The Permission to Evolve: How Physicians Can Embrace Career Growth Without Guilt | Episode 9

In this episode of the Mindful Practice Podcast, Dr. Bertina Hooks tackles one of the most quietly painful challenges in medicine: giving yourself permission to evolve. Whether you're questioning your specialty, stepping into leadership, or feeling called toward something beyond clinical practice, this episode is your reminder that growth is not betrayal, it's maturity.What You'll Learn in This EpisodeWhy physicians struggle to give themselves permission to change careers or redefine successHow medicine's "endure and commit" culture can keep physicians stuck in roles they've already outgrownThe difference between quitting impulsively and evolving intentionallyHow clarity often comes through movement, not before itDr. Hooks' personal journey: from OB-GYN to internal medicine, physician leadership, coaching, and publishingDr. Hooks' Personal StoryDr. Hooks shares her own multi-chapter career evolution — including:Matching twice: First in OB-GYN, then transitioning to internal medicine after a patient with postpartum cardiomyopathy reignited her lifelong passion for cardiologyOvercoming imposter syndrome that nearly kept her from pursuing cardiology as a teenager and again in medical schoolStepping into physician leadership through utilization management and enrolling in an Executive MBA program in 2024, with the goal of becoming a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) through AAPL and eventually a Chief Medical OfficerLaunching the Mindful Practice Podcast as a vehicle to educate, advise, and uplift physicians navigating similar transitionsWriting her memoir as another expression of her evolving purposeKey TakeawaysPermission to evolve rarely comes from outside. You have to grant it to yourself.Evolution can look like changing specialties, entering leadership, coaching, writing, entrepreneurship, or advocacy, it doesn't always mean leaving medicine.Physicians who evolve thoughtfully often become strong leaders because they are living in greater alignment, not just performing an identity.Ask yourself: What version of success am I still holding onto that no longer fits?Reflection Questions for PhysiciansWhere have I outgrown old definitions of success?Am I staying in this role out of alignment or out of fear of what others will think?What becomes possible if I allow myself to evolve?About Dr. Bertina Hooks:Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach. After redefining her own success over 10 years, she helps physicians build careers aligned with their core values through coaching, strategic planning, and honest conversations about money, status, and fear.Resources:Email: [email protected]: PinnacleBusinessAcademy.orgSubscribe & Share:If this episode gave you permission to question your definition of success, subscribe and share with a fellow physician who needs to hear this.