I rage-quit my academic pediatrician job in 2017 with lots of debt and no plan. Doctors don’t have to stay in jobs they hate. We can be successful everywhere.

“I can’t leave academics because I want to keep teaching” After 7 years of teaching residents at locums, writing board questions for qbanks, I now teach the pediatrics block to PA students. Teaching continues beyond academia!

I only earn more because I negotiated to earn more. If a hospital tells me they don’t negotiate, I don’t accept the job. You’re worth what you’ll work for.

It’s not too late. You can make a pivot in your physician career at anytime.

Some of the happiest doctors I know are moms who do locums. They pick up 5-6 day assignments, negotiate sky-high rates, lock in at work, then come home and are fully present for their families for the rest of the month. They love it.

Doctors don’t need a “good reason” to leave a job. Not wanting to work there anymore is enough.

We all have many more career options than we were ever taught.

Residency teaches how to be a good doctor, but not how to navigate a physician career. You can still learn how.

I work clinically through locums about 8 weeks in a year. The rest of the time, I’m a medical writer, consultant, expert witness, medical director, VA disability examiner, and aesthetic injector. The flexibility and earning potential can’t be beat.

“This place will fall apart if I leave” That’s the problem. Leave anyway.

A(nother) fellowship or degree won’t make you happier.

There is no better time to start a new physician role or career than right now! No market or opportunity is saturated. The possibilities are endless for all all docs of all specialties!

Good doctors quit bad jobs. Good doctors negotiate high rates for their labor and expertise. Good doctors don’t let fear of learning a new EMR keep them from exciting new roles.