Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 14, 2026 · 18 MIN

Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers

from The Podcast by KevinMD

Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article "Why every physician needs a sabbatical (and how to take one)." Christie reveals the harsh reality that while sabbaticals exist on paper, unwritten rules often prevent doctors from accessing this critical recovery tool until it is too late. She shares her personal journey of taking an unsanctioned, unpaid break to combat burnout and how that decision allowed her to return to medicine with renewed purpose. The conversation explores why elite athletes and tech companies prioritize strategic rest while health care treats it as a luxury, offering practical steps for financial planning and reentry. Discover how stepping away from the grind might actually be the only way to stay in the profession you love. True team-based care starts with you. When you join ChenMed, you'll feel seen, heard, and valued. That's because ChenMed practices transformative, physician-led care, focusing on prevention and empowering providers to have a lasting impact on their patients and communities. So, whether you're applying for a primary care physician, nurse practitioner, cardiologist, or medical director position, you'll feel supported and fulfilled in every aspect of your career. Find a job that feels right. Visit ChenMed.com/Physicians to learn more. VISIT SPONSOR → https://chenmed.com/Physicians SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST → https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD → https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended

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Sabbaticals provide a critical lifeline for sustainable medical careers

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This episode is 18 minutes long.

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This episode was published on February 14, 2026.

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Palliative care physician and certified physician development coach Christie Mulholland discusses her article "Why every physician needs a sabbatical (and how to take one)." Christie reveals the harsh reality that while sabbaticals exist on paper,...

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