Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career

What happens when medicine quietly becomes the place where you give your best self, leaving your family, relationships, and personal life with whatever energy remains? In this solo episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh examines a painful but common pattern among physicians: becoming exceptionally skilled at showing up for patients, colleagues, and healthcare systems while becoming increasingly absent from the moments and people that matter most at home. Through stories from physicians across specialties, Dr. Hersh illustrates how years of training physicians to override exhaustion, uncertainty, emotion, and personal needs can slowly evolve into a life built around endurance rather than presence. He discusses the concept of betrayal in medicine, the slow realization that hard work and reliability don't always lead to recognition or fulfillment, and how many physicians unknowingly become experts at enduring their own lives. The conversation explores identity fusion, productivity pressures, emotional exhaustion, and the tendency to postpone change until crisis strikes. Ultimately, this episode offers a compassionate reminder that physicians do not need to wait until they are burned out, ready to quit, or falling apart to seek support. Sometimes, the goal isn't transformation. It's simply creating enough space to experience your own life while you're living it. Three Actionable Takeaways: Stop Waiting for Catastrophe: Functioning and being okay are not the same thing. You don't need to be in crisis before acknowledging that something important is costing you more than you want to pay. Notice the Cost of Endurance: The ability to push through exhaustion and stress may have helped you survive training, but over time, it can become a barrier to being fully present in your own life. Begin paying attention to what your endurance is costing you. Redefine Success at Home: Many physicians strive to excel professionally while unintentionally offering their families the most depleted version of themselves. Small changes that create more presence at home can have a profound impact over time. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife     If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens after we understand trust, uncertainty, and depletion? How do we actually put those ideas into practice when life becomes unpredictable, stressful, and painful? In this final part of their four-part series, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf to bring together the foundational concepts they've explored over the past several episodes. Together, they discuss why the goal is not to eliminate hardship, uncertainty, or traumatic stress exposure, but to develop the skills, relationships, and resources needed to move through those experiences without causing unnecessary harm to ourselves or others. Drawing from neurophysiology, leadership science, trauma responsiveness, and deeply personal stories, Dr. Sarraf explains why "story follows state," how nervous system activation shapes the narratives we create, and why connection remains one of the most powerful antidotes to toxic stress. They also discuss grief, moral distress, traumatic exposure, leadership responsibility, and the importance of preparing teams for difficult moments before they happen. The conversation highlights Lodestar's programs, including Brave Leadership, All of Us, Trauma Mitigation Masterclass, coaching, and restorative coaching, illustrating how leaders and organizations can intentionally build cultures rooted in trust, safety, and sustainable human connection. Ultimately, this episode reminds us that while exposure to uncertainty, adversity, and suffering may be unavoidable, the harm that often follows does not have to be. With practice, intentionality, and the right support systems, individuals and teams can remain connected, resilient, and deeply human even under pressure. Three Actionable Takeaways: Remember That Story Follows State: The narratives we create are heavily influenced by the current state of our nervous systems. Learning to recognize activation and regulate before reacting allows us to respond more intentionally and compassionately. Prepare Teams for the Rapids Before They Arrive: Hard moments are inevitable. High-performing teams build trust, safety, communication skills, and supportive relationships before adversity strikes, rather than trying to create them during a crisis. Lean Into Connection During Uncertainty: Connection remains one of the most effective disruptors of toxic stress. Cultivating supportive relationships and allowing others to show up for us preserves energy, hope, and resilience. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do highly capable people become deeply depleted without realizing it? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf for the third installment of their four-part leadership series. Together, they unpack one of Lodestar's most impactful teaching tools: the Reservoir Model. Using the metaphor of a reservoir, Dr. Sarraf explains how capacity, resilience, energy, rest, and depletion interact in our daily lives. She challenges traditional approaches to resilience that focus solely on doing more and instead encourages listeners to examine what is draining them, what replenishes them, and how they can become more intentional about protecting their energy. The conversation explores why rest is not a reward but a biological necessity, how spillways silently drain our capacity, the importance of identifying supportive “spotters” in our lives, and why striving for perfect balance often creates more frustration than fulfillment. Through practical examples and leadership insights, Dr. Sarraf offers a compassionate framework for helping physicians and other professionals show up fully for the people and work they care about most. Three Actionable Takeaways: Audit Your Spillways: Identify the activities, habits, and commitments that continually drain your energy. Rather than eliminating everything, experiment with turning down or closing spillways that no longer serve you. Treat Rest as a Requirement: Rest is not something to be earned after completing endless tasks. Like the heart's preload phase, rest is essential for restoring capacity and sustaining meaningful work. Listen to Your Spotters: Trusted family members, friends, and colleagues often notice depletion before we do. Learning to hear their feedback as helpful data rather than criticism can prevent burnout and preserve well-being. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens to people and teams when certainty disappears? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf for the second installment of their four-part leadership series. Together, they examine the profound impact uncertainty has on our nervous systems, our relationships, and our ability to think, lead, and collaborate effectively. Drawing from neuroscience, trauma responsiveness, leadership science, and neurophysiology, Dr. Sarraf explains why uncertainty is one of the most metabolically expensive experiences humans endure. She explores how prolonged uncertainty heightens threat responses, increases cognitive biases, erodes our ability to recognize cues of safety, and contributes to exhaustion, polarization, and diminished well-being. The conversation highlights practical ways leaders can become intentional cues of safety, helping teams regulate stress, restore trust, and remain connected even when answers are unavailable. Through examples from healthcare, military leadership, and Lodestar's Brave Leadership program, Dr. Sarraf demonstrates how uncertainty can be navigated skillfully and why hope grows when people feel equipped with actionable tools. Three Actionable Takeaways: Recognize the Cost of Uncertainty: Uncertainty consumes significant cognitive and emotional resources. Understanding its effects can help leaders approach themselves and others with greater compassion. Become a Cue of Safety: Leaders can intentionally create environments that reduce threat responses through transparency, consistency, nourishment, physical presence, and predictable structures. Slow Down During Activation: When people become reactive, their nervous systems require time to regulate before meaningful conversations can happen. Pausing and co-regulating help preserve relationships and improve communication. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife     If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do talented teams sometimes struggle despite having highly skilled members? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes back Dr. Kemia Sarraf, founder of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching, for the first of a four-part series exploring the hidden drivers beneath burnout, leadership, and team culture. Together, they challenge the notion that trust, safety, and connection are merely "soft skills" and instead present compelling evidence that these elements are foundational to high-performing teams. Drawing on neurophysiology, leadership research, trauma responsiveness, and experience working with physicians, military personnel, educators, attorneys, and law enforcement professionals, Dr. Sarraf explains why tending to the nervous system is essential to helping teams perform under pressure. They discuss psychological safety, Google's Project Aristotle findings, the four pillars of trust, trust wobbles, repairing ruptures, leadership vulnerability, and why trust can be built much faster than most people realize. This conversation offers practical insights for leaders seeking to create healthier teams, improve communication, and return to the kind of meaningful work that first inspired them to enter medicine. Three Actionable Takeaways: Build Trust Intentionally: Trust grows from four pillars: these are authenticity, reliability, compassion, and competence. Identifying your own "trust wobble" helps you strengthen relationships and lead more effectively. Lead Through Nervous System Awareness: High-performing teams thrive when leaders intentionally create cues of safety that reduce stress and allow team members to think, collaborate, and perform at their best. Repair Ruptures Transparently: When trust is broken, acknowledge the impact, invite feedback, and communicate how you plan to move forward differently. Honest repair strengthens relationships over time. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest:  Dr. Kemia Sarraf is a board-certified internal medicine physician, founder, and CEO of Lodestar Consulting and Executive Coaching. With over two decades of experience in medicine, public health, nonprofit leadership, and trauma mitigation, she brings a unique perspective to supporting high-performing professionals. Her trauma-responsive coaching approach, informed by her clinical background and personal commitment to healing, helps physicians and others navigate chronic stress and burnout. Dr. Sarraf completed her Medical Degree and Master of Public Health at the University of Utah School of Medicine and her residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, focusing on equity, diversity, and inclusion. Dr. Sarraf lives on a farm in Central Illinois with her husband, four sons, and numerous animals. Connect with Dr. Sarraf: 🌐 Website: www.lodestarpc.com 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkemia 📸 Instagram: @drkemia 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KemiaS About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when a practicing physician suddenly finds themselves on the other side of the chart?  In this powerful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Peter Crane, a rural family physician living with metastatic cancer. Dr. Crane shares his deeply personal journey,  from discovering a 26-centimeter sarcoma at age 43 to undergoing radiation, major surgery, and ongoing treatment, and how this experience reignited his love for medicine and clarified what makes a medical career truly sustainable. Together, they discuss why physicians often lose sight of their original calling, the importance of intentional career reassessment, financial preparedness, the power of saying “no,” and the need for physicians to reclaim agency in their professional lives. This conversation is both moving and practical, a reminder of the profound privilege of practicing medicine and how to protect that joy for the long term. Three Actionable Takeaways: Reassess Your Career Intentionally: Around years 8–12, take stock of your work. Ask yourself: “If this were my business, is this how I would choose to practice?” This reflection prevents resentment and helps you design a career that fits. Build Financial and Personal Sustainability: Secure your finances early, maintain disability insurance, and create space for rest, meals, and recovery. True longevity in medicine requires more than just reducing hours; it demands control over your time and energy. Focus on Gratitude and Impact: When days feel heavy, intentionally remember the unique privilege of being a physician. Highlighting the positive difference you make (rather than only the frustrations) transforms daily experience and supports long-term fulfillment. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified family physician practicing full-spectrum rural medicine in Idaho. After a life-altering diagnosis with a rare sarcoma at age 43, his perspective on medicine was profoundly transformed. He is the creator and host of the Doctors Making a Difference podcast, where he highlights physicians making a meaningful impact through leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and innovative practice models. Connect with Dr. Peter Crane:  Podcast: Doctors Making a Difference  Website: doctorsmakingadifference.com  YouTube: Doctors Making a Difference About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if physicians don’t actually want to leave medicine but just want more control over how they practice it? