They literally can’t think of anything to be stressed about, and many wind up losing weight without even trying if that’s something they needed, or picking up hobbies and actually having let’s say healthy fun (what a concept)! Here’s hoping you can get out when the time is right, if ya want.

[@amandaphayme7887]

I am contemplating a similar change. I am a PA and not loving it as much as I once did. I see a lot of similarities from your video and how I currently feel. I'm glad I found your channel. Thank you for your honest view about the medical field. I think this is exactly what I needed to get me started on a new journey!

[@scottconnuck2632]

Thank you so much for this video. I have been a public school teacher for 40 years. I had been experiencing burnout for quite some time now. I was debating whether to stick it out until social security kicked in (the end of next year) or to take social security one year early and retire after the end of this school year. (I have been on the fence for a while.) I did my own assessment and came to discover that my work brings little joy. I'm clearly burnt out! Therefore, I've decided that this will be my final year of teaching. There is no way I will regret my decision and am looking forward to my future retirement.

[@DrBible-ThD-HarvardLaw]

I worked or the (old FBI). I was originally from Monterey, CA. Returning to DC from an assignment I visited a church and met a beautiful Kentucky Mountain girl and we married in 6 months. All field offices are in major cities and I wasn’t about to move my Kentucky Wildcat to DC, Chicago, NY or Baltimore, etc. I left my high pressure job and eventually became a Baptist missionary in a small village in Alaska. After Alaska we went into Russia after the Soviet collapse and 15 other countries. Today we live in small town South Carolina and have enjoyed a happy and content life for 50 years together. You can keep your big cities, big salaries & prestige; it’s just not worth it.

[@slchance8839]

that's a helluva story. I couldnt stop reading. Thanks for posting.

[@mkrj2576]

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.

[@ivybichon8582]

Nurse practitioner here. I’ve worked in various settings, such as primary care, urgent, care, and pediatrics. What you’re saying resonates so much with me. I’m tired of churning patients out and having to answer to everybody else who is not under that same kind of stress, i.e. corporate and administrators. I’m tired. We recently got an email offering employees a referral bonus of $25,000. They need to take that money and invest it in their clinicians instead of burning them out

[@mike7gerald]

I wish a rich person would invest in your idea to build a clinic where the doctors, nurse practitoners, and nurses would be allowed to practice medicine in the truest way.

[@theshield44]

Terrific story. I’m in my early-50’s, part-time in two jobs in a university, Budget Specialist, and Capital Projects Accountant, neither of which I enjoy a lot. Three things are stopping me from moving in, the loss of income, and the uncertainty of what to do next. There’s also my depression, which I’m getting treated, but it does interfere with accomplishing anything

[@justme7415]

God, doctors are so full of themselves. Even this comes off that way. One giant humble brag.

[@baxter2413]

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.

[@KimFosterMD]

Thanks so much for watching, I hope my video helped you a little with the difficult decisions you're facing. I wish you all the best! 😊

[@Kat-s5f]

I spent 12 years in the Air Force guard… I felt like I had no purpose. We would do the same things over and over and over again. So many folks were placed in leadership positions that they had no business being in. And it was usually toxic. I align with your comments about wanting to change the system but after awhile, I realized it was a losing battle. I decided to get out and I don’t miss being in at all. I’m happier for it!

[@dixiemerchant1052]

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!

[@KimFosterMD]

I agree 100%! Thanks so much for the kind words ☺

[@BeyondAestheticsAZ]

I have tried to leave medicine many times. Once the pandemic started to wind down, I went back to school for my MBA and I stepped down from a lead position at the hospital. I tried to start a side business. One of my bedside nurses told me I was wasting my talent. The guilt from colleagues and peers is strong. I ultimately left the hospital and went into private practice where I was seeing 40 patients a day. My side business went by the wayside, in a way. I then became sick. My rheumatologist told me that I needed to make a change. My life and health depended on it. I now see 26-31 patients a day and work 4 days a week. Although I am in a stable place, it’s not happiness. We will never change this system. I agree. I am now sitting in a space where I opened another business (still focused on health), but I need to sort it all out. I have about a year to get this off the ground. I am a single parent. I don’t have any support to fall back on, and I am panicked about these next steps.

