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! 💛
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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!
@@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.
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 ❤
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.
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 ❤❤
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.
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?
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.
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 🍀
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
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.
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. ❤️
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.
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.
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.
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
@@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!
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!
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💖😃✨
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.
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.
@@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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😊
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! ❤
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!!
I can totally relate to your story. I'm a nurse here. I became a nurse to help people. Then, I started to see the problems rooted from the healthcare system that has collapsed. I became a travel nurse in 2019, one year before the pandemic hit. Long story short, I went to different hospitals as a travel nurse hoping to find THE hospital that I would feel fulfilled by doing what I was doing. But every hospital I went to, it's the same thing. As long as we have the collapsed healthcare system, the problem exists. We see the same patients over and over. I don't feel I'm helping them enough. Nursing has been my life, like it was for you. But now I'm searching for a place where I can practice my nursing license and gain more fulfillment. Meanwhile as a long term future goal, I like to have my own business practicing holistic healing, such as reiki and herbs, and leave my nursing career eventually. I think western medicine tends to underestimate the power of eastern medicine or holistic approach. But for my own health issues, it was eastern medicine, like acupuncture and herbs, that helped me heal. Thank you for sharing your story.
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.
I think investors should always put their cash to work, especially In 2024, we'll start to see more market diversification. I'm hoping to invest about $350k of my savings in stocks against next year. Hope to make millions in 2024
Since risk is at an all-time high right now, perhaps you should be a little more patient and return when it has decreased. Alternatively, you can consult a trained financial expert for strategy.
Yes true, I have been in touch with a brokerage Advisor. With an initial starting reserve of $80k, my advisor chooses the entry and exit commands for my portfolio, which has grown to approximately $550k.
My CFA ’Melissa Jean Talingdan’ , a renowned figure in her line of work. I recommend researching her credentials further. She has many years of experience and is a valuable resource for anyone looking to navigate the financial market.
IT professional here, early 50s, and way sick of the field. I have known for a few years that im over this career but the golden handcuffs are very strong. Im not afraid to leave but literally have no idea what to do as a future job/career. On a side note, i think most people are burnt out on their careers regardless of field.
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
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).
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
Congratulations on your courage to leave your successful career and finding success in other roles. I would have liked to have heard more about how you transitioned INTO your new roles as Life Coach and Entrepreneur, what contacts did you have or need to develop, how did you develop your strategy for entering those roles, how did you construct a business model that proved viable and financially rewarding, etc. When you say you are a Coach and entrepreneur, what exactly do you do, and with whom? Perhaps in another video? Thanks!
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.
Thanks for this thought provoking video. I am interested in psychological well-being coaching. I am currently a psychotherapist and much like your story I spent many years training and yearning for my career. However, in my case I was older and am now approaching retirement years but still feel I want a blend of free time and using m6 skills to offer something to people who struggle. I am particularly interested in helping who women who are challenged b6 ageing and transition issues. However yes the voice I hear in m6 head is that I have done enough now and now is not the time of life to develop something new.
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.
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!!
I have been a financial advisor for a very long time. I am 63 years old and I don’t have quite the amount of savings I need for a comfortable retirement. I still need more money. But the thought of continuing this is literally making me ill. There are so many changes and the world is so uncertain. I would love anything to leave this profession and do something else. But like you described, when you are used to a six figure income, the thought of leaving, especially at my age and trying to do something else for five years is difficult. I just don’t know how much longer I can do this and stay sane and healthy.
@@rrocketman Hi I’ve just had so many things happen to my family over the last 10 years that it interrupted a lot of my saving capital. My investments are fine because I don’t deal in risk. I’m just wishing I was a few years ahead in my savings.
hi Kim !! very soft spoken, love all your words. i don't believe in modern medicine... i'm a research microbiologist in the fields of toxicology, and cancer... you're a very smart compassionate doctor thanks
When I go back to India very year, I am always shocked to see how many poor folks need help. Any help helps. It is very fulfilling to help others with zero expectations.
All due respect my sweet lady... true life is only destined to those who are courageous enough to be true to themselves and free. I have gone such a path but with a totally different theme and aspects. Wish Allah guide us to the best of what he wishes and likes🌹
Yes. I am convinced that I am not able to depend on corporations, government jobs, so called friends who do not have the same free spirit as the Lord has given me. Thank you for your free speaking video and I am watching the next one in a few more seconds. Amen.
