Author’s Note: As a pediatric cardiologist, a medical educator, and a coach, I’ve sat on every side of the table. I’ve interviewed anxious premeds, shepherded fellows through subspecialty training, served on promotion committees, and now lead an academic division. I’m also a learning-community director who welcomes medical students on their first day of orientation and […]
Updated April 2026 Becoming a physician is a privilege. Few careers grant the opportunity to ease suffering, participate in people’s most vulnerable moments, and experience lifelong learning in such a concrete way. After nearly two decades of practice, I still wake up grateful for the trust patients place in me and for the skills that […]
2025: A Journey Through Loss, Meaning, and Renewal Sometimes the healthcare system is so big and complex, and surprisingly lonely, that patients and providers just put up with the dysfunction… or leave. Putting on a brave face feels like the right thing to do. But in my experience, that is what leads to burnout, dissatisfaction, […]
Stress. It’s a constant hum in the background of our lives, sometimes roaring into the foreground when life gets overwhelming. You’ve probably felt it: the racing heart, the tightness in your chest, the restless nights. But what if I told you that stress isn’t just the enemy? Our autonomic nervous system is designed to help […]
Moving From Understanding to Action Last week, we explored how gratitude isn’t just an emotion, it’s neuroscience. When we truly experience gratitude, the medial prefrontal cortex lights up, serotonin and oxytocin increase, and inflammatory markers decrease. Gratitude literally rewires the brain, shifting us from survival mode into connection and meaning. But understanding the science is […]
Beyond the Buzzword Gratitude. It’s a concept we all know, often tossed around as a cure-all for stress, unhappiness, and burnout. For many of us in medicine, it sounds hollow. A nice idea, but not a fix for a broken healthcare system. But what if we’ve misunderstood gratitude all along? What if it’s not supposed […]
Wellness-forward picks your favorite doc will actually use Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that align with The Developing Doctor’s mission: helping physicians thrive, not just survive. Why These Gifts? Doctors don’t need more […]
Have you ever felt like you’re running on a treadmill at top speed, ready to fall off at any moment? If so, you’re not alone. Burnout is a silent epidemic in medicine, and it’s affecting physicians at an alarming rate. Almost half of physicians report experiencing burnout, and that number keeps climbing. But here’s the […]
Burnout among physicians is no longer just a silent epidemic, it’s a full-blown crisis. Many of my colleagues are no longer finding meaning in their work. Most American doctors report symptoms of burnout, and one in four plans to quit entirely. Even more alarming, one in three doctors say they find no meaning in their […]
Physician Coaching: The Missing Piece in Medical Training You’ve mastered pharmacology. Memorized anatomy. Survived residency. But somewhere between the exam rooms and electronic health records, many physicians ask themselves: “Is this it?” The truth is, while medical education rigorously prepares doctors to diagnose and treat, it rarely teaches them how to thrive. That’s where physician […]