[@health_ontrack]

Believe you can do it and trust your instincts. The universe will grant your wishes. Trust time, trust the process and all the best!

[@reginachandler4387]

I was where you were. Read my blog DocToDisco. It takes courage to make a transition. I’ve been early retired for 4 years now and I am better off.

[@anthonyromagnole2807]

Start a holistic/functional/preventional practice. This is the future and in short supply. People are starting to realize that good nutrition and lifestyle work better than medicine.

[@BeyondAestheticsAZ]

@@anthonyromagnole2807 there’s actually a lot of that in my area. It is almost too much. The practice I am opening is the only one of its kind in the entire state. It requires partnering. Which is not easy. And no, we will not accept insurance. As I also feel that is the future. As less and less is covered by insurance companies. Leaving patients with egregious out-of-pocket costs. So, we are offering something more affordable insurance to a niche set of patients. I hope it works.

[@penniye]

@@anthonyromagnole2807 Very true!

[@nancyferland6044]

❤Thank you so much for this video! I am at a crossroads myself career wise but for different reasons. I am 62 yr old teacher that can't find a teaching job - 50 applications in the last 4 months and not one interview. Ageism is real. I have 20 years of teaching experience but admins would rather hire "fresh faces" with no experience than someone my age. Depressing - absolutely. Fear is my best friend. I'm not close to retirement, yet so many people say "just retire and enjoy life"! It's not financially possible. I raised my 6 children and became a teacher at 40 - not really a great recipe for financial independence! I have finally realized I need to get out of education - goodbye to all the education and accumulated experience. I have been in such anguish It's destroying my health. I have begun my journey seeking health and wellness coaching certification. My friends and family think it's not a "real thing". I need all the courage I can muster for this next chapter. Thank you for your story. 🙏

[@jamestownf]

Great content. I’ve made the jump. Today is day one! Life is short - and I have encountered far too many that are utterly miserable and too scared or proud to leave.

[@JoelGoldwin]

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.

[@Slov_]

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.

[@Cajundaddydave]

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!

[@recoverbetter]

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.

[@vaughnutube327]

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.

[@drshanebaker]

Very brave Kim! I have the same burnout and dissatisfaction with medicine. The golden handcuffs. I haven't yet had the courage to quit. I dream of all these other ways I could make a living but I haven't done so yet. I admire your courage!

[@ArizonaAirspace]

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. 👍

[@bonditltd5346]

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.

[@ADR-j9m]

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!!

[@drtk9300]

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.

[@Jom-jg7ty]

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.

[@najsp4736]

I have been in the medical field as an MD overseas and as a midlevel provider in the US for 35 years. I have experienced a great deal of pressure, and stress, as well as the joy of helping others. All pain and pleasure come together as a package. I believe the joy of helping people is the force that keeps me still going. It needs the courage to quit medicine, but needs more courage to stay in it (despite all the problems with the health care system). People need more providers.

[@adammorra3813]

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.

[@KimFosterMD]

Thank you so much for these kind words💛, I really appreciate it. I'm so happy to hear this helped you!

[@jmseipp]

My nephew is a doctor. He’s very disappointed that they were taught very little about diet and nutrition in med school. He assumed they’d learn about how to get healthy with a good, healthy diet. Nope. Many doctors complain that they feel like little more than pill pushers for the pharmaceutical corporations.

[@vismaya4182]

try ayurveda?