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh is joined by Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez for an honest conversation about telemedicine, physician autonomy, and navigating alternative career paths within healthcare. Together, they explore why so many physicians are drawn to telemedicine and flexible work models, but also why many doctors underestimate the operational, regulatory, and business realities that accompany these opportunities. From medical directorships and PC ownership to compliance concerns and burnout in virtual care, this episode dives into the questions physicians should ask before jumping into telemedicine. Dr. Damasco shares his personal experience transitioning into telemedicine during the COVID boom, while Phoebe offers insight into the regulatory and operational side of digital healthcare, including the risks physicians unknowingly assume when they accept certain roles. This conversation is both a practical guide and a broader discussion about physician leadership, career design, and reclaiming influence in the future of medicine. Three Actionable Takeaways: ● Flexibility Without Clarity Can Lead to More Burnout: Many physicians pursue telemedicine looking for freedom, but without understanding what they truly want from their careers, they can quickly recreate the same dissatisfaction in a different environment. ● Physicians Need to Understand the Business and Compliance Side of Telemedicine: Medical directorships, PC ownership, and telemedicine roles often involve responsibilities physicians do not fully understand. Asking deeper operational and regulatory questions is essential for protecting both licenses and careers. ● Physicians Belong at the Center of Digital Healthcare: Telemedicine and digital health are shaping the future of medicine. The more physicians step into leadership, operational, and strategic roles, the more influence they can have on building healthcare systems that actually work for patients and providers. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guests: Dr. Leo Damasco is a pediatric and emergency medicine physician who has spent years working in telemedicine and virtual care. He helps physicians better understand the realities of telemedicine careers, operational structures, and how to navigate digital healthcare opportunities safely and strategically. Phoebe Gutierrez specializes in healthcare compliance, operational strategy, and regulatory affairs within digital health and telemedicine. She works closely with physicians and healthcare organizations to help build compliant, sustainable telemedicine infrastructures while educating clinicians on the risks and realities of the industry. Podcast:  Telemedicine Talks Website:  telemedicinetalks.com Slack Community: Available through the Telemedicine Talks website About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the setback you’re experiencing is not failure, but incomplete information? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh reflects on Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill and the famous story of “Three Feet from Gold.” While physicians are often taught persistence through years of medical training, the challenge later in their careers is not simply working harder; it is learning to navigate uncertainty when the next step is no longer clearly defined. Dr. Hersh explores how many physicians interpret disappointing early results as evidence that an idea, career pivot, leadership path, or side project is unrealistic. Whether it’s pursuing leadership, negotiating schedule flexibility, consulting, or building something outside clinical medicine, early obstacles often become personal verdicts instead of opportunities for reassessment. This episode is a reminder that stalled progress does not always mean the goal is wrong. Sometimes the problem is not effort, but perspective, timing, strategy, or fatigue. And sometimes the most important career decisions deserve the same thoughtful reassessment physicians naturally apply inside the exam room. Three Actionable Takeaways: ● Early Setbacks Are Not Always Final Answers: A disappointing first attempt does not automatically mean the idea is wrong. Physicians often mistake incomplete information, poor timing, or lack of experience for evidence that they should stop altogether. ● Exhaustion Can Distort Career Decisions: Many doctors evaluate major life and career questions when they are mentally drained after clinic, call, or long workdays. Fatigue can make temporary frustration feel permanent and cause physicians to abandon ideas prematurely. ● New Career Skills Require Beginner-Level Patience: Leadership, negotiation, consulting, business, and entrepreneurship are skills that naturally feel uncomfortable at first. Physicians are accustomed to expertise, which makes the discomfort of learning something new especially difficult to tolerate. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the problem isn’t your productivity system, but the assumption that you should be able to fit everything in? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh reflects on Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman and the reality that time is not something physicians can endlessly optimize. While medicine trains doctors to work harder, absorb more, and stay endlessly productive, the demands of modern clinical life often exceed what any schedule can realistically hold. Dr. Hersh explores the quiet but constant feeling many physicians carry: being perpetually behind. Behind on notes, inboxes, family time, exercise, friendships, and even their own lives. He discusses how efficiency can help, but cannot solve the deeper issue of unrealistic expectations and unchecked work demands. This episode is an invitation to stop treating life as something that starts “after things settle down,” and instead begin intentionally deciding what deserves your best time, energy, and attention before those opportunities quietly disappear. Three Actionable Takeaways: Efficiency Cannot Solve an Impossible Workload: Physicians are trained to optimize everything, but many schedules simply contain more work than time allows. Better workflows and templates help, but they cannot fully eliminate the emotional burden of constantly feeling behind. The Non-Urgent Parts of Life Are Often the Most Important: Relationships, health, rest, and meaningful experiences rarely show up as emergencies, which is why they are often postponed. Over time, however, these neglected areas become the source of regret physicians feel most deeply. “Temporary” Overwork Easily Becomes a Lifestyle: Many doctors live in survival mode while telling themselves things will settle down later. But when every year follows the same pattern, temporary stress quietly becomes the permanent structure of life. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the real issue isn’t burnout in the dramatic sense, but quietly realizing you’re continuing more out of familiarity than desire? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh discusses Annie Duke’s book Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away. He examines how the same grit that got physicians through training and early career can make it hard to recognize when a practice structure, schedule, or role no longer fits as well as it once did. Drawing on the book, Dr. Hersh explores concepts such as escalation of commitment, the sunk cost fallacy, the tension between exploiting (optimizing the current setup) and exploring (considering new options), and the challenge of identity tied to being the reliable, always-available physician. He emphasizes that most doctors aren’t looking to leave medicine entirely; they just want to ensure the way they’re working still supports the life they want to live. The episode encourages physicians to define clear “kill criteria” or decision points in advance and create space to step back and evaluate what still makes sense. 🔗 Learn more about coaching with Dr. Hersh: betterphysicianlife.com Top 3 Takeaways: Persistence Can Become a Trap: The same determination that helped you succeed in medicine can make it difficult to notice when small, temporary increases in workload have become permanent. Subtle signals like hesitation before opening the schedule or hoping for cancellations often appear before obvious burnout. Sunk Costs and Identity Make Change Feel Bigger: We’ve invested years, our identity, and our reputation in our current path. Changing structure can feel like changing who we are, leading to “escalation of commitment,” in which we double down on more effort instead of reconsidering the setup itself. Define Decision Criteria in Advance: Just like in clinical medicine, set clear signals ahead of time for when to reassess. Exploration doesn’t mean you have to quit; it often confirms your current path still works or reveals small, helpful adjustments. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the financial plan you’ve been working toward is already working, but your life hasn’t caught up? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores a powerful idea from Die With Zero by Bill Perkins: money isn’t the only resource that matters, time and health are just as important, and they don’t grow in the same way. He examines a common but rarely discussed pattern among physicians, continuing to work at the same intense pace even after financial stability is achieved. Despite growing accounts and improving projections, schedules remain full, extra shifts continue, and life stays organized around maximizing income. This episode challenges physicians to reconsider not just how much is “enough,” but enough for what, and how to align their time with the parts of life that matter most while those opportunities are still available. Top 3 Takeaways: Money Grows, But Time and Health Don’t: While financial assets compound over time, your ability to enjoy life—through time, energy, and health—does not. Delaying life experiences can mean missing the window when they’re easiest and most meaningful. Continuing Is Easy, Adjusting Is Hard: Physicians are trained to keep going: more shifts, more patients, more productivity. But even when financial pressure decreases, the pace often stays the same out of habit, responsibility, or system expectations. The Real Question Isn’t “How Much Is Enough?”, It’s “Enough for What?” At some point, the goal shifts from maximizing income to maximizing life. This means intentionally deciding how much you actually need to work, and protecting time for family, relationships, and experiences that won’t wait. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens when you’ve mastered medicine, but something still feels incomplete? In this solo episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh reflects on a powerful idea from From Strength to Strength by Arthur C. Brooks: the skills that drive success early in a physician’s career are not the same ones that create meaning later in life. He explores the concept of fluid intelligence: the speed, pattern recognition, and technical skill that medicine rewards early on, and how it gradually gives way to crystallized intelligence, a deeper, experience-based wisdom that becomes more valuable over time. Dr. Hersh also unpacks the “striver’s curse,” the endless cycle of achievement that leaves many high-performing physicians feeling like they’ve never quite arrived. He discusses how career milestones lose their lasting impact, why professional success can feel surprisingly isolating, and the difference between “deal friends” and “real friends.” This episode is an invitation to rethink what the second half of a medical career can look like, not just in terms of productivity but also in terms of purpose, connection, and intentional living. Top 3 Takeaways: The Skills That Built Your Career Won’t Sustain It Forever: Early success in medicine relies on speed and technical excellence (fluid intelligence), but long-term fulfillment comes from perspective, judgment, and experience (crystallized intelligence). Recognizing this shift is key to navigating mid-career transitions. Achievement Alone Doesn’t Create Lasting Satisfaction: The “striver’s curse” keeps physicians chasing the next milestone, but the feeling of “arrival” is always temporary. True fulfillment requires redefining what “enough” means beyond constant achievement. The Second Half of Your Career Is About Intentional Living: As careers evolve, the focus shifts from proving competence to designing a life. This includes building meaningful relationships, exploring new roles like mentorship or teaching, and deciding how work fits into the life you actually want. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You finished clinic, the inbox is mostly clear, but those six charts are still open. You know they’ll only take 15 minutes, yet you keep putting them off. Sound familiar? In this solo episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh explores why procrastination feels so personal for physicians. Even though doctors are highly responsible and excellent at handling difficult tasks, small delays trigger harsh self-judgment that keeps the cycle going. He explains that procrastination is rarely about laziness; it’s usually about avoiding what the task represents: uncertainty, perfectionism, mental exhaustion, or the lack of external structure that medicine normally provides. Dr. Hersh breaks down common physician procrastination patterns, including decision fatigue at the end of the day, perfectionism that prevents starting, and the way unfinished tasks quietly drain mental bandwidth for months. Most importantly, he offers practical strategies to break the cycle: shrink the task to something small enough to begin, create your own structure instead of waiting to “feel like it,” ask “what exactly am I avoiding?”, and rebuild self-trust through small, repeated follow-through. This episode is for every physician who has ever thought, “Why didn’t I just do that already?” and wants to stop letting procrastination quietly shape their career and life. Top 3 Takeaways: Procrastination Isn’t Laziness, It’s Avoidance of What Comes Next: You’re rarely avoiding the task itself. You’re avoiding the uncertainty, the numbers, the conversation, or reopening the visit in your head. Naming exactly what you’re avoiding is the first step to breaking the cycle. Self-Judgment Makes It Worse: Delaying a task is one thing. Adding layers of “I should be better than this” turns a 15-minute job into months of background mental pressure. Shame doesn’t motivate; it usually leads to more distraction and avoidance. Shrink the Task and Add Structure: Make the next step ridiculously small (open the file, spend 10 minutes, finish one chart). Then schedule it like clinic, give it a specific time block. Physicians thrive with structure; create your own instead of waiting until you “feel like it.” Small, repeated follow-through rebuilds self-trust over time. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the real reason negotiation feels heavy for physicians isn’t the topic itself, but that we were never trained for it, and we’ve been taught to villainize instead of understand? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Lee Sharma, a practicing OB/GYN with nearly 30 years in private practice and a Master’s in Conflict Resolution. Together, they unpack why doctors are comfortable with life-and-death decisions but freeze when negotiating contracts, protected time, or boundaries. Dr. Sharma explains the destructive role of villainization, how we create stories with heroes and villains that shut down curiosity, damage relationships, and block real solutions. They discuss practical mindset shifts: moving from “winning versus losing” to alignment, replacing compromise with shared goals, and getting crystal clear on what you actually want in your professional and personal life beyond just money and call.  This conversation is essential for any physician who has ever felt uncomfortable asking for what they need or who has walked away from a negotiation feeling drained rather than empowered. Top 3 Takeaways: Villainization Kills Curiosity and Collaboration: When we turn people or systems into villains, we stop asking questions and start confirming our own story. This creates shame, blame, and broken relationships. Instead, look for common ground, even if it's just one small thing you share, to shift from enemy to collaborator. Negotiation is a Skill, Not a Personality Trait: Physicians are trained to advocate fiercely for patients but often feel guilty or uncomfortable advocating for themselves. Clarify exactly what you want. Not just “more money” or “better call”, including schedule details, support staff, technology, and daily workflow so you can negotiate with confidence and alignment. Move from Compromise to Alignment: Compromise often feels like a loss for everyone. Start negotiations from shared goals and alignment instead. This builds trust, fosters better long-term relationships, and helps create a practice and life that actually feel good at the end of the day. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Dr. Lee Sharma is a practicing gynecologist with nearly 30 years of experience in private practice in Alabama. She completed her OB/GYN training at UT Southwestern and holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution. Dr. Sharma specializes in conflict analysis, negotiation, and the development of healthier healthcare systems. She works with individual physicians, physician groups, hospitals, and healthcare organizations to improve how they navigate difficult conversations, contracts, peer review, and workplace conflict. She is also the host of the Scalpel and Sword Podcast, where she explores conflict and negotiation in modern medicine. Dr. Sharma is passionate about teaching physicians practical skills to advocate for themselves and their boundaries with confidence. 🔗 Connect with Dr. R. Lee Sharma: 🌐 Website: https://rleesharma.com 🎙️ Podcast: Scalpel and Sword: Conflict and Negotiation in Modern Medicine About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the real issue isn’t hating medicine, but that medicine never really leaves you at the end of the day? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh reframes physician burnout not as disliking the work but as the inability to shut it off. Many doctors still love complex cases, enjoy diagnostics, and care deeply about patients, yet their brains keep thinking about the work during the drive home, dinner, and bedtime. Drawing from his coaching experience (including the story of “Mark,” a cardiologist who still enjoys medicine but can’t put the hospital down), Dr. Hersh explains why medicine rarely gives a clean ending: unfinished notes, pending results, and open questions keep the mind in physician mode long after leaving the building. He challenges the typical “resilience” and self-care narratives that miss this core issue and introduces a practical way to deliberately close the workday so you can actually be present at home.  The free 5-Minute Commute Reset is highlighted as a tool to create that mental shift, protecting family time without lowering clinical standards or abandoning the work you still love. 🔗 Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset   Top 3 Takeaways: Burnout Often Looks Different Than You Think: Many physicians don’t hate medicine; they still enjoy the puzzles, cases, and patient relationships. The real pain point is that the job never fully ends: unfinished thoughts follow you home. Notice one moment when hospital mode invades family time and name it. Medicine Doesn’t Give a Natural Off Switch: Training teaches you to keep thinking “Did I miss anything? What’s next?”, which protects patients but prevents mental closure. Recognize that pending labs, open notes, and unresolved questions keep your brain in physician mode. It's structural, not a personal failing. Deliberately Close the Day to Reclaim Your Evenings: Create a clear endpoint so your mind can stand down. Download and try the free 5-Minute Commute Reset daily. It's designed exactly for the drive home or walk from the clinic, helping you transition so you’re actually present with the people who matter most. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if caring deeply didn’t mean carrying everything? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh gives physicians permission to care less, not about clinical excellence or patient outcomes you control, but about the extra weight of everything else that lands on you. He shares how accountability for decisions can silently spread to carrying noncompliant patients, system delays, prior authorization denials, complaints, and RVU dips all the way home. From his own experience, replaying cases at night, checking portals before dinner, and bringing irritation to family dinners didn’t make him a better doctor. It just exhausted him. The turning point was learning to separate what’s truly yours from what isn’t, and giving the workday a defined end. He offers the 5-Minute Commute Reset to help you create a clean transition so you can leave the mental load at work. If everything feels like it’s on you, this episode shows how to care deeply without carrying everything, protecting your peace and presence at home. 🔗 Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset Top 3 Takeaways Accountability versus Over-Responsibility: You are responsible for your clinical decisions, not for patient compliance, system delays, prior-auth denials, or every outcome. At the end of one shift, ask: “Was this my decision or something outside my control?” If it’s the latter, practice letting it stop there. Carrying It Home Is Not Professionalism: Replaying cases at night, checking portals before dinner, and bringing RVU stress to the table doesn’t make you a better doctor; it just steals your presence at home. Notice one moment when work thoughts follow you through the door and consciously release them. Create a Clean Ending to Your Day: The transition between clinic and home is everything. Download the free 5-Minute Commute Reset and use it daily; it gives your workday a defined endpoint so you can actually be present with family without lowering your standards. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the real issue isn’t how much you’re paid, but what your paycheck has quietly become the only scoreboard for your entire career? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the hidden shift many physicians experience: compensation stops feeling like fair pay and starts feeling like proof that all the sacrifices were worth it. Drawing from his own journey, he unpacks why money becomes the default metric when autonomy shrinks, how endless comparisons keep you chasing “more,” and why even a bigger salary rarely fixes the underlying friction of inboxes, calls, and lost time at home. He reveals the deeper questions beneath “I should be making more”,  control, respect, time, and alignment,  and shares a practical 5-minute commute reset to stop carrying work calculations home.  If you’ve ever wondered whether doubling your income would actually make the job feel better, this episode gives you the clarity to separate compensation from identity and start measuring your career on your own terms. 🔗 Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset Top 3 Takeaways Compensation Is a Metric, Not Your Identity: When pay becomes the only way to know if your career is “working,” you’ll always feel behind. Try this: this week, ask yourself, “If my income doubled tomorrow but nothing else changed, would the daily friction disappear?” The honest answer usually reveals what you’re really seeking. What “I Should Be Making More” Is Actually About: Most compensation frustration isn’t greed. It’s a cry for control, respect, and fairness. Separate the money ask from the real ask (schedule autonomy, fewer unpaid tasks, clearer boundaries). Write down one non-financial change that would make the current setup feel tolerable. Stop Carrying the Numbers Home: The mental math about RVUs and reimbursement doesn’t have to follow you through the door. Use the free 5-minute Commute Reset (betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset) to create a clean transition and protect your evenings and presence with family. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the real solution for physician well-being isn’t another self-care lecture, but fewer impossible demands and more people who actually understand what you’re carrying? In this raw and hopeful episode of the Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Kim Downey, founder of Stand Up (for) Doctors. A physical therapist and three-time cancer survivor, Kim’s life changed forever when her trusted physician died by suicide. Since then, she has built a platform that amplifies physician voices and helps patients see the human behind the white coat.  Together, they unpack inbox overload, prior-authorization battles, moral injury, and the quiet resignation many doctors feel. They discuss why self-care messages miss the mark, what patients misunderstand about doctors, and the power of storytelling to reduce isolation. Kim shares her two collaborative books and the upcoming physician-only retreat in October 2026 that is creating real community and hope for physicians nationwide. This conversation is essential for any doctor who is tired of carrying it all alone and ready for realistic change. Top 3 Takeaways Name the Real Problem: Most physicians don’t need more self-care advice; they need fewer things on their plate that shouldn’t be there. Distinguish burnout from moral injury; the deep frustration of knowing what your patient needs but being blocked by the system. Try this: this week, write down one example of moral injury you or a colleague faced and share it anonymously with a trusted peer. Doctors Are Human, Patients Need to See It: Patients often view physicians as superhuman robots who never struggle. Kim’s powerful reminder: behind every white coat are the same life challenges everyone else faces (divorce, grief, illness, parenting). Read one chapter from the White Coats books or share a short story because, every time a doctor speaks up, another doctor feels less alone. Start Small, Stay Connected: You don’t have to turn advocacy into a second job. Become an ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation or Clinician Burnout Foundation, join the monthly newsletter, or register for the October 2026 physician retreat (use code VIP100 for $100 off). Community and shared stories are the antidote to isolation. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Kim Downey is a physical therapist, three-time cancer survivor, and the founder of Stand Up for Doctors, a platform dedicated to advocating for physician wellbeing and amplifying the voices of doctors across healthcare. After the suicide of her trusted physician during her own cancer journey, Kim turned personal grief into a mission to help patients understand the invisible pressures physicians carry every day.  She serves as an ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation and the Clinician Burnout Foundation, and as a community ambassador for Medicine Forward. Through her channels on Spotify, Apple, and Amazon, with 150 episodes, a monthly Substack newsletter, two collaborative books (White Coats Courageous Hearts and White Coats Human Hearts) and an upcoming physician-only retreat (October 9–12, 2026), Kim creates safe spaces for doctors to share stories, build community, and reclaim their humanity in medicine. Website: https://standupfordoctors.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-downey-a9307b72/ Substack: https://standupfordoctors.substack.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5eCZQaoq918YX6dz23roEQ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V1uc7FjqJqDnpqXRHl6TY?si=6df7b47fb0e04b14&nd=1&dlsi=4265bcddd0ef41cc Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stand-up-for-doctors/id1879595452 About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if feeling "stuck" in medicine isn't just the system's fault, but a subtle handoff of your agency? In this episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh validates the real constraints of 2026 medicine: metrics, monitoring, and constant pressure, while unpacking the victim cycle: from pre-bracing reactions and habitual grievance to armored resignation that conserves energy but shrinks influence. For caring physicians showing up despite the grind, he reveals how anger without action spins into vigilance, costing curiosity and presence. With tools to notice small shifts, like assuming "no" before asking, he empowers you to reclaim authorship without big overhauls, proving acceptance doesn't mean surrender. A vital reset for anyone tired of reacting and ready to re-engage on your terms. Top 3 Takeaways Spot Resignation Masquerading as Realism: Bracing for problems (e.g., policy emails or EMR glitches) confirms a "this is just how it is" story, shrinking curiosity. Next shift, pause and ask, "Am I responding to now or my expectation?"  