
The Developing Doctor
Permission to Evolve: Embracing Change in a Medical Career
Welcome back to The Developing Doctor. Today’s episode dives deep into the realities of physician burnout and the power of intentional career pivots, featuring special guest Dr. Bertina Hooks—a board-certified internal medicine physician, healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and founder of Pinnacle Business Academy. After her own harrowing health crisis forced her to transition from physician to patient overnight, Dr. Hooks rebuilt her life around coaching, telehealth, and helping other clinicians design sustainable, fulfilling careers. In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to move from feeling stuck and burned out to making strategic, values-driven career changes. Dr. Hooks shares her personal story of reinvention, explains the difference between reactive and strategic pivots, and outlines her Phoenix Position Pivot Framework for physician transitions. Whether you’re quietly wondering if you can keep going in medicine, or you’re curious about what comes next, this episode offers hope, practical tools, and actionable insights to help you chart your next step with intention and clarity. Connect with the guest: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bertinahooks/