[@saddingtonmangena1241]

Am a food technologist, I also used to think that doctors are heavily trained along that but I realized they have minimal knowledge in that area. I thank God that as a food technologist I have all the knowledge and wisdom related to root-cause of diseases enriching pharmaceutical companies all over world

[@jmseipp]

@@saddingtonmangena1241 Good for you! It seems that 99% of people blindly believe whatever their doctor says. I recently went to see a urologist at a major famous hospital in Houston, Texas to ck to see if I may have a kidney stone. The CT scan showed that nope, I don’t have a kidney stone but that I did have two small bladder stones. The guy immediately assumed the sale and was explaining to me how he was going to operate on me by going in through my abdomen and into my bladder to remove the small stones and while he was at it he was going to cut into my prostate gland so to widen the opening or whatever. He said it would ruin my sex life forever but the good thing is that I’d have good urine glow! (-: I was just shocked! I replied: “Well, doc, that sounds pretty RADICAL to me!” I’d mentioned to him from my very first consult with him that I’d gotten rid of bladder stones in the past simply by drinking strong lemon water over several days. This always worked in the past. He got VERY ANNOYED with me! He was pissed! He tried to convince me that I needed this! When I refused and made it very clear that I wasn’t going to let him operate on me he was just so upset! His body language, tone, and facial expressions all conveyed his extreme disappointment! He GLARED at me! I thought to myself “Gee, these guys must get paid extra for every surgery they perform. Why the HARD sell?! So I searched online as soon as I got home using the name of this hospital. And sure enough, the patient must pay the hospital fee, surgeon’s fee and the anasteseologist’s fee. This guy didn’t give a RIP about me! He saw $Dollar signs only. I was just a means to and end for him. It sickened me. This is a Racket!!Most people would just surrender to these crooks, but NOT me!

[@InspoAlley]

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.

[@cecillec5066]

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.

[@Burps___]

Your story is mine, Kim. I am an MD, practiced pain medicine for 20 years after residency in Boston, and punted on all of it at age 47. I’m now 57 and have zero regrets and even wish I did it earlier. We are fortunate to have put in the life work early to coast a bit now. 😊

[@muhammadvp9740]

Thank you so much Kim foster, I can relate to you thus video After long long 10+ years I realized my health is not normal Doctors never said me anything 😒 Even after lots of blood tests and red flags. After studying myself and reading I found out myself I am having bad diet for last 20 years and it lead to auto immune disorder in me. It's not just food, the way I ate, lifestyle etc... My esenophils were high last 5 years or more and Doctors never said anything to me

[@whencrunchymetspice8589]

I am so happy to hear your story. I am in the same boat. I completed medical school and received MD diploma but felt so disenchanted and disappointed in the system that I decided not to pursue residency at all. I still face a lot of pressure from friends and family to go back, and hear constantly how disappointed they are that I have made an irresponsible choice. But, I am on a path to figure out how to use my knowledge and passion for helping people become healty in a holistic way.

[@kathryndevossiebert]

Extremely inspiring! Thank you for sharing your story🙏 Your courage to make the change and share your story is inspiring the courage in me, and I’m sure many, many others.

[@sangeetajha1678]

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.

[@afoster3392]

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

[@Ella-zq5db]

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.

[@ronaldjones996]

Retired FP end of 2019 pre COVID. My wife, a psychiatrist, retired the same day. COVID travel but now traveling extensively in our mid to late 60’s. Keto four years and weight loss, off statin, off BP Rx, and sugars now normal!

[@arlendavis]

I have not respected Drs. for a long time now, fore the very reasons you talk about. I really appreciate your being honest. I see Drs. as primarily pill pushers for drug companies. Pills that cure nothing.... only cover up symptoms. I don't believe they want people to be well, they don't make money on well people. I am 74 years old and have never had a personal Dr. The only thing I have ever gone to a Dr for was for surgeries and stitches when I have hurt myself. I believe that I am my own best Dr. and use diet and natural remedies to stay well.

[@YoshiV819]

I'm 48 years old and one week away from 30 years in my corporate career that I started as an intern... Corporations are all the same, hospitals are just another corporation so your story is an inspiring!