My doctor of twenty years just retired because of the way the system has changed. When I first started with him, he had lengthy conversations with me about my health and genuinely cared about me. As time went on, he was forced to rush through patients and meet a certain quota in prescriptions and ordering procedures. He told me two years prior to retiring he was going to be getting out when his daughters graduated from medical school. He advised them to get into specialty fields and not general practice, he said there is going to be a huge shortage of family practice physicians in the next 5 years. On my first visit to my new doctor, he tried to order 3 unnecessary test and prescribe me for statins that I do not need as my cholesterol numbers have never been an issue in my life. I will be looking for a replacement quickly.
Good job! Very impressive story and for your age, you look AMAZING! I am working on my journey right now to stop working before 50. After that I will do what I feel like, side hustles, investment property etc. Glad its going well for you!
I'm a PA, I left the broken system 4 years ago (pandemic). Still finding the my way (financially very difficult) but not disappointed I left that soulless system. Applied for a nutrition coaching position but it's been over 7 months and they are not ready to hire just yet. It's really tough
Because life is a self-transformational journey, nobody can avoid going the wrong way and afterwards getting into the more and more right ways for self-transformation!
I love this! My dad came across your video and forwarded it to me. So much of this resonates. I’m in my 3rd year of my existential crisis 😂 and love to help other people through it.
Working in the NHS, same hamster wheel but medicine is no longer well respected or well paid in the UK. It's sad to see so many docs commenting on here about burnout and being traumatised by the job. I think the management consulting industry has a lot to answer for, with their vision of clinicians as work units to be squeezed for maximum output to increase profits.
Not only the true medical profession, also allied health services. Not alligned with my belief system. I partly quit, one foot still in for reliable income but... need to make it online asap 😊
Hi Kim, thanks for sharing. Your story is so beautiful and real I feel you. I love that you did it in a well thought out and calculated fashion, So inspiring!!!!! There is so much to be said for helping people and following your dreams. Congrats on your success, your glowing, your happiness is priceless.
I can relate to the feelings and dissatisfaction that Kim Foster MD felt. I am a dietitian and am so tired of the lack of appreciation and respect by medical professionals as well as being embarrassingly underpaid. I went to school for 9 years for this.. I daydream about doing something else that will actually pay me reasonably - maybe entrepreneurship. Now I know I need to make an exit plan.
The way the system is set up now doctors are there to read data and write prescriptions. Once AI gets going they will be able to process even more! All clinics need to have health coaches who meet with you for 30 minutes each year. Some could even video conference
As a PT and OT, I agree. The system is broken. Hospitals used to be administrated by doctors and nurses. Today those roles are filled with business degree people, only concerned with encounter numbers and $$$$$. I left as well, as are friends of mine.
I'm on the same boat now as we're before finding your true happiness. Thank you for sharing your story. At last, validation of the side work that Im doing now. I just need to recognize the timing & focus 💯 on the side thing.
I was schooled as a psychotherapist in the 80's after which I trained with two M.D.'s who were pioneers in breath work and somatic/emotional healing. People with M.S. would enter a month long course with them in a wheelchair - and leave using a cane. Others would have their symptoms go into total remission. Their techniques helped me heal so many things including the way I related to others. So I followed this alternative path since then. In 2016 I started doing sessions on-line and working with people worldwide as a coach - coaching them on breath work and awareness practices. That has been so powerful for my clients and has been a successful life path. Too bad the physicians you knew ridiculed this kind of work. It can be much more effective than allopathic medicine for a lot of conditions.
Burnout is real. Just starting my 10th year as a pathologist (which is supposed to be the most relaxed specialty in medicine) but I work 70 plus hours a week. Lots of pressure to get biopsy/resection reports out on time. I pretty much have no life. All the other pathologists in my hospital, which is a busy academic center, feel the same way. I probably should have worked in a less busy community hospital or private lab...
Hi, The one comment that I found to be true is: You have to be very dedicated.... This is an absolute must!!! Any Nurse, Doctor, clinical specialist can attest.