Channel Anger into Decisions, Not Grievance: Valid frustration signals misalignment, but spinning complaints keeps you vigilant without progress. Redirect by turning one grievance into a micro-action, like voicing a suggestion or boundary. Remember, habitual venting protects in the short term but exhausts in the long term. Decisions restore direction. Notice Where Armor Blocks Options: Protective distancing like fewer risks, and narrowed input feels like adaptation, but thins judgment and leadership. Start small: Identify one "contained" moment daily (e.g., skipping an idea), then experiment with offering it. Ask: "What's this costing my agency right now?" to loosen the default and expand your practice. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your "team player" yeses are quietly eroding your energy and authenticity? In this candid episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh exposes people pleasing as medicine's unspoken training ground, from med school squeezes to mid-career overloads, where obligation masquerades as reliability, leading to irritation, resentment, and half-present relationships.  Sharing his pivot from yes-to-everything to purposeful boundaries, he reveals the avoidance reflex behind it all, why it doesn't serve anyone long-term, and how to pause for honest yes/no decisions that protect what matters. A must-listen for physicians tired of smoothing over at the expense of self, with tools to rebuild integrity and make your yeses meaningful again. Top 3 Takeaways: Spot the Avoidance Reflex: People pleasing isn't niceness. It's dodging discomfort, like saying yes to extra shifts or family asks to skip awkward pauses. Next request, pause and ask, "Does this yes reflect what I want, or just avoid a negative reaction?" Choose honesty over obligation. Differentiate Obligation from Purpose: Early-career yeses build skill. Mid-career, they often stack resentment. Dr. Hersh invites you to ask, “What do I actually want to say yes to now?” Identify 3 draining yeses this week, and convert one into a clean, purposeful no to create space for what restores you. Reclaim Integrity at Home and Work: Managing everyone else’s mood drains your presence. Real care sounds like, “I want to be here, and I need 10 minutes.” Dr. Hersh suggests using a brief pause in transitions to make your capacity clear (not to create distance, but to prevent the silent no’s to yourself that erode connections over time). About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your hesitation isn't about ability, but trusting yourself to handle the unknown? In this episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the self-confidence gap that keeps high-achieving physicians stuck in the familiar rather than pursuing new roles, boundaries, or pivots. Drawing from his own journey, he distinguishes clinical confidence ("see one, do one, teach one") from self-trust ("I can handle discomfort"), revealing how fear of feelings, like rejection or inexperience, fuels waiting. With practical insights on signaling steadiness, settling rooms as a leader, and navigating transitions, Dr. Hersh equips mid-career doctors to act without full proof, embracing action as evidence. Essential listening for anyone tired of "maybe later" when it comes to what you truly want. 🔗 Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset Top 3 Takeaways: Distinguish Confidence from Self-Confidence: Clinical wins build execution skills. Self-confidence is trusting you'll handle discomfort or failure. Dr. Hersh suggests reframing “I’m not ready” to “I can figure this out,” then taking one small, clean action (like stating a preference without qualifiers), to build tolerance over time. Signal Steadiness to Lead Without a Title: Self-doubt shows in hedging language ("I'm probably wrong, but..."), teaching others to undervalue you. Swap it for direct statements to ease rooms and foster respect. Practice: In your next meeting or at home, state one decision plainly; notice how it settles energy and invites steadiness from others. Train Transitions to Expand Beyond the Familiar: Stuck in mental loops post-shift? Self-trust means leaving unfinished tasks without clinging to control. Start with Dr. Hersh's Commute Reset: Use the 5-minute tool daily to clear your head, proving you can adapt and be present, turning hesitation into momentum for new pursuits. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife     If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the "just how it is" fatigue in your practice isn't permanent, but a signal to shift without abandoning what you love? In this empowering episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Dr. Maureen Gibbons, a former emergency medicine nocturnist turned virtual lifestyle medicine pioneer and author of Freedom to Shift. Sharing her journey from 15 years of night shifts to a soul-nourishing multi-state practice, Dr. Moe reveals why bandwidth creates white space for reflection, how to audit energy drains, and strategies to downshift a revved-up nervous system, all while staying clinically engaged. Ideal for physicians sensing unsustainability but fearing change, this conversation offers hope, exercises, and permission to redesign without anyone else's permission. Top 3 Takeaways Create Bandwidth for White Space: Mid-career fatigue often stems from a lack of margin. Dr. Moe shares how a simple one-week "vital metric review" that tracks energy restorers vs. drainers, uncovers hidden overloads, like trying to cram 32 hours of activities into a 24-hour day, and helps physicians make small, practical adjustments that restore breathing room without blowing up their careers.  Embrace Active Rest to Reset Your Nervous System: For busy brains, passive downtime can feel torturous. Opt for "active rest," such as light reading or guided activities, to unwind without boredom. Dr. Moe explains feeling her system shift post-EM (e.g., enjoying thrill rides again) and urges physicians to notice when "I can handle it" masks wired-for-hustle habits, then experiment with fluff novels or family "rest weeks." Shift Identity Without Losing Your Doctor Self: You don't have to leave medicine to evolve. Dr. Moe's story shows that translating EM skills to coaching and lifestyle medicine preserved her clinical core while adding wisdom.  Challenge: List three non-fleeting interests (what you rave about at dinner), pick one to explore, and remember: No permission needed to drop a shift or tweak your model for sustainability. About the Show: Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the Guest: Dr. Maureen (Moe) Gibbons, MD, CISSN, is a former emergency medicine nocturnist turned virtual lifestyle medicine pioneer. With 15 years in high-volume trauma care, she pivoted after recognizing burnout's toll, including a stress-linked cardiovascular diagnosis, to launch Active Medical Solutions, a multi-state telehealth practice. A serial entrepreneur, triathlete (7 Ironmans), and coach.  Her book Freedom to Shift guides mid-career physicians toward sustainable reinvention, nervous system resets, and white space for joy without leaving medicine.  Book: Freedom to SHIFT  Website: https://amslifestylemedicine.com Instagram: @drmoegibbons About the Host: Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work. His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love. Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room. 🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh: 🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com 🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md 📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife 📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife 📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching 📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What happens the moment you open the envelope or get the news and realize the future you sacrificed years for, planned your entire life around, isn't going to happen? In this episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh opens up about one of the most defining moments of his life: opening his Match Day envelope in 2003 and realizing the New York future he had planned—family, friends, training, everything—was gone in an instant. Instead of pausing to register the loss, he adapted quickly, treated his residency as temporary, and kept orienting toward a life that no longer existed.He reflects on how this pattern shows up for physicians: the residency that didn't match, the fellowship far from loved ones, the career arc or location that never felt right, yet we push forward, minimize disappointment, and stay anchored to "what should have been." Drawing from the Chicago Fire of 1871 analogy (the city wasn't rebuilt as before; a new version emerged), Dr. Hersh explains why arguing with reality keeps attention split, creates distance from the present, and blocks new possibilities. He shares how letting go—not lowering ambition, but releasing the old plan—allowed him to invest fully where he was, build relationships, meet his wife, and create a life he couldn't have imagined. The episode offers practical steps: name the loss without solving it, allow both disappointment and gratitude to coexist, and redirect attention to what's real now. He ties it to the free Five Minute Commute Reset as a daily space to notice what's still being carried from the past. Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysAcknowledge the Loss Before Adapting: Physicians excel at resilience and "making the best of it," but skipping the step of registering what ended (a hoped-for residency, location, life chapter) keeps attention anchored to a future that no longer exists. Naming the loss without analysis, blame, or forced positivity, frees mental energy and stops the exhausting argument with reality.Clinging to the Old Plan Costs the Present: When you're still oriented toward "what should have been," the current life feels like a placeholder. This divided attention creates distance from people, opportunities, and growth right in front of you. Letting go isn't defeat; it's choosing to build from where you actually are, opening space for unexpected good (family, career, purpose) that couldn't exist under the old blueprint.Rebuild Like Chicago After the Fire: The original plan burned down; you can't recreate it. A new version—different structure, different priorities—can be stronger and more lasting. The real work is shifting attention from "getting back to" something impossible to fully inhabiting and investing in what's here now.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the reason true rest feels uncomfortable, guilty, or even wrong isn't that you're lazy, but that you've spent your entire life earning your worth through constant output, so doing 'nothing' feels like you're failing at being you?In this episode of Better Physician Life Podcast, host Dr. Michael Hersh tackles the paradox many physicians face: we say we want more rest, but when the opportunity arrives, we resist it, reaching for our phones, feeling restless, guilty, or unproductive. Drawing from his own failed attempt to do "nothing" for a full month, he explains how medical training wires us to override fatigue, postpone rest indefinitely, and link our value to output, making true stillness feel wrong or unearned.He reframes rest as a learnable skill (not a reward), distinguishes passive rest (sitting still) from active rest (purposeful movement without goals), and shares why starting with active rest often unlocks easier passive rest. Dr. Hersh emphasizes small, consistent practice over big overhauls, five minutes of intentional pause, doing things "restfully" without optimizing, and dropping guilt, because rest with guilt isn't rest. He highlights the commute/home transition as the ideal entry point and re-introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset as a repeatable tool to downshift and leave work behind.This episode is for physicians who feel wired to keep going, struggles to unplug without agitation, or comes back from time off still tense, offering compassion, science-backed insight (diastole analogy), and realistic steps to make rest sustainable.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysRest Is a Skill, Not a Switch: Years of pushing through fatigue condition us to find stillness unsettling, brain scans for tasks, guilt kicks in, phone gets reached for. Rest isn't automatic; it must be practiced in small, imperfect reps. Start with 5 minutes phone-free to begin building the skill.Active Rest Often Comes First: For high-achievers, passive rest (sitting on the couch, reading for pleasure) can feel agitating. Try starting with active rest—gym without PRs, walks without tracking steps, yard work without a to-do list. Movement burns off stored tension, quiets mental noise, and makes true stillness more accessible afterward.Drop the "Earned" Mindset: Rest isn't a prize for finishing everything (the work never finishes). It's a requirement for sustainable performance, like diastole for the heart. Guilt turns rest into tension; reframe it as essential fuel. Small transitions like the commute reset are powerful places to practice without overhauling life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You accomplish hard things every day: patients cared for, decisions made, family time protected, and yet, almost immediately, your mind jumps to what's still not done. What if the reason nothing ever quite feels like 'enough' isn't that you're falling short, but that you almost never stop to look at how far you've actually come?In this episode of Better Physician Life Podcast, host Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the pervasive feeling that no accomplishment ever quite registers, that forward motion never pauses long enough for progress to land. Drawing from his own experience of feeling "behind" even during strong stretches, he explains how medical training rewards constant anticipation of the next hurdle while offering little space to acknowledge what's already been achieved. This creates a default state of low-grade pressure: always measuring against what's unfinished, discounting hard-won growth, and assuming discomfort means you should be further along. Dr. Hersh shares how he began intentionally documenting monthly wins, challenges, lessons, and moments that mattered, not for motivation or bragging, but to give his brain evidence of reality instead of perpetual "should be farther."He discusses why this is especially common in mid-career, subtler progress, higher stakes, fewer external markers, and how looking back provides a second reference point: proof you've handled hard things before and can again. He re-introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset as a practical way to interrupt forward-only thinking during daily transitions. This episode is for any physician who accomplishes a lot yet still feels like they're chasing an ever-moving finish line, offering compassion, context, and a simple habit to make progress feel real.