LESSONS I REFUSED TO LEARN

LESSONS I REFUSED TO LEARN

This month marks the ninth anniversary of my transition out of clinical medicine. I reflect on my time as a clinician every year around this time to see if any new epiphany will fall upon me that I can share with those coming behind me. My biggest retirement insight...
When Circumstances Arise

When Circumstances Arise

One of my favorite things about working in personal and professional development is how it contributes to my own lifelong learning. Recently, I had the pleasure of co-facilitating a workshop with a fellow physician coach on the topic of leadership and professionalism....
OUTSIDE THE EXAM ROOM

OUTSIDE THE EXAM ROOM

I am a black woman physician who retired early from clinical practice in obstetrics and gynecology. That truth gives me guilty feelings about the impact my absence from clinical medicine has on known racial disparities in healthcare outcomes. Both anecdotal and...
CALENDAR CLUES

CALENDAR CLUES

There is a fact many of us have a hard time accepting. Just because we think something is important doesn’t mean it is a priority for us. There are a lot of issues and activities that many of us agree are important in general. Some of them are even important to...
THE KNOW-IT-ALL PARADOX

THE KNOW-IT-ALL PARADOX

There is one crucial thing I’ve learned about personal and professional development in my nearly five years in the field. That is the importance of not cheaping out on myself. As a lifelong overachiever I like to be my best at most things I endeavor to do. It...
TO CHOOSE OR REFUSE?

TO CHOOSE OR REFUSE?

One of my favorite phrases is “When you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” Having this personal policy allows me to stay open to possibilities. It is tempting to get caught up thinking about what I am going to lose if I take on something new. By recognizing to...