121. Why Independent Medicine Is Growing Among Burned Out Surgeons

Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MD has built her practice around one central idea: surgeons should have more control over how they care for patients, structure their lives, and build sustainable careers. In this week's episode, she talks openly about leaving high-volume practice models, building an independent multidisciplinary center in Memphis, and why she believes outpatient vascular care is changing the future of the specialty. The conversation moves far beyond business strategy into surgeon burnout, team culture, limb salvage, physician autonomy, and the realities of trying to create a practice that supports both high-level performance and a real life outside the hospital.The episode also dives into what it takes to create a physician centered system from the ground up. 04:43 Why physicians should understand the business side of medicine09:25 Leaving high-volume practice models and protecting long-term health11:02 How Dr. Majors met her business partner and built Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center21:42 Why multidisciplinary outpatient models are becoming more important27:05 Narrowing procedural focus and building community-based vascular centers31:08 Why hyper-specialized limb salvage centers are needed35:02 Surgeon burnout, grind culture, and changing the future of surgical practice41:48 Female surgeons, leadership dynamics, and evaluating practice culture47:40 Peptides, wound healing, and innovation in independent practice Who Should ListenThis episode is for vascular surgeons, interventional specialists, physicians considering independent practice, and early-career surgeons thinking about how they want to structure their careers long term. It’s also highly relevant for physicians interested in outpatient care models, limb salvage programs, team culture, and practice ownership.About Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MDDr. Jacqueline Majors is a board-certified vascular surgeon and the owner and director of the Limb Salvage Program at Zenith Vascular & Fibroid Center in Memphis, Tennessee. She specializes in advanced limb salvage and endovascular interventions focused on restoring blood flow, wound healing, and preventing amputations. Dr. Majors co-founded a multidisciplinary outpatient vascular practice alongside an interventional radiologist partner and remains actively involved in physician advocacy, education, and private practice development. She is also the creator of Anatomy Pad, a patient education platform designed for vascular surgeons. Her background includes Division I athletics, competitive soccer coaching, and more than 25 years of surgical experience.Connect with Dr. Jacqueline Majors, MD💼 LinkedIn: Jacqueline Majors, MD Follow Life of Flow📲 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@LifeofFlowPodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👍 Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Flow Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💼 LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Flow Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🐦 X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VascularPodcastIf this conversation changed how you think about independent practice, surgeon burnout, limb salvage, and what it actually takes to build a sustainable career in medicine, share it with a colleague who’s navigating those same questions. And if you’re enjoying Life of Flow, a quick review helps more physicians find conversations like this.