I salute you for doiing this. It take a lot of guts to do that. I started a career change at age of 45....but tried to do both jobs(sentiment)...burning the candle bith sides 7 years later....end up with burn out, depression, and bi polar depression which was fuel by shortage of sleep. Personally, I think, Adhd, which I was diagnosed with, potent combo, with bi polar. I found ,Bi polar kick in with lack of sleep in my case...otherwise, I am ok with it..started with strong sleep routne, etc. Also kick the ass, of depression...how....by seeing a live coach, help me with mindfullness, exersise, etc. There for, I do see the essencial need , as you briefly desribed, the essensial role of life coaches. I have never had the quality of live , etc, last 2.5 years. Thank you again, for haveing the gutts to do so.
This discussion of a number driven turnstyle led me to this posting. My Dr of over 15 yrs left are. The family clinic went from a couple Doc see patients to the clinic might not even having any doctors. It seems the clinic now has a PA that runs the operation and mostly patients see a NP. My guess is there is a doctor but only in a admin type setting. I had a severe open wound that required weekly visits to the ostomy/wound clinic. I went weekly for 3 months (13 weeks) in that time I never saw a doctor and was provided care by 9 different nurses seeing 1 nurse 3 times, 2 nurses twice and the rest only 1 time each. There was not followed plan as to my care or treatment as each nurse had a different plan of care and then the next week a different nurse would give a new plan that only lasted a week until the next nurse provider their new plan. I the end I just quit going as my onw plan was working better than the yo-yo plans I was given by the clinic. At one point a nurse early on had medical supplie sent to my home, these were things like tape, foam pads ointments and then at the visit before the last it was requested I bring in the supplies I had left. Why would a clinic want open packages of tape and the like. I am totaly dis-satisfied with the entire medical field. How did medicine become one of the largest capitalist cash cows. Dont get me wrong, I am owner of several companies and a capitalist to the bone but patient should never be priced out of the healthiest life they can and should have ? on a quick fllow up good job to you Dr. Foster on your effort and understanding on this broken system
It could be argued that the reason your coaching business is successful is because of your medical background. So medicine, as difficult as it was for you, paved a way to something more fulfilling
Dr. Foster, You probably made a wise decision. In addition to all of your reasons for leaving the profession, consider that Chat GPT can pass the USMLE quite easily. and many times AI outperforms trained physicians in the field of diagnostics that'll only get better with time.
Our broken health care system is unlikely to ever be straightened out. A new system based on prevention and exuberant great health with more emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle must grow alongside it. We have that, sort of, in some ways, but it needs to be much bigger and integrated into everyday life.
Thanks Dr. Foster, for sharing your story here which I just happened across. I enjoyed listening to it --- aside from the specifics of your career & choices --- because it's simply refreshing to hear a sane, kind, personable & warm individual's story, in a SEA of UA-cam and TikTok junk that constantly feeds us (or is it just to me?) full of road rage videos, meanspirited "Karen" encounters, loony political cultists, and the whole gamut of modern-day clickbait that seems to prevail in America 2024. Though I'm not in the medical field in any capacity whatsoever, I sympathise with all the disillusionments you relate, and which we the general public has been increasingly hearing about for at least a few decades now. I have to say, when I visit our own family doctor, even though he's part of a big "corporate" medical group (which I suppose is now the arrangement for almost every family doc? --- compared to my Mom taking me to ours sixty years ago in his little converted-house office), I don't feel rushed or 'glossed over' or any such things....but I'm sure there must be stresses he & his colleagues deal with like you describe I'm just not aware of. I'm glad you addressed your angst about leaving (though you haven't really "left") a profession that society needs so much, because that crossed my mind early in the video too. By the END of the video I too am convinced you seem to have made a brave decision that you not only needed to make for your own & your family's wellbeing, but that probably now allows you to do what you fundamentally felt passionate about in the first place: helping people have their best health. (I 'get it' that this platform is also a way for you to promote your health coaching services, and that's fine; though I'm pretty dismissive of all the various "life coaching" angles so many coaches are "selling" on the internet, only because they're so prevalent rather than that I think they're necessarily a waste of time/money, I'll look into more of your videos to learn more.) Thanks again for sharing your story & your expertise!