[@professorg000]

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

[@oscarmartinez2538]

Just High School itself was difficult for me. College was worst. The medical field is a business that’s it . Very few doctors are there to help another human being. That will never change. That’s great that you are a Doctor. You did great 👍. Don’t underestimate your career. I work in a Hospital as well . I’m not a doctor but I understand how you feel. Medicine is not for everyone. I know Doctors who did 30 years in the medical field and they don’t regret anything of it . Can’t imagine your student loans . You probably got scholarships. I appreciate all your advice on your videos. I am also trying to get out of the field myself it’s not easy but I am doing it slowly. School was not my thing. I went to 3 different colleges and I was unsuccessful. I’m in my late 50s . I need to find something different. College would be too expensive at this point

[@mangensukilufya1233]

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

[@michaelpeterson9984]

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.

[@penniye]

I am a master of public health student and am interested in the health coaching program you started at your institution. I too and very well aware of the history of modern medicine. All of this started after taking a course entitled Sociology Of Health And Illness (SOC 2490) and it has changed my life.

[@theeverydayachiever]

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! ❤

[@dame_montessori]

Thank you so much for your wonderful words. They are truly empowering and really encourage me to embrace my dreams and leave my hospital life as well ❤

[@charmaineriley9079]

I worked in the medical field for 20 years and survived the Pandemic. It was hard.

[@truthmarshal6627]

My lord you are beautiful and intelligent. Seems very sweet too. 50 plus years old? Wow. Impressed that you acknowledged problems in medicine that others chose to ignore for the money. And had the courage to take the leap. Good for you. I have a number of friends in medicine. Have heard all of these same complaints. Several sold their practices. Another sold and went to work for the buyer. Now he just processes patients and follows their recommendations. He is a good man, but has bills.

[@gadgetman_nz4092]

Big ups to you. I studied engineering but as soon as I finished my degree the market for engineers collapsed due to tax changes. Ended up helping my brother out in his job and very rapidly found myself in an area of the IT market that no one was filling. Within two years I was working 80+ hours a week with customers demanding I put up my charge rate to give me more free time to see them. As it was I was not happy charging the very low rate I was charging, less than half the industry standard. And the crazy part was that I wasn't working, this was just my hobby and the more I did my hobby the happier I was. You are part of the bottom up change I am seeing in the medical/health/wellness system.

[@robertpeterson1497]

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

[@KimFosterMD]

exactly ☺

[@santarosa6676]

I’m an MD who ‘retired’ from industrial-medical-complex at the age of 60 for similar reasons. Despite attempting to affect change at all levels of leadership. I now work very part time as on-call in charge of my own hours and schedule load. It has been a rediscovery of the joy in medicine. I get 10/10 positive encounters. We, as physicians, need to take back our profession. Sadly we may need to let the system fail instead of trying to uphold the impossible. (Think I Love Lucy and the chocolate candy factory).

[@julettasmolietta1174]

Thank you for encouraging people to be happy, not to feel stuck in the same old comfort zone and move on when heart calls in!! I came to USA from Europe and after over 20 years ready to go back because life here only to make money and no time for living life, missing nature, lakes and ponds that available everywhere in my country and more quiet lifestyle...I was trying to live life that doesn't suit me and my health started crumbling right after I came here..just because I wasn't in alignment with myself, as you said it!!

[@ashkarintikal]

I really enjoyed watching this video. I have thought about pursuing a career in the world of coaching, but have been reluctant, scared, nervous to take the next steps.

[@timclark2925]

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

[@blacksmoke_1358]

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!

[@michaelp5518]

I am a retired private practice dentist. 70 yrs old. It was difficult giving it up because my template was NON-corporate very friend family oriented. The health system is now hitting dentistry and is turning “corporate”. Patients hate it. So do the physicians. I have many healthcare friends who quit, more so in medicine.