I Left My Six-Figure Career As A Doctor After Learning 3 Things

Curious about what happens when a doctor decides to walk away from a conventional career and embrace the unpredictable path of self-employment? 🤔

In this video, I share my personal journey of breaking free from the confines of the healthcare system and starting my online coaching business.

👩‍⚕️ Discover the pivotal moments that led me to question everything I thought I knew about medicine.
⏳ Learn how a health crisis forced me to confront the reality of life's fragility and prioritize my well-being.
🌟 Find out why life is too short to settle for anything less than true fulfillment and why trusting yourself is key to charting your own path to success.

00:00 Introduction
02:17 Confronting the broken healthcare system
06:27 Reevaluating life's priorities
09:00 The path to coaching and self-employment
11:34 How the pandemic changed everything
15:05 Life after medicine

Are you about to embark on a journey of self-discovery and resilience?
Then press play and join me as I reveal the ups and downs of my transformational journey. I'm also sharing inspirational tips for redefining success on your terms!

💛 xo Dr. Kim

//WHAT TO WATCH NEXT

How To Become A Health & Wellness Coach

Create Freedom With A Side Hustle

//LINKS
Learn more about Dr. Kim Foster and find resources to help you master the art of living well:

Curious about health & wellness coaching?

DISCLAIMER: This post & video is designed for educational and/or informational purposes only and should not be used in any other manner. This information is not intended to substitute individualized medical advice. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting with a qualified health care provider. A consultation with your health care professional is the appropriate method to address your health concerns. You are encouraged to consult your health care provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.

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[KimFosterMD]

I hope you enjoy this video! Let me know in the comments if you're in the middle of your own big change (or even contemplating it) -- I'd love to hear your story! 💛

[V.stones]

I also did, worked in a pharmaceutical company. I was burnt out. The hours were relentless, and I barely had time for my family. Second, I realized that despite the money, I wasn’t happy. And finally, I figured out that life’s too short to spend it doing something that doesn’t bring you joy.

[Roberto-Escobar]

I was a hospital RN that was burnt out and tired of being abused at a hospital. I left when I was sick with long covid. Learned how to recover due to holistic means (medical system said I would never heal). Became a school nurse (low stress and awesome schedule) and it was the best move I made for myself. Now I have the time to read books I truly enjoy, spend time with my family on my days off, and I create YouTube videos for my channel that help others recover from Long Covid. Totally resonate with your story.

[dwmcsweeney]

We don’t have health care in the US, we have disease care. That’s great you had the courage to do what was right for you. I quit a secure job to move across the country and become a self employed pet sitter. Best decision I ever made for myself. I was miserable. Now I’m content. And my personal growth has been transformative.

[theshield]

Terrific story. I’m in my early-50’s, part-time in two jobs in a university, Budget Specialist, and Capital Projects Accountant, neither of which I enjoy a lot. Three things are stopping me from moving in, the loss of income, and the uncertainty of what to do next. There’s also my depression, which I’m getting treated, but it does interfere with accomplishing anything

[marnav]

Welcome to the Rockefeller medical system. Your one of the very few with enough courage and convictions to leave the drugs/surgery model. Good job.

[kalamakumu]

First of all, thank you for this video. I am a 79 year old former ER doc who burned out and walked away at 48 years of age after 20 years of fast paced practice in a busy suburban ER. I knew I was burned out and tried to help myself by reducing my hours, taking more vacations, etc. But my experience was that I was turning into a robot. The emotion was gone. After 20 years, I felt pretty comfortable seeing pretty much anything, but this persistent anxiety suffused my mind. I also had some health effects, namely essential tremor and runs of atrial fib in the morning when I went to bed. So I "retired" thinking I might try working in a clinic. I still miss the hands on moments of connection. They were rare, but little experiences of being human with a fellow human being. Nevertheless, I had promised myself at the start of my practice that if I couldn't communicate a caring image with my patients, I would leave. That gave me a noble excuse to exit without too much guilt. I've yet to regret that decision. It takes a lot of courage and insight to realize that it is time to move on and make that change. Thanks again.