Some family med/IM find more satisfaction in a concierge model. You know that some holistic healthcare providers earned their reputation for taking advantage of people with unproven (often excessive) testing and interventions.
I’m thinking about resigning from a long engineering career. Owner of a software for a company where I’m the only solution provider for any issues. But I want to let it go and do nothing until I find what I want to do.
Did 39yrs of nursing and advocacy for child abuse prevention and community development fighting bad practices at every level. The fatigue proximal weakness,falling, failing pfts forced stop of work started project 'live'. PCP said with 2k pts she wasn't a diagnostician, train wreck of care ensued 7yrs.. finally demanding mestinon despite triple sero negative am strong reactor . Now being told 10 min NP appointment is a physical. I appreciate the burnout,been there 3 times and I will not accept this mess. If we don't fight stridently it won't get better. Please speak, fight, teach, advocate even if no longer paid.
We get free care in the UK....works pretty well if resourced. No idea why you tolerate a toxic health system, profit should play no part in health care.
Also, I have just embarked on a career change from a 30-year office design professional to an entrepreneur. The biggest barrier I see in front of me is knowledge...if it took me 20 years in my last profession to climb the ladder and gain the needed experience (especially having gone to school for it) how then is it not a bit overwhelming to think how I will gain the knowledge required to progress in a new field (Product development and sales)..especially if I do not have the education or natural disposition that was associated with the first career choice. In one sense, the odds are against me. Can it be possible that although I am like a fish out of water with the comfort level of my knowledge of this new world, I could still be in "alignment" as you put it? The hope is that once I pick up steam, the knowledge will find its way to me...because of the supposed alignment. What do you think? (And best of luck to you / if you even need it :)
Goid for you, Doc. Did you try opening your own private practice? Your experiences are not dissimilar to what I went through as an associate in a huge law firm. Billable hours, office politics, all nighters. Mid six figure salary. I did not want to have a heart attack, so I walked away from it. Son discovered law was not a good fit for me.
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! 💛
I would love to communicate my experiences
I'm registered medical practioner in pakistan
Always live to listen to u
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.
Congratulations Dr. Kim. Please speak more about your desicion to leave your health care career. It is so inspiring.
Please also share about how you healed yourself with autoimmune diaease. Thank you very much indeed.
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.
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?
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.
I also worked with Aaron Morgan Bell, my financial advisor, to figure out how to make it work.
I’ve heard of Aaron Morgan Bell. He’s known for being really good at helping people transition out of high-stress careers
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.
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.
Thank you very much, I appreciate that ☺
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.
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!
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!
Servus aus den USA! ❤️🇩🇪
That sounds perfect! Good for you for making that change! 😊
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.
I love that you kept your promise to yourself and made a graceful exit. So much courage. Thanks so much for watching 😊
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.
Can you elaborate?
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.
Yep
Good for you! 🙌
Left medicine, I'm working at a rock shop and started a vibrational medicine business and am the poorest I've ever been. 🎉 @@diorrybak335
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!
What type of engineer?
@@marisol033yes, I’d like to know, too. And how did you know engineering is the right path and is still feasible in this era?
Electrical Engineer. Engineering of many types is always needed. Right now it seems Material Science engineering is a big thing no one would guess.
@@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.
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 ❤
Hello miss, can I ask what is your choice now ? Have you decided to pratice natural remedies coming from nature and plants ?
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.
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 ❤❤
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.
Wdym leaving Stanford?
I think he is still teaching at Stanford, is he not?
@@annenittis6506same here
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?
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.
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 🍀
But you have a dream! Most of my clients don’t even have the courage to ask the question!
And so many people I meet slide back into what we know, but you don’t have to!!!
@@jabblesowen4583 thank you!
Go to teaching.
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
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.
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. ❤️
Same experience multiple times greed has ruined healthcare
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.
Like a fast food restaurant. So true@
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.
Me too.
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.
try ayurveda?
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
@@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!
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!
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💖😃✨
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.
Believe you can do it and trust your instincts. The universe will grant your wishes.
Trust time, trust the process and all the best!
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.
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.
@@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.
@@anthonyromagnole2807 Very true!
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.
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.
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!