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysForward Motion Erases Progress: Medicine trains us to scan ahead (next patient, next responsibility, next goal), so we rarely turn around to register what's already behind us. Wins, lessons, and hard moments fade unless intentionally captured, leaving a persistent feeling of "never enough" even when things are moving well.Looking Back Builds Trust & Grounding: A simple practice of documenting monthly highlights (big and small—decisions made, battles fought, family time honored, lessons learned) creates evidence of growth you would otherwise discount. It shifts the reference point from "where I should be" to "where I actually am," reducing self-doubt and the constant need to brace.Mid-Career Progress Feels Invisible: Early training has clear markers (exams, promotions); later career progress is subtler, more judgment-based, and less externally validated. Without pausing to acknowledge it, discomfort gets misread as "I'm behind" instead of "this work is just harder and more complex now."About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you know that heaviness in your chest on Sunday afternoon, or the moment you sit in the parking lot, unable to get out of the car, even though you're not burned out or ready to quit? What if that 'work dread' isn't telling you to leave medicine, but to look more closely at what's really weighing you down?In this episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into "work dread", the chest-tightening resistance, parking-lot hesitation, and mental preoccupation that hits before patients arrive or the week begins. Drawing from his own years of dreading Mondays, sitting in the car scrolling, and fantasizing about retirement as escape, he explains why this feeling is so common for physicians and rarely means you need to blow up your career.Instead of vague dread signaling "something's wrong with me or my job," it's often information about specific frustrations buried under administrative burdens, inefficiencies, and the habit of delaying relief. Dr. Hersh shares how naming the exact triggers (overwhelm, skipped meals, dreaded tasks) shrinks the feeling, opens small solvable shifts, like insisting on a lunch break, and helps separate real annoyances from the story that "life only gets better once this is over." He introduces the free Five Minute Commute Reset, a guided audio and worksheet to interrupt automatic bracing and create space before/after work. This episode is for any physician who's physically present but mentally already dreading the next shift, offering clarity, compassion, and practical steps without forcing positivity or major life changes.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysName It to Tame It: Vague dread feels overwhelming and final—"I don't want to do this anymore"—but getting specific—"What exactly am I dreading today?"—reveals targeted issues like overwhelm, skipped lunch, or frustrating admin tasks. Naming shrinks the heaviness, turns it into solvable problems, and stops it from collapsing the whole job into "the problem."Stop Arguing with Reality: Physicians are conditioned to delay gratification, "once I get through this phase...", so dread often comes from bracing ahead of time or telling yourself relief is only post-retirement. Reframing work as something to show up for—not just endure—frees mental energy and reduces the weight of unhelpful stories about the day.Small Shifts Create Big Relief: Push for tiny, realistic changes like scheduling a protected lunch on busy days despite pushback, rather than waiting for the perfect job or exit. These build evidence that you can influence your day without dramatic overhauls, while tools like the Five Minute Commute Reset interrupt the pre-work dread cycle.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the thing that's 'missing' in your life as a physician isn't leaving medicine... but building something outside of it that gives you true freedom—at work and at home?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh interviews Dr. Alex Schloe, a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, and real estate entrepreneur. Dr. Schloe shares his journey from childhood entrepreneurial roots to building a real estate portfolio focused on assisted living, short-term rentals, and more— all while serving in the military and prioritizing family. He discusses how real estate offers stability and autonomy, and allows practicing medicine part-time in direct primary care, reducing burnout and reclaiming time for what matters most. The conversation covers navigating physician skepticism toward side ventures, the mindset shifts needed for entrepreneurship, the importance of community and vulnerability, and practical steps to start building alternative income streams. This episode is ideal for physicians who feel something is "missing" and are exploring ways to create more freedom, fulfillment, and impact, both in medicine and beyond.Top 3 TakeawaysStart Small and Build Momentum in Real Estate: Begin with accessible opportunities like physician loans for house hacking or primary residences, then expand into rentals, short-term stays, or assisted living. Education through podcasts, books like ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’, and ‘BiggerPockets’, and self-study during residency drives progress without derailing clinical focus. Passive or semi-passive income creates "mailbox money" that snowballs into greater flexibility, like reducing shifts or practicing part-time.Prioritize Family and Protect Time as Non-Negotiables: True balance means setting boundaries. Finish notes at work, leave the computer behind, and dedicate sacred family time (e.g., evenings with kids unplugged). Entrepreneurship requires sacrifices like late nights, but as income grows, redesign your schedule, for example, part-time clinical work, to be present for family milestones. Financial freedom enhances presence and reduces stress, making you a better doctor and parent.Overcome Skepticism, Fear, and Identity Challenges Through Community: Physicians often face internal doubt, imposter syndrome, or criticism from peers for pursuing non-clinical paths. Surround yourself with supportive rooms—masterminds, podcasts, or like-minded physicians—to accelerate growth and see what's possible. Risks are manageable; invest only what you can afford to lose. Pivots are always available, and alternative income protects against burnout or disability while allowing you to serve patients more joyfully.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Alex Schloe is a family medicine physician, Air Force veteran, husband, father, and real estate investor specializing in residential assisted living, rentals, and entrepreneurship. He hosts the Physicians and Properties Podcast, teaching physicians how real estate can give them the freedom to practice medicine and live life on their terms. He co-hosts The RAL Room Assisted Living Podcast and is involved in the RAL Room Assisted Living Mastermind. His focus is on high-impact, cash-flowing investments that align with family priorities and meaningful service.Website: https://physiciansandproperties.comPodcast: Physicians and Properties PodcastAssisted Living: https://theralroom.com (RAL Room)LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexander-schloe-mdAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife  If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever felt anger hit you so fast you didn’t even see it coming, and then felt ashamed for feeling it at all?Anger isn’t a character flaw, it’s a normal human emotion, and physicians feel it more than we like to admit. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explains why anger often arrives as a secondary emotion covering disappointment, fear, shame, or loss of control, why suppressing it leads to sarcasm, impatience, or snapping, and how it leaks sideways when we refuse to acknowledge it.You’ll learn that anger is a messenger, not the enemy, and that real control comes from slowing down the moment: interrupting the physiological reflex, naming what you feel, asking what’s underneath, choosing when to address it, and repairing when you miss the mark. This isn’t about never feeling angry, it’s about responding with intention instead of reacting on autopilot, both at work and at home.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysAnger is rarely the first emotion, it’s the cover. It often sits on top of something quieter like disappointment, fear, shame, or feeling out of control. When you only manage the anger, you miss the real message. Ask: “What just happened inside me? What felt threatened?”Suppressing anger doesn’t make you calmer, it makes it leak sideways: It shows up as sarcasm, impatience, rigidity, or snapping at the people you care about most. The goal isn’t to eliminate anger; it’s to slow down enough to choose what happens next.A pause is power, not weakness. Notice your body (tight jaw, clenched hands), take a breath, name what you’re feeling, and decide: address now or later? Delaying with intention “I want to talk about this, but not like this” protects relationships and restores clarity.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Do you ever finish a ‘good’ day feeling like you’ve accomplished nothing because everything still feels urgent and unfinished?Overwhelm doesn’t just hit physicians out of nowhere; it builds quietly from carrying too many unanswered questions and subtle resistance. In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh breaks down what overwhelm really is and what it isn’t, why it feels so heavy even on busy-but-manageable days, and the five key shifts that help physicians take back control.You’ll learn how to treat resistance as valuable data, close the mental loose ends your brain is carrying, stop wrestling with unwanted thoughts, shift from “I can’t handle one more thing” to clear priorities, and build simple systems that reduce decision fatigue and create traction.This isn’t about working harder or adding more hours; it’s about responding differently to what’s already in front of you so you can stop feeling like the day is running you.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysOverwhelm is not about workload; it’s about unanswered questions. Your brain treats every loose end like a threat, keeping you on high alert. Closing those mental loops, even with “I’ll decide tomorrow at 2 PM” reduces the weight dramatically.Resistance is information, not failure. That “ugh” feeling when opening a chart or email signals something unclear, overbooked, or exhausting. Get curious instead of judgmental, ask “What am I resisting? What’s the smallest next step?” and the pressure eases.Structure beats willpower. Small, consistent systems (a 5-minute EMR pause, a weekly reset, clear yes/no guidelines) reduce decision fatigue and move you from reaction mode to traction. You don’t need more time; you need fewer loose ends and better support.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the “agency” being offered to physicians isn’t empowerment—but a more polished way of staying inside the lines?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh examines the quiet shift from physician autonomy to what is now being labeled “agency,” and why that distinction matters more than it sounds. He unpacks how autonomy once meant real authority paired with responsibility at the bedside, while today’s version of agency often amounts to influence within systems physicians don’t control.Dr. Hersh explores how this mismatch (being held accountable without having true authority) drives burnout, moral injury, and a loss of purpose that many doctors struggle to name. He reframes agency not as something granted by organizations, but as something claimed through daily decisions, personal standards, and leadership from wherever you are.The episode also highlights physicians who are no longer waiting for permission—those building micro-practices, choosing locums, pursuing direct care, coaching, or nonclinical roles—not as escape plans, but as deliberate ways to practice medicine with integrity. This is a call to stop waiting for autonomy to be handed back and to start reclaiming ownership, one decision at a time.Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 TakeawaysAutonomy is authority; agency is influence: Autonomy means having the authority to make final clinical decisions based on judgment, training, and ethics. What’s often labeled “agency” today usually means operating within pre-set rules, metrics, and constraints. Notice when language is being used to soften the loss of real authority, and be clear about what you still control within your role.Agency is practiced through daily choices: You may not be able to change every policy, but you can choose how you show up, how you advocate, how you connect with patients, and what you’re willing to tolerate. Real agency shows up in standards, boundaries, and the willingness to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable.When autonomy is limited, design your own path: Many physicians are already reclaiming control by building micro-practices, choosing direct care or locums, moving into consulting or nonclinical roles, or redefining how they practice within existing systems. If autonomy isn’t coming back from the top, start building it yourself—one decision, one boundary, one calculated risk at a time.