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

Many physicians feel stuck. But what if mid-career medicine didn’t mean burnout, boredom, or being boxed in? Better Physician Life, hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, is the podcast that helps doctors reclaim clarity, joy, and purpose in their careers—without quitting medicine. Through honest solo episodes and transformative guest interviews, Dr. Hersh explores what it really means to design a life in medicine on your own terms. This is where mindset meets reinvention—and where stuck doctors find the tools to get unstuck.

Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 56 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Better Physician Life: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career, a business show with 56 episodes published.

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  Episode #53

  Why Soft Skills Are Not Soft: The Hidden Foundation of High-Performing Teams | Ep53

  Aug 3, 202633 min

  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.

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  Episode #52

  Staying in Medicine Long Term: What Makes a Medical Career Sustainable with Dr. Peter Crane | Ep52

  Jul 27, 202628 min

  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.

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  Episode #51

  How Physicians Are Expanding Career Options Inside Medicine | Telemedicine & Entrepreneurship with Dr. Leo Damasco and Phoebe Gutierrez | Ep51

  Jul 20, 202629 min

  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.

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  Episode #50

  When Doctors Mistake Setbacks for Failure | Ep50

  Jul 13, 202616 min

  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.

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  Episode #48

  Knowing When to Quit: When Persistence Stops Paying Off in Medicine | Ep48

  Jun 29, 202617 min

  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.

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