I agree 100%! Thanks so much for the kind words ☺
My chiropractor practices natural medicine she operates her own business. She is sometimes is very busy but always takes the time to listen to me.
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.
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.
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.
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. 😊
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! ❤
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!!
I can totally relate to your story. I'm a nurse here. I became a nurse to help people. Then, I started to see the problems rooted from the healthcare system that has collapsed. I became a travel nurse in 2019, one year before the pandemic hit. Long story short, I went to different hospitals as a travel nurse hoping to find THE hospital that I would feel fulfilled by doing what I was doing. But every hospital I went to, it's the same thing. As long as we have the collapsed healthcare system, the problem exists. We see the same patients over and over. I don't feel I'm helping them enough. Nursing has been my life, like it was for you. But now I'm searching for a place where I can practice my nursing license and gain more fulfillment. Meanwhile as a long term future goal, I like to have my own business practicing holistic healing, such as reiki and herbs, and leave my nursing career eventually. I think western medicine tends to underestimate the power of eastern medicine or holistic approach. But for my own health issues, it was eastern medicine, like acupuncture and herbs, that helped me heal.
Thank you for sharing your story.
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.
I think investors should always put their cash to work, especially In 2024, we'll start to see more market diversification. I'm hoping to invest about $350k of my savings in stocks against next year. Hope to make millions in 2024
Since risk is at an all-time high right now, perhaps you should be a little more patient and return when it has decreased. Alternatively, you can consult a trained financial expert for strategy.
Yes true, I have been in touch with a brokerage Advisor. With an initial starting reserve of $80k, my advisor chooses the entry and exit commands for my portfolio, which has grown to approximately $550k.
I’ve been looking to switch to an advisor for a while now. Any help pointing me to who your advisor is?
My CFA ’Melissa Jean Talingdan’ , a renowned figure in her line of work. I recommend researching her credentials further. She has many years of experience and is a valuable resource for anyone looking to navigate the financial market.
I searched for her full name online, found her page, and sent an email to schedule a meeting. Hopefully, she responds soon. Thank you
IT professional here, early 50s, and way sick of the field. I have known for a few years that im over this career but the golden handcuffs are very strong. Im not afraid to leave but literally have no idea what to do as a future job/career. On a side note, i think most people are burnt out on their careers regardless of field.
Hang in there. Do consultant work and see what company is available for you to try. I changed companies but still love IT! 😁
You will probably be great at hospitality
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
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).
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
You are really a doctor by heart. I like medicine because of your concerns: prevention and holistic approach❤
Congratulations on your courage to leave your successful career and finding success in other roles. I would have liked to have heard more about how you transitioned INTO your new roles as Life Coach and Entrepreneur, what contacts did you have or need to develop, how did you develop your strategy for entering those roles, how did you construct a business model that proved viable and financially rewarding, etc. When you say you are a Coach and entrepreneur, what exactly do you do, and with whom? Perhaps in another video? Thanks!
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.
Thanks for this thought provoking video. I am interested in psychological well-being coaching. I am currently a psychotherapist and much like your story I spent many years training and yearning for my career. However, in my case I was older and am now approaching retirement years but still feel I want a blend of free time and using m6 skills to offer something to people who struggle. I am particularly interested in helping who women who are challenged b6 ageing and transition issues. However yes the voice I hear in m6 head is that I have done enough now and now is not the time of life to develop something new.
God, doctors are so full of themselves. Even this comes off that way. One giant humble brag.
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.
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!!
I have been a financial advisor for a very long time. I am 63 years old and I don’t have quite the amount of savings I need for a comfortable retirement. I still need more money.
But the thought of continuing this is literally making me ill. There are so many changes and the world is so uncertain. I would love anything to leave this profession and do something else. But like you described, when you are used to a six figure income, the thought of leaving, especially at my age and trying to do something else for five years is difficult. I just don’t know how much longer I can do this and stay sane and healthy.
In your financial advisor opinion, why cant you retire? Is it because of salary or investment choices?
@@rrocketman Hi I’ve just had so many things happen to my family over the last 10 years that it interrupted a lot of my saving capital. My investments are fine because I don’t deal in risk. I’m just wishing I was a few years ahead in my savings.