[AlamoDon]

Kim I spent 43 years in private practice. Didn’t accept insurance.Worked for the patient.Was often the 4th or 5th doctor.After
3 years at Mayo Clinic I worked with major clinics and often referred to them.THIS is the road never traveled which led to a fulfilling and rewarding life. ❤

[ralfbettker-cuza]

Hallo from Germany. Always wanted to be a family doctor and became one. But I never had my own office because I knew our system too well. So I switched, by coincidence, to Occupational Health. I am selfemployed, work on my own (no personell needed in my case, not even an office) and go to my clients (=companies) that by law need an Occupational Health Doctor. Mostly preventive work.
I am not in the hamsterwheel! I can take a day off if I want to. I can take care of my kids, go to their things, I'm never "on call" (unless my wife and/or kids call) 🙂Love it!

[solohoh]

In 1961, my 3rd year of pre-med, I went to an old Tennessee country doctor and asked him "what does it take to be a doctor?" I will never forget the deep soulful response he gave me -- "you have to be very dedicated." I saw the light and chose to be a land surveyor.

[lkuriskomd]

Good for you! I have been an MD for 36 years. I totally get what you are saying. I was a primary care doctor for three years. Most of primary care is about crises management and putting bandaids on lifestyle related illnesses. I am a diagnostic radiologist now. I look into people's charts regularly to get more info to interpret their scans. It seems almost everyone has at least one lifestyle disease like hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, GERD, etc. These diseases are rooted in how people live and especially how they eat. The health care system is not focused on dealing with root causes which is appalling. That is why my wife and I started our own YouTube channel, Kurisko and Company. Someone needs to educate people on how to be healthy. The health care system sure isn't doing it.

[bainosisugua]

I am a Doctor too post graduate in Surgery. 3 years ago I was in a busy hospital. Felt burn out and a lot of stress. But now I feel a bit relaxed since I moved to small hospital. I make round, do opd, perform surgery, attend interconsult. Now I feel much better.

[alanmichel]

In high school, I wanted to be a doctor, but after talking to a bunch of doctors who hated their jobs and the system, I went to engineering school. Enjoyed it, never looked back!

[TheTfk]

Fantastic message. I am ex clinician as well, who walked away from “ broken conventional health care system” without ever looking back with sense of regret ❤

[Schekersculptors]

Omg I’m exact like you. I’m a IMG Dr and I was so unhappy trying to become a physician here in USA. It took 6 years to confront myself and be honest with me that I didn’t want to be a Dr anymore. Now I’m doing a nutrition and PT coach certification and opened my own business. And I never being so happy. Thank you for sharing your story ❤❤

[jbridgehall]

You are so right! I’m in Canada and take responsibility for my health with appropriate diet, exercise etc. but it’s a fight to get blood tests for glucose and cholesterol because I’m not taking statins or insulin, i chose to change my diet! We need a health system that supports those of us who choose to maintain health!!

[myriammohsen]

Thank you so very much for sharing!
I'm on a very similar journey: first doctor and college grad in my family, MD with 3 specialties under my belt (all part of the journey of trying to undertsand more and treat people in a way that made more sense than popping pills!), tried different working places and schedules, went through burn out twice in my 20 years of medicine, until I finally chose to put myself first and walk away.
I'm still at the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey. I want to help people become more empowered about their health in a way that also feels more authentic and aligned to me.
The guilt conundrum and everyone under the sun's opinions about your life choices are both very real!
Again, thank you so very much! Your words were very helpful and encouraging!
May God bless you and your family! 🙏🙏💖💖

PS : A youthful appearance and healthy glow are natural byproducts of taking good care of our health and choosing to live in alignment with who we truly are! Dr Foster's outer appearance is testimony that she truly does practice what she preaches! Brava! 👏👏

[tshinder]

American Medicine died when the managed care companies took over in the 1990's. That's when I left for a better life outside of being a doctor.

[AnysNadhilah]

I'm glad I have someone who has the same common ground. I was once an overwhelmed and burnt-out doctor too, but I realized I have a higher priority which is my health and quality time for my family, so I quit working in government and shifted to private which has a flexible schedule. I also run online business and coach people about things that I love.

[Stephanie.Hudson]

I’m not in the medical field, but I do believe that life changes are needed in my life. I’ve already left my safe job back in ‘21 and ended up laid off from a company I thought I would be with until retirement. I’m still hobbling along and I believe that’s why your video crossed my path. Encouragement through another’s story. Powerful. Thank you.