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh speaks with emergency physician Dr. Gita Pensa about what it’s actually like to be named in a malpractice lawsuit—and how to get through it without losing your footing. Drawing from her own 12-year case, Dr. Pensa explains the emotional impact most physicians aren’t prepared for, including shame, doubt, and isolation, alongside the practical realities of what to do after you’re served.They walk through early mistakes to avoid, how to protect your focus and identity while a case is ongoing, and why litigation is an unspoken part of the “fine print” of medicine. The conversation also covers how to find support without compromising your case, how to approach depositions and testimony with clarity, and why these skills can be learned—rather than endured in silence. This episode is for physicians facing litigation now, or who want to be better prepared if it ever happens.Top 3 TakeawaysWhat to Do First After Being Served: Your first call should be to your insurer or risk management team so a defense attorney can be assigned. Avoid chart access, addenda, or independent research outside of attorney–client privilege. Don’t rush to conclusions. Give yourself time to gather information and stabilize before making decisions.Managing the Psychological Hit: Shame, fear, and isolation are common responses to litigation and don’t reflect your competence as a physician. You can (and should) talk about how you’re feeling with trusted people without discussing case details. Litigation is part of medicine’s unspoken fine print. It doesn’t erase your value or your career.Focus on the Parts That Matter: For most physicians, litigation performance comes down to the deposition and, in fewer cases, trial testimony. Learning how the system works helps right-size fear and restores a sense of control. With preparation, coaching, and support, this becomes a skill set, not a personal referendum.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Gita Pensa is an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at Brown University. She's the creator and host of the podcast Doctors and Litigation: The L Word, and developer of the Litigation Education and Performance (LEAP) courses used by hospitals and insurers. Drawing from her own 12-year malpractice lawsuit, she coaches physicians in active litigation and consults nationally on navigating its psychological and performance challenges.Website: https://doctorsandlitigation.comPodcast:  Doctors and Litigation: the L Word PodcastLEAP Courses: doctorsandlitigation.com/leap-coursesAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the moment you cringe at ‘Can I give you some feedback?’ is actually the exact moment you start growing fastest?For physicians, feedback rarely feels like a gift. It feels like proof we messed up. From brutal ICU rounds to hallway comments years later, we were trained that mistakes equal danger, so any critique hits our identity, not just our performance. In this episode, Dr. Michael Hersh dismantles that fear and hands you a new lens: feedback is data, not a verdict.Learn why the discomfort is actually evidence you care, the simple pause that stops defensiveness in its tracks, and how to ask “What part of this might be true?” without surrendering your self-worth. You’ll also get practical scripts for giving feedback that are specific, timely, impact-focused, and collaborative, so you build trust instead of resentment at work and home. Stop bracing for shame and start using feedback as the fastest path to growth, leadership, and stronger relationships. Because the physicians who get better fastest aren’t the ones who never hear criticism, they’re the ones who learned how to listen.Get the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: www.betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetTop 3 Takeaways:Pause Before You React: When feedback hits, take one deliberate breath. That tiny pause keeps your old “fix-it-fast” reflex from shutting down the part that actually helps you grow—listening. You can always decide later what’s useful; you can’t un-hear what you never let land.Ask “What Part Might Be True?” Instead of “Am I Terrible?”: Feedback is data, not a verdict. Treat it like a lab result: separate the signal from the noise. Even if 90% feels off, the 10% that’s accurate might be the exact insight that changes how you lead, communicate, or connect. Take what serves you, leave the rest without shame.Give Feedback That Actually Lands: Be specific (“I noticed you didn’t make eye contact”), timely, and tie it to impact (“patients felt rushed”). Make it collaborative with questions like “How did that feel for you?” Safe, clear feedback builds trust; vague or delayed criticism only breeds resentment at work and at home.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every extra “yes” at 9 p.m., the quick message, the last-minute add-on, the coverage you didn’t have room for, is quietly stealing your life one compromise at a time. In this powerful episode, Dr. Michael Hersh exposes why physicians are professionally trained to over-give and why saying no feels like betrayal of the very identity medicine gave us: the helpful, reliable, never-let-anyone-down doctor.He reveals the uncomfortable truth—you can do everything perfectly, and someone will still be disappointed—and why that disappointment is never yours to carry. Boundaries aren’t rejection or rigidity; they’re simple, kind “if-then” statements that protect your time and energy so you can finally give your best instead of whatever is left. Learn why every yes already contains a no, usually to yourself or your family, how to stop people-pleasing without guilt, and the mindset shift that turns every “no” into a louder, more honest “yes” to what actually matters. If you’re tired of running on fumes and ready to take your life back, this episode hands you the exact tools to start today.Get the 5-Minute Commute Reset: betterphysicianlife.com/commute-resetTop 3 TakeawaysEvery Yes Already Contains a No: The real question is who you’re saying no to. When you automatically say yes to extra calls, late messages, or last-minute patients, you’re silently saying no to your family, your rest, and yourself. Boundaries make that choice deliberate instead of accidental, so your yeses become intentional, and your life finally reflects your real priorities instead of everyone else’s urgencies. Boundaries Are Simple If-Then Statements, Not Walls: “If you text me work after 7 p.m., then I’ll respond tomorrow morning.” “If you try to add on when I’m fully booked, then I’ll offer the next available slot.” These clear, pre-decided responses remove guilt in the moment because the decision is already made. You’re not rejecting people, you’re protecting the version of yourself they actually need. Someone Will Always Be Disappointed, And That’s Never Your Fault: Medicine trained us to believe that if anyone is upset, we failed. Reality: You can be excellent, kind, and thorough, and people will still feel frustrated. Boundaries don’t stop their feelings; they stop you from carrying emotions that were never yours to begin with. Accepting this frees you to lead with integrity instead of people-pleasing. About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the hardest part of being a surgeon isn’t the case in front of you… But the one still living in your head at 2 a.m.?In this powerful episode of Better Physician Life, board-certified general surgeon, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), and physician coach Dr. Amy Vertrees gets brutally honest about the part of surgery no one teaches: how to handle complications without destroying yourself.From deploying to Afghanistan to building her own private practice, Amy has spent years studying failure, shame, and emotional capacity. She shares her 3-step post-complication debrief (What went well, What I wish went differently, Next best step), why surgeons must give themselves informed consent for risk, how to stop arguing with reality, and why remembering your original “why” is the ultimate antidote to burnout.If you’ve ever lain awake replaying a case, this conversation will give you permission to be human and tools to come back stronger.Top 3 TakeawaysReframe Complications as Failure You Can Actually Use: Stop arguing with reality (this shouldn’t have happened). Accept it, then run Amy’s 3-step debrief: 3 things that went well, 3 things I wish went differently, and 1 next best step. This expands emotional capacity instead of contracting it with shame.Give Yourself Informed Consent: Before every case, ask: “Do I consent to the risk of bleeding, perforation, or even death?” We make patients consent, why don’t we consent ourselves? Owning the real risks up front reduces denial and post-op self-blame.Look at the Gain, Not Just the Gap: Perfection is impossible. Focus on the 97% you nailed instead of beating yourself up over the 3% gap. Pair this with fierce self-compassion (mindfulness, self-talk, and common humanity), and you’ll carry the hard days without letting them crush you.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Amy Vertrees is a board-certified general surgeon, Army Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), and veteran of three combat deployments. She founded Columbia Surgical Partners and hosts the top-rated Boss Business of Surgery Series podcast. Through her coaching programs and book Become the Boss MD, she teaches surgeons the missing skills: handling complications, building shame resilience, expanding emotional capacity, negotiating contracts, and leading with confidence, everything residency never covered. Her mission is to help surgeons turn failure into growth and build careers that last without burning out.Connect with Dr. AmyWebsite: https://www.bosssurgery.com/Facebook: “Become the BOSS MD Coaching” https://www.facebook.com/groups/249619353796932Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thebosssurgeonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-vertrees-md-20192a8b/About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever walk in the door after a long day and realize your mind is still charting, triaging, and planning tomorrow? In this practical episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh opens up about the moment his daughter asked, “Dad, why aren’t you playing?” and how that question changed everything.He explains why medicine trains us to live in constant motion, why multitasking at home is actually stealing your life. He walks you through his exact 4-step system: brain dump, Eisenhower Box, calendar blocking, and delegate, which finally lets high-achieving doctors turn their “doctor brain” off and be fully present. Presence isn’t willpower; it’s structure. Perfect for any physician who wants to stop feeling guilty and start building memories that actually stick.Get the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians: www.betterphysicianlife.com/commuteresetEisenhower Box: https://jamesclear.com/eisenhower-boxTop 3 TakeawaysYour Brain Isn’t Broken—It’s Trained: Medicine rewards constant multitasking and anticipation. At home, that wiring becomes the enemy of presence. The fix isn’t “try harder”, it’s building a system so your brain knows everything is handled and can finally rest.Use the Eisenhower Box to Reclaim Your Attention: Dump everything out of your head, then sort into four quadrants (urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, neither). Schedule Box 1 & 2, delegate Box 3, delete Box 4. This one tool quiets mental noise faster than any mindfulness app.Presence Is Productive: Scheduling family playtime, rest, and even paying bills isn’t “robotic”; it’s respect. When everything important has a protected block on your calendar, you stop half-doing everything and start fully showing up where it matters most.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if New Year’s resolutions aren't the answer, but goals rooted in your "why" could transform your year?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh shares his shift from post-fellowship coasting to purposeful goal-setting. He explores why resolutions fail (no plan, no why), the fear holding us back, and how to set rooted goals with curiosity, systems, and celebration. Perfect for mid-career physicians feeling stuck, this episode offers tools to enjoy the process, navigate obstacles, and build a life beyond brute force—starting now.🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 TakeawaysTie Goals to Your "Why": Resolutions fade without a clear purpose. Dr. Hersh explains how a single-sentence "why" (e.g., gym for more energy) makes goals stick. Try journaling one goal with its why this week. Embrace Discomfort and Obstacles: Half the journey feels tough, but that's growth. Dr. Hersh urges viewing hurdles as guides, not blocks. Practice by naming one uncomfortable step (e.g., boundary-setting) and taking it. "The hard thing is frequently the right thing."Celebrate Small Wins: Track your progress. Dr. Hersh keeps a running tab of the progress he is making toward his goals. Start your own list. Note three small moves toward a goal weekly to build momentum and remind yourself of how far you’ve come. About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if regret isn't truth, but a story stealing your present?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks regret's grip on physicians—from specialty choices to life paths. He reveals how regret is indulgent and impedes progress. Dr. Hersh explores the impact of shifting from “what if?” to "what now?" through reflection, naming gifts, and intentional action. With examples of pivots and physician coaching breakthroughs, this episode empowers doctors to drop the weight, embrace growth, and build futures without romanticizing unchosen paths.🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 TakeawaysReframe Regret as a Story: Regret feels urgent but spins wheels. It's rumination, not reflection. Dr. Hersh explains: you made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time. Practice asking "What now?" instead of "What if?" to break the loop and focus on present decisions.Name the Gifts in Your Path: Every choice brings unseen benefits, like relationships or resilience. Dr. Hersh shares how a client's medical career regret transformed into a pivot. List three "gifts" from your past decisions this week to shift from loss to gratitude.Use Physician Coaching for Momentum: Grinding on our own ignores patterns. Physician coaching helps to provide perspective. Try one small forward step, like journaling, to build accountability and turn regret into growth.