@@johnechampion I understand, life does throw curve balls. Do you personally invest in btc or eth etc or is that type of asset still too high risk?
hi Kim !! very soft spoken, love all your words. i don't believe in modern medicine... i'm a research microbiologist in the fields of toxicology, and cancer... you're a very smart compassionate doctor thanks
When I go back to India very year, I am always shocked to see how many poor folks need help. Any help helps. It is very fulfilling to help others with zero expectations.
All due respect my sweet lady... true life is only destined to those who are courageous enough to be true to themselves and free. I have gone such a path but with a totally different theme and aspects. Wish Allah guide us to the best of what he wishes and likes🌹
Yes. I am convinced that I am not able to depend on corporations, government jobs, so called friends who do not have the same free spirit as the Lord has given me. Thank you for your free speaking video and I am watching the next one in a few more seconds. Amen.
One of my uncles, a lukimmeia specialist, regrets that he got into the medical field.
My doctor of twenty years just retired because of the way the system has changed. When I first started with him, he had lengthy conversations with me about my health and genuinely cared about me. As time went on, he was forced to rush through patients and meet a certain quota in prescriptions and ordering procedures. He told me two years prior to retiring he was going to be getting out when his daughters graduated from medical school. He advised them to get into specialty fields and not general practice, he said there is going to be a huge shortage of family practice physicians in the next 5 years. On my first visit to my new doctor, he tried to order 3 unnecessary test and prescribe me for statins that I do not need as my cholesterol numbers have never been an issue in my life. I will be looking for a replacement quickly.
Thanks for sharing. Most doctors are not healers just pill pushers. I use a functional medicine doctor for my bloodwork etc.
Thank you for your experience. I am very happy to learn of your choice of "living with the unknown"! Well done.😀
Good job! Very impressive story and for your age, you look AMAZING! I am working on my journey right now to stop working before 50. After that I will do what I feel like, side hustles, investment property etc. Glad its going well for you!
I'm a PA, I left the broken system 4 years ago (pandemic). Still finding the my way (financially very difficult) but not disappointed I left that soulless system.
Applied for a nutrition coaching position but it's been over 7 months and they are not ready to hire just yet. It's really tough
Because life is a self-transformational journey, nobody can avoid going the wrong way and afterwards getting into the more and more right ways for self-transformation!
Wow, great video. Good to hear from a person that was inside the system, medicine has become a business not to help patients in a holistic way.
I love this! My dad came across your video and forwarded it to me. So much of this resonates. I’m in my 3rd year of my existential crisis 😂 and love to help other people through it.
Thank you so very much! Please never stop, the world really needs you!!!
You are an amazing writer, speaker and I totally agree with helping people in a preventative way. Thanks for sharing this video.
Working in the NHS, same hamster wheel but medicine is no longer well respected or well paid in the UK. It's sad to see so many docs commenting on here about burnout and being traumatised by the job. I think the management consulting industry has a lot to answer for, with their vision of clinicians as work units to be squeezed for maximum output to increase profits.
Not only the true medical profession, also allied health services. Not alligned with my belief system. I partly quit, one foot still in for reliable income but... need to make it online asap 😊
Hi Kim, thanks for sharing. Your story is so beautiful and real I feel you. I love that you did it in a well thought out and calculated fashion, So inspiring!!!!! There is so much to be said for helping people and following your dreams. Congrats on your success, your glowing, your happiness is priceless.
I can relate to the feelings and dissatisfaction that Kim Foster MD felt. I am a dietitian and am so tired of the lack of appreciation and respect by medical professionals as well as being embarrassingly underpaid. I went to school for 9 years for this.. I daydream about doing something else that will actually pay me reasonably - maybe entrepreneurship. Now I know I need to make an exit plan.
The way the system is set up now doctors are there to read data and write prescriptions. Once AI gets going they will be able to process even more! All clinics need to have health coaches who meet with you for 30 minutes each year. Some could even video conference
As a PT and OT, I agree. The system is broken. Hospitals used to be administrated by doctors and nurses. Today those roles are filled with business degree people, only concerned with encounter numbers and $$$$$. I left as well, as are friends of mine.
I'm on the same boat now as we're before finding your true happiness. Thank you for sharing your story. At last, validation of the side work that Im doing now. I just need to recognize the timing & focus 💯 on the side thing.
