Finding a Different Path: Changing Careers in Healthcare with Laura Hall and Kelly Wright

For many clinicians, the traditional pathways of healthcare offer purpose and stability, but they can also feel restrictive, misaligned with evolving identities, or incompatible with a life that values adventure, education, and time outside conventional systems. Changing direction within or adjacent to healthcare is rarely a single leap; more often, it is a series of deliberate steps shaped by curiosity, burnout, growth, and a desire for sustainability.In this conversation, Laura Hall and Kelly Wright bring their lived experiences to bear on that reality. Laura is currently a pre- and post-op nurse in a small Colorado town, a wilderness medicine instructor, and a trail-running coach who has built a career around adaptability, education, and performance in demanding environments. Kelly is a flight nurse and endurance athlete whose professional journey reflects both the physical toll and the profound privilege of high-acuity care. Together, they are the voices behind High Adventure Healthcare, a platform dedicated to honest discussion, education, and redefining what a healthcare career can look like.This episode explores what it really means to change course, without abandoning hard-earned skills or identity. It is a grounded, practical discussion about fear, flexibility, reinvention, and how clinicians can build careers that support both longevity and life beyond the uniform. You can check out the fantastic Substack blog page here: https://highadventurehealthcare.substack.com/This episode is sponsored by PAX: The gold standard in emergency response bags.When you’re working under pressure, your kit needs to be dependable, tough, and intuitive. That’s exactly what you get with PAX. Every bag is handcrafted by expert tailors who understand the demands of pre-hospital care. From the high-tech, skin-friendly, and environmentally responsible materials to the cutting-edge welding process that reduces seams and makes cleaning easier, PAX puts performance first. They’ve partnered with 3M to perfect reflective surfaces for better visibility, and the bright grey interior makes finding gear fast and effortless, even in low light. With over 200 designs, PAX bags are made to suit your role, needs, and environment. And thanks to their modular system, many bags work seamlessly together, no matter the setup.PAX doesn’t chase trends. Their designs stay consistent, so once you know one, you know them all. And if your bag ever takes a beating? Their in-house repair team will bring it back to life.PAX – built to perform, made to last.Learn more at ⁠https://www.pax-bags.com/en/⁠