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if coaching isn't just hype, but evidence-backed medicine for your well-being?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Adrienne Mann and Dr. Tyra Fainstad, as they share their skeptical starts with physician coaching and how it evolved into a groundbreaking program. Drawing from personal rock-bottom moments and a large-scale study showing reduced burnout, imposter syndrome, and emotional exhaustion, they discuss practical tools like thought awareness, emotion naming, and the power of group coaching. From transforming residents' lives to fostering self-compassion, this episode reveals how coaching helps physicians thrive without fixing external chaos. Perfect for physician coaching skeptics ready for change.🔗 Better Together Physician Coaching: bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.comTop 3 TakeawaysQuestion Your Thoughts: Coaching teaches you that you don't have to believe every story your brain tells, such as "my life can't get better." Dr. Fainstad shares how naming emotions without judgment creates space for change—try journaling one unhelpful thought daily and questioning its truth to quiet imposter syndrome.Embrace Group Dynamics: Better Together's study proves group coaching builds community and reduces burnout faster than solo efforts. Drs. Mann and Fainstad explain how sharing vulnerabilities in safe spaces fosters growth, normalizes struggles, and amplifies insights.Allow Discomfort for Growth: Physicians frequently resist coaching due to skepticism, but allowing leaning into the discomfort can be transformative. Commit to one small coaching experiment this week to shift from survival mode to thriving. Try, resist, refine, then try again.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guests:Dr. Adrienne Mann is a hospitalist at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, focusing on medical education and institutional leadership. A certified coach, she co-directs Better Together Physician Coaching, drawing from her journey through burnout, motherhood, and self-reinvention to help physicians thrive.Dr. Tyra Fainstad is a primary care physician and resident clinic director at the University of Colorado. As co-director of Better Together, she leverages her experiences with career burnout and skepticism toward coaching to research and deliver evidence-based programs that reduce imposter syndrome and emotional exhaustion.Website: https://bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.com/Research page: https://bettertogetherphysiciancoaching.com/research/ Contact information: Dr. Tyra Fainstad: [email protected]. Adrienne Mann: [email protected] the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the key to better patient interactions isn't more time or expertise, but how you show up?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh sits with Dr. Bradley Block as he shares his journey from communication struggles to mastery. Starting his podcast after a frustrating clinic day that cost him family time, Dr. Block reveals why efficiency serves everyone—from waiting patients to your own well-being. He discusses being methodical in visits, earning trust by appreciating patients as humans, checking in on understanding, and removing distractions for true presence. Plus, insights on his rebranded podcast (over 400 episodes, nearly half a million downloads) and the Doctor Podcast Network, empowering physicians to podcast with ease.This episode is a must for doctors seeking to communicate effectively, enjoy medicine more, and reclaim their lives beyond the white coat.Top 3 TakeawaysBe Methodical for Efficiency and Trust: Communication challenges in medicine are repetitive. Identify them and create plans, just like surgical procedures. Dr. Block emphasizes showing patients you take them seriously, value them as humans, and care about outcomes to build rapport quickly.Prioritize Presence Over Distractions: Look up from screens to catch subtle cues and connect authentically. Dr. Block advises removing phones and other interruptions to give undivided attention, making visits more effective and helping you stay present in family life too.Leverage Podcasting for Growth: Dr. Block's Succeed in Medicine Podcast covers everything from litigation to productivity for physicians. Through the Doctor Podcast Network, busy doctors can easily start podcasts by focusing on interviews and outsourcing the rest, to network, establish expertise, and combat misinformation.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Dr. Bradley Block is a general otolaryngologist and partner at ENT and Allergy Associates in Long Island, New York. He's the creator and host of the Succeed in Medicine Podcast (formerly Physician's Guide to Doctoring), with over 400 episodes and nearly half a million downloads, focusing on communication, productivity, and life beyond medicine. As CEO of the Doctor Podcast Network, he supports physician podcasters in starting, growing, producing, and monetizing their shows.🔗 Succeed in Medicine Podcast: succeedinmedicine.com🔗 Doctor Podcast Network: doctorpodcastnetwork.co🔗Email: [email protected] the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your "good enough" life is quietly eroding your potential?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores complacency—the subtle numbness that sneaks in after success, making routines feel stale without crisis. Sharing personal stories, like his own "rinse and repeat" year and a client's guitar breakthrough, he challenges physicians to rate their lives (1-10), question fear of change, and embrace experiments for growth. Dr. Hersh offers tools to swap comfort for courage, pushing past "not that bad" toward a vibrant, intentional life.Perfect for mid-career doctors feeling stuck in neutral, this episode inspires curiosity about what's possible—without blowing up your career.🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 TakeawaysRate Your Life Honestly: Pause to score your life (1-10) across work, family, health, and hobbies. Dr. Hersh warns that a "safe" 7 might be a 2 in disguise. Try journaling three questions: What’s working? What’s not? What have I been avoiding? to uncover hidden stagnation.Embrace Experiments Over Revolution: Complacency thrives on fear of failure, but growth can start small. Dr. Hersh shares how adding a lunch break felt risky but sparked positive change. Commit to one "yes" this week, like a hobby or boundary, to break routines without overwhelm.Choose Courage Over Comfort: Success breeds settling, but true contentment has momentum. Dr. Hersh urges pushing comfort zones. "The hard thing is usually the right thing." Identify one ‘easy’ habit that is costing long-term joy and satisfaction. Try swapping it for something challenging.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the constant feeling of "not enough" is the real virus draining your life in medicine?In this reflective episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks the scarcity mindset that permeates physicians' lives—from chasing RVUs and promotions to feeling there's never enough time for family or self-care. Drawing from personal stories, like the anxiety of new hires or a canceled Thanksgiving trip, Dr. Hersh reveals how scarcity masquerades as ambition but steals joy and connection. He offers practical shifts, like questioning "Do I have enough for today?" and setting boundaries, to embrace abundance and build a sustainable life.Timed around Thanksgiving, this episode invites physicians to reflect on gratitude, detours, and what truly matters beyond the grind. If you're hustling endlessly yet feeling empty, this is your guide to finding "enough" and thriving.🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 TakeawaysQuestion Scarcity's Grip: Recognize how the belief in "not enough" (time, money, recognition) drives burnout and resentment. Dr. Hersh shares how quarterly RVU anxiety fueled his hustle, but pausing to ask, "Do I have enough for today?" shifts focus to intention and presence—try it during your next busy shift.Embrace Growth Through Discomfort: Scarcity rewards endless grinding, but true abundance comes from boundaries and delegation, even if it stings. Dr. Hersh explains how hiring new colleagues initially sparked fear but led to collective thriving—practice by saying no to one extra task this week to protect your health and family time.Find Gifts in Detours: Life's interruptions, like a canceled trip or schedule change, aren't losses but opportunities for gratitude. Dr. Hersh recounts turning a family illness into a meaningful staycation—reframe your next setback by listing three "gifts" it brings, fostering resilience and joy.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if embracing change could unlock a more fulfilling life in medicine?In this inspiring episode of Better Physician Life, host Dr. Michael Hersh welcomes Dr. Jimmy Turner, an academic anesthesiologist, certified coach, author of Determined: How Burned Out Doctors Can Thrive in a Broken Medical System, and co-host of the Money Meets Medicine podcast. Jimmy shares his journey from skepticism to entrepreneurship, revealing how starting a blog and podcast led to coaching physicians on burnout, mindset, and finance. They discuss the power of a simple question—"If you don't do this, what will change?"—and how it sparked Michael's own transformation.From overcoming dyslexia to building multiple ventures, Jimmy offers practical advice on identifying your strengths, solving real problems, and committing to growth despite discomfort. Whether you're battling burnout or exploring side hustles, this episode equips physicians with tools to pivot, thrive, and redefine success in a broken system.Top 3 Takeaways:Embrace Change Through Entrepreneurship: Change isn't innate. It's learned through trial and error. Jimmy shares how starting a blog evolved into podcasting and coaching, emphasizing the need to identify your strengths (e.g., what people seek your advice on) and solve real problems others will pay for. For physicians, this means exploring passions like personal finance or burnout solutions to create fulfilling side ventures.Commit to the Journey, Not Just the Outcome: Avoid "arrival fallacy" by enjoying the process of growth. Jimmy highlights committing to a venture for 2-3 years, pivoting as needed, and finding passion in discomfort—key for physicians shifting from linear medical training to nonlinear entrepreneurship.Define Your Goals and Strengths First: Before starting a business, clarify if it's a hobby or profit-driven, then assess what you're good at and what the market needs. Jimmy's path from anesthesiology to coaching shows how leveraging natural talents (e.g., teaching finance) can lead to ventures like disability insurance advising or courses.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest: Dr. Jimmy Turner is an academic anesthesiologist at Wake Forest, a certified physician coach, author of Determined: How Burned Out Doctors Can Thrive in a Broken Medical System, and co-host of the Money Meets Medicine podcast. He helps physicians navigate burnout, mindset, and personal finance through coaching, writing, and speaking. As a licensed insurance agent, he specializes in disability insurance for doctors.🔗 Learn more: money meetsmedicine.com🎙️ Podcast: Money Meets Medicine     Disability Insurance: https://moneymeetsmedicine.com/disabilityAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if your future self could tell you what matters most right now?In this Insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh invites you to imagine the older, wiser version of yourself—10, 20, or 30 years from now—and consider what they’d thank you for today. Reflecting on his own journey of neglecting health, missing family moments, and feeling stuck, Dr. Hersh shares how medicine’s relentless demands can disconnect you from what truly matters. He offers actionable tools, like the Design Your Life worksheet, to help physicians prioritize health, relationships, and purpose over endless shifts and EMR clicks.From skipping physicals to zoning out on Netflix, Dr. Hersh unpacks the traps of “grit” and offers a roadmap to make small, deliberate choices that align with your values. If you’re a physician wondering if this is “it,” this episode will inspire you to start building a life your future self will celebrate.Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 Takeaways:Picture Your Future Self: Imagine the older you looking back—what would they thank you for? Prioritizing health, showing up for family, or saying no to extra shifts can shape a life you’re proud of. Dr. Hersh shares missing his daughter’s band concert as a wake-up call to rethink priorities.Small Choices, Big Impact: No change is too small—leaving work on time, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or calling a friend can shift your trajectory. Dr. Hersh’s Design Your Life worksheet helps you map out what matters in health, relationships, and career.Being Stuck is Feedback, Not Failure: Feeling trapped in medicine signals a need for change, not a personal flaw. Dr. Hersh’s journey from exhaustion to coaching shows how small yeses—like signing up for a coaching program—can lead to a more intentional life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife  If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the frustration you feel isn’t about others, but the silent rules you expect them to follow?In this insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the invisible "manuals" physicians carry—unspoken expectations about how colleagues, patients, and even family should act. Drawing from personal stories, like clenching his jaw in traffic or feeling let down by unspoken needs, Dr. Hersh reveals how these manuals fuel resentment and disconnection in medicine and life. He introduces tools like emotional adulthood, boundary-setting, and Dr. Jimmy Turner’s "Hell Yes" policy to help physicians take control of their peace and purpose.From navigating hospital politics to rethinking career demands, this episode offers actionable steps to let go of perfectionism, communicate needs clearly, and choose a life that feels authentic. If you’re a physician feeling stuck or resentful, this episode will inspire you to rewrite your script and reclaim your joy.Top 3 Takeaways: Let Go of the Manual: Unspoken expectations (such as hoping a colleague takes initiative or a patient follows advice) can breed resentment when they are unmet. Recognize these silent rules, question their validity, and communicate needs clearly to foster connection and reduce frustration. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how noticing his irritation in traffic revealed his own expectations, prompting a shift to emotional adulthood.Embrace Emotional Adulthood: Stop handing your peace to others’ actions. Instead of thinking, “If they’d change, I’d feel better,” take responsibility for your emotions by naming them (e.g., “I’m frustrated”) and setting boundaries, like requesting quiet time after work. Dr. Hersh explains how this shift empowered him to feel grounded regardless of external chaos.Say “Hell Yes” or “Hell No”: Inspired by Dr. Jimmy Turner, prioritize choices that align with your values. Saying no to extra shifts or committees creates space for meaningful yeses—like starting a podcast or coaching—that energize rather than exhaust. Dr. Hersh’s leap into coaching transformed his career and life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the shame we bury in medicine is actually a signal for growth?Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Will Bynum to explore the role of shame in physicians' lives. Drawing from Dr. Bynum's personal journey, from a residency error and personal struggles to discovering Brené Brown's work, they unpack shame's definition, its ties to vulnerability (especially for men), and its overlaps with fixed mindsets. The conversation offers practical tools like examining assumptions, shifting focus outward, and practicing self-compassion to navigate shame constructively. They also discuss building shame-competent cultures in healthcare. This episode is essential for physicians ready to unhide, connect deeply, and harness shame's transformative potential.Top 3 Takeaways:Define and Examine Shame – Understand shame as a global self-evaluation of being flawed or unworthy, often tied to perceived judgment from others, and challenge assumptions of isolation by recognizing its universality in medicine (90-100% of learners experience it). Dr. Bynum shares how his residency error sparked this realization; use CBT strategies to question thoughts like "I'm alone in this" and reframe fixed mindsets (e.g., "I'm a bad doctor") as growth opportunities.Practice Self-Compassion and Seek Connection – Treat yourself with the kindness you'd offer a loved one, as self-deprecation can fuel shame cycles in high-stakes physician work. Dr. Bynum recommends Kristin Neff's work. Start by naming shame explicitly in trusted conversations (e.g., "I'm struggling with how I feel about myself") to "shine light" on it, reducing its power and deepening relationships, as both hosts experienced through vulnerability.Cultivate Shame-Competent Environments – Create spaces where conversations about shame are possible and safe. This starts with reaffirming values like every person’s inherent worth, and recognizing that different specialties may need different approaches. For example, what works with surgeons may look different than with family physicians. Dr. Bynum’s Shame Lab framework encourages shifting from private rumination toward outward connection (asking for help, or considering how our actions affect others) as a way to build resilience. For those who want to learn more, resources like shamelab.org and The Nocturnists’ “Shame in Medicine” series are excellent places to start.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Will Bynum, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Duke University School of Medicine and a Veteran of the United States Air Force. He received his M.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in 2010, completed his residency in the NCC Family Medicine Residency with the US Air Force, and received his Ph.D. in Health Professions Education at Maastricht University in the Netherlands in 2023, where defended his thesis entitled “Out of the shadows: a qualitative exploration of shame in medical learners”, which was awarded best Doctoral Dissertation by the Association of Medical Educators of Europe. He is Co-Founder and Co-Director of The Shame Lab, which conducts research, develops training, and delivers consultancy to advance constructive engagement with shame in professional practice.Website: www.shamelab.orgwww.theshamespace.comAbout the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Ever feel like happiness is just one milestone away, only to find the finish line keeps moving?Dr. Michael Hersh explores the "arrival fallacy." The trap of believing that the next achievement will finally bring fulfillment. Drawing from his own journey, from counting down fellowship days to chasing financial independence, he reveals how this mindset keeps physicians stuck in a cycle of striving. Dr. Hersh shares actionable tools, like redefining success based on personal values, pausing to notice progress, and letting go of comparison, to help doctors find joy and presence in their current lives.This episode is a guide for physicians ready to stop chasing "what’s next" and start living intentionally today.Top 3 Takeaways:Redefine Success – Shift success from future milestones to daily alignment with your values, like presence with family or meaningful work, to find fulfillment now. Dr. Hersh suggests asking, “If no one was watching, what would I choose?” to clarify what matters most.Pause to Notice Progress – Keep a monthly record of achievements, challenges, and lessons to challenge the feeling of “never enough” and celebrate how far you’ve come. A simple Google Doc, as Dr. Hersh uses, can anchor you in gratitude and perspective.Let Go of Comparison – Stop measuring your life against others’ highlight reels on social media. Focus on your unique purpose and give yourself permission to want what aligns with your values, not what looks shiny.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is the key to the life you want?Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the transformative power of choosing discomfort intentionally. He reflects on how physicians often trade the discomfort of growth for the familiar unease of staying stuck, whether it’s Sunday night dread or the quiet regret of unfulfilled potential. Dr. Hersh shares personal stories and actionable tools, like naming emotions, embracing vulnerability, and taking small, courageous steps, to help physicians lean into discomfort as a path to purpose, connection, and growth. This episode is a guide for doctors ready to move beyond the comfort zone and create a life that truly matters.Top 3 Takeaways:Embrace Vulnerability – Recognize discomfort as a signal of growth, not failure, and lean into it to unlock new possibilities. Instead of avoiding fear or uncertainty, see them as indicators that you’re stepping into uncharted territory where transformation happens. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how starting his podcast felt vulnerable but led to meaningful connections. Try embracing vulnerability by sharing an idea at work, asking for feedback, or pursuing a passion project despite the risk of judgment.Name Your Emotions – Identify and observe feelings like fear, frustration, or shame without rushing to fix or suppress them, building resilience and intentional action. Dr. Hersh explains how noticing physical sensations, like a clenched jaw during a challenging procedure, helps you process emotions constructively. Practice this by pausing when you feel overwhelmed, naming the emotion (e.g., “I’m feeling anxious”), and noting where it shows up in your body to regain control and choose how to respond.Take Small Steps – Start with one uncomfortable action, like having a tough conversation or trying something new, to move toward your goals. Dr. Hersh emphasizes that growth comes from small, courageous choices, such as calling his future wife despite the fear of rejection. Identify one action you’ve been avoiding, whether it’s setting a boundary, exploring a new career path, or saying no to an extra shift, and commit to doing it this week, knowing that small steps build momentum toward a more aligned life.About the Show:Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the perfectionism that drives your success as a physician is also holding you back?Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the trap of perfectionism. They dive into how medical culture fosters a "favorite flaw" mindset, glorifying flawless performance while fueling burnout, anxiety, and self-criticism. Dr. Shabbir shares her personal journey, from battling postpartum depression to overcoming cultural and professional pressures, to highlight the costs of perfectionism. Together, they offer actionable tools like practicing self-compassion, fostering awareness, and seeking coaching to help physicians move beyond the "all-or-nothing" mindset and rediscover joy in medicine and life.Top 3 Takeaways:Cultivate Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness after setbacks, recognizing that mistakes don’t define your worth, to reduce self-criticism and enhance resilience.Embrace Awareness: Practice metacognition by observing your thoughts without judgment, using tools like noting self-critical moments to break the cycle of perfectionism.Seek Support: Invest in your well-being through coaching, therapy, or counseling to process unaddressed emotions and navigate the pressures of medicine.About the ShowCreated for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.About the Guest:Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPCDr. Amna Shabbir is dedicated to empowering high achievers in creating sustainable well-being via professional coaching, speaking, and workshops. She is a dual board-certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine physician, a Master Certified Life Coach, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, trained at Duke Integrative Medicine. As an Ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, Dr. Shabbir advocates for the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals. She is the Founder and CEO of the Early Career Physicians Institute® and Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching,  leading initiatives that empower physicians and professionals to thrive.She also hosts Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, a podcast exploring the crossroads of ambition and wellness. Beyond her professional roles, she embraces her most cherished title—Super Mom to two young girls.Social Media and Website Links:Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.AmnaShabbirPodcast: https://dramnashabbir.transistor.fm/episodesLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.amnashabbir.mdWebsite: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/About the Host:Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife  If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What stops you from chasing the life or career you truly want? In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the fear of failure—a quiet but powerful force that keeps physicians stuck. Reflecting on his own hesitations and coaching experiences, he explores how the pressure to succeed, ingrained through years of medical training, can make any misstep feel like a personal flaw.Dr. Hersh offers actionable tools to break this cycle: reframing failure as a stepping stone, practicing self-compassion to quiet perfectionism, and asking what success truly means to you. With insights on embracing progress over perfection and handling the fear of change, this episode is a guide for physicians ready to move past self-doubt and step boldly toward their goals.Top 3 TakeawaysReframe Failure – View failure as a data point, not a verdict on your worth. Like Thomas Edison’s 10,000 tries, each attempt is progress toward your goal.Practice Self-Compassion – Speak to yourself with the kindness you’d offer a child or colleague, especially when things don’t go as planned, to build resilience.Define Your Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or accolades, focusing on personal values like presence or purpose to guide your choices.About the ShowCreated for physicians seeking more than clinical excellence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the white coat. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode tackles the unspoken challenges of medical life, offering tools and insights to live and lead with intention.About the HostDr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife  If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the ambition that made you a great physician is now holding you back?In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the hidden cost of "achievement addiction"—a mindset ingrained in physicians from early education through residency. He reflects on how the relentless pursuit of success, from gold stars to board scores, can morph into a treadmill where happiness fades and the finish line keeps moving.Dr. Hersh shares personal insights and practical tools to help physicians step off this treadmill. He introduces strategies like redefining success based on personal values, practicing self-compassion to quiet the inner critic, setting firm boundaries, and reconnecting with the original "why" behind choosing medicine. This episode is a candid guide for doctors feeling trapped by constant striving, offering actionable steps to build a life with more presence, purpose, and balance.Top 3 TakeawaysRedefine Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or metrics, like being present for family or aligning work with personal values, to shift away from external validation.Practice Self-Compassion – Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a colleague, recognizing mistakes as part of growth, not a verdict on your worth.Set Boundaries – Protect your time and energy by saying no to extra tasks, leaving work on time, or disconnecting during family moments to prioritize what truly matters.About the ShowCreated for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention. About the hostDr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife   If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.