I was schooled as a psychotherapist in the 80's after which I trained with two M.D.'s who were pioneers in breath work and somatic/emotional healing. People with M.S. would enter a month long course with them in a wheelchair - and leave using a cane. Others would have their symptoms go into total remission. Their techniques helped me heal so many things including the way I related to others. So I followed this alternative path since then. In 2016 I started doing sessions on-line and working with people worldwide as a coach - coaching them on breath work and awareness practices. That has been so powerful for my clients and has been a successful life path. Too bad the physicians you knew ridiculed this kind of work. It can be much more effective than allopathic medicine for a lot of conditions.
Burnout is real. Just starting my 10th year as a pathologist (which is supposed to be the most relaxed specialty in medicine) but I work 70 plus hours a week. Lots of pressure to get biopsy/resection reports out on time. I pretty much have no life. All the other pathologists in my hospital, which is a busy academic center, feel the same way. I probably should have worked in a less busy community hospital or private lab...
Hi, The one comment that I found to be true is: You have to be very dedicated.... This is an absolute must!!! Any Nurse, Doctor, clinical specialist can attest.
I salute you for doiing this.
It take a lot of guts to do that.
I started a career change at age of 45....but tried to do both jobs(sentiment)...burning the candle bith sides 7 years later....end up with burn out, depression, and bi polar depression which was fuel by shortage of sleep.
Personally, I think, Adhd, which I was diagnosed with, potent combo, with bi polar.
I found ,Bi polar kick in with lack of sleep in my case...otherwise, I am ok with it..started with strong sleep routne, etc.
Also kick the ass, of depression...how....by seeing a live coach, help me with mindfullness, exersise, etc.
There for, I do see the essencial need , as you briefly desribed, the essensial role of life coaches.
I have never had the quality of live , etc, last 2.5 years.
Thank you again, for haveing the gutts to do so.
20 year carreer!! I thought you were like 25 years old!!! Good lord!😯
This discussion of a number driven turnstyle led me to this posting. My Dr of over 15 yrs left are. The family clinic went from a couple Doc see patients to the clinic might not even having any doctors. It seems the clinic now has a PA that runs the operation and mostly patients see a NP. My guess is there is a doctor but only in a admin type setting. I had a severe open wound that required weekly visits to the ostomy/wound clinic. I went weekly for 3 months (13 weeks) in that time I never saw a doctor and was provided care by 9 different nurses seeing 1 nurse 3 times, 2 nurses twice and the rest only 1 time each. There was not followed plan as to my care or treatment as each nurse had a different plan of care and then the next week a different nurse would give a new plan that only lasted a week until the next nurse provider their new plan. I the end I just quit going as my onw plan was working better than the yo-yo plans I was given by the clinic. At one point a nurse early on had medical supplie sent to my home, these were things like tape, foam pads ointments and then at the visit before the last it was requested I bring in the supplies I had left. Why would a clinic want open packages of tape and the like. I am totaly dis-satisfied with the entire medical field. How did medicine become one of the largest capitalist cash cows. Dont get me wrong, I am owner of several companies and a capitalist to the bone but patient should never be priced out of the healthiest life they can and should have ? on a quick fllow up good job to you Dr. Foster on your effort and understanding on this broken system
It could be argued that the reason your coaching business is successful is because of your medical background. So medicine, as difficult as it was for you, paved a way to something more fulfilling
Dr. Foster, You probably made a wise decision. In addition to all of your reasons for leaving the profession, consider that Chat GPT can pass the USMLE quite easily. and many times AI outperforms trained physicians in the field of diagnostics that'll only get better with time.
Our broken health care system is unlikely to ever be straightened out. A new system based on prevention and exuberant great health with more emphasis on nutrition and lifestyle must grow alongside it. We have that, sort of, in some ways, but it needs to be much bigger and integrated into everyday life.
Thanks Dr. Foster, for sharing your story here which I just happened across. I enjoyed listening to it --- aside from the specifics of your career & choices --- because it's simply refreshing to hear a sane, kind, personable & warm individual's story, in a SEA of UA-cam and TikTok junk that constantly feeds us (or is it just to me?) full of road rage videos, meanspirited "Karen" encounters, loony political cultists, and the whole gamut of modern-day clickbait that seems to prevail in America 2024. Though I'm not in the medical field in any capacity whatsoever, I sympathise with all the disillusionments you relate, and which we the general public has been increasingly hearing about for at least a few decades now. I have to say, when I visit our own family doctor, even though he's part of a big "corporate" medical group (which I suppose is now the arrangement for almost every family doc? --- compared to my Mom taking me to ours sixty years ago in his little converted-house office), I don't feel rushed or 'glossed over' or any such things....but I'm sure there must be stresses he & his colleagues deal with like you describe I'm just not aware of. I'm glad you addressed your angst about leaving (though you haven't really "left") a profession that society needs so much, because that crossed my mind early in the video too. By the END of the video I too am convinced you seem to have made a brave decision that you not only needed to make for your own & your family's wellbeing, but that probably now allows you to do what you fundamentally felt passionate about in the first place: helping people have their best health. (I 'get it' that this platform is also a way for you to promote your health coaching services, and that's fine; though I'm pretty dismissive of all the various "life coaching" angles so many coaches are "selling" on the internet, only because they're so prevalent rather than that I think they're necessarily a waste of time/money, I'll look into more of your videos to learn more.) Thanks again for sharing your story & your expertise!
Some family med/IM find more satisfaction in a concierge model. You know that some holistic healthcare providers earned their reputation for taking advantage of people with unproven (often excessive) testing and interventions.
I’m considering quit my faculty member position for a less demanding and stressful carrier. It is not easy to though away a DVM, MSc PhD trajectory .
Enjoy your story. You are an inspiring soul.
The most useful lesson that I've learned. Thank you so much for sharing your insights. 👍
kim why not just open your own practice? then yo could apply health as you see fit
Was medicine the problem or corporate medicine the problem?
I’m thinking about resigning from a long engineering career. Owner of a software for a company where I’m the only solution provider for any issues. But I want to let it go and do nothing until I find what I want to do.
Did 39yrs of nursing and advocacy for child abuse prevention and community development fighting bad practices at every level. The fatigue proximal weakness,falling, failing pfts forced stop of work started project 'live'. PCP said with 2k pts she wasn't a diagnostician, train wreck of care ensued 7yrs.. finally demanding mestinon despite triple sero negative am strong reactor . Now being told 10 min NP appointment is a physical. I appreciate the burnout,been there 3 times and I will not accept this mess. If we don't fight stridently it won't get better. Please speak, fight, teach, advocate even if no longer paid.
Outstanding Story, Great Success!
I have never felt rushed out of a doctor's office. Any doctor's office. So I'm personally confused about your experience and perspective.
I'm in tech and want to leave...but as the sole "bread winner" (what a dated term that is huh?) for my family I feel a lot of pressure to stay....
Thank you for sharing your decision. I have done the same. Very happy. Shalom
We get free care in the UK....works pretty well if resourced. No idea why you tolerate a toxic health system, profit should play no part in health care.
It's starting to become broader known again that careers don't provide women with fulfillment and happiness; family does.
Also, I have just embarked on a career change from a 30-year office design professional to an entrepreneur. The biggest barrier I see in front of me is knowledge...if it took me 20 years in my last profession to climb the ladder and gain the needed experience (especially having gone to school for it) how then is it not a bit overwhelming to think how I will gain the knowledge required to progress in a new field (Product development and sales)..especially if I do not have the education or natural disposition that was associated with the first career choice. In one sense, the odds are against me. Can it be possible that although I am like a fish out of water with the comfort level of my knowledge of this new world, I could still be in "alignment" as you put it? The hope is that once I pick up steam, the knowledge will find its way to me...because of the supposed alignment. What do you think? (And best of luck to you / if you even need it :)
Thank you for sharing your story ❤ . It is inspiring.
She looks like a good nurse. Which nursing school did you attend ?
She is a doctor MD
"education is suppose to give you freedom", you can say that again........ TRUE, it does !
Goid for you, Doc.
Did you try opening your own private practice? Your experiences are not dissimilar to what I went through as an associate in a huge law firm. Billable hours, office politics, all nighters. Mid six figure salary. I did not want to have a heart attack, so I walked away from it. Son discovered law was not a good fit for me.