Overcoming Your Roadblocks: A Physician's Guide to Navigating Change When it’s Time to Move On
An earlier version of this article appeared on this website in December, 2023.
If you’re feeling stuck in your practice, torn between your current role and the pull toward something different, you’re not alone. In the old paradigm, physicians assumed they’d join a practice after training and remain there until retirement. Especially in private practice, moving locations, switching roles, or stepping away from clinical work altogether was rare and even stigmatized.
But the landscape has changed. Across every sector, more physicians are re-evaluating what fulfillment means—and realizing that staying true to your values may require reimagining your role, whether within your current system or beyond it.
It’s a deeply personal realization, and one that can feel both unsettling and energizing. And it’s becoming increasingly common.
In fact, a recent Mayo clinic survey reported that one in five physicians plan to leave their practices within the next two years, and one in three expect to reduce work hours. A second study found that amongst academics, one in three felt a moderate or greater intention to leave. And a 2023-2024 AMA survey of nearly 18,000 physicians from more than 100 health care systems reported similar finding across all physicians. What’s more, the number may be closer to 40 percent in some specialties, including Anesthesiology, Radiology, and Vascular and General Surgery. Burnout, excessive EHR requirements, and lack of support from their organizations were primary issues cited in these studies.
All of this is to say that if you're considering a change, you’re not alone. But that doesn’t make the decision easy. Physicians are often motivated by loyalty and compassion. But we are also creatures of habit, and veering off the well-worn path can feel daunting.
You’re someone who’s used to thinking independently and making critical decisions, but it’s likely that your roadmap was clearly defined from the start: college, medical school, residency, maybe fellowship. As long as you followed this straight and narrow track, and nothing unexpected knocked you off course, you would make it down the road. Waiting for you at the end of the trail would be a satisfying profession, a place of respect in your community, and a happy home life to balance it all out.
Over the past decade, that promise has faded for many physicians. Burnout due to lack of autonomy, higher patient demands, a sicker and older population, falling reimbursements, the unrelenting pace of EHR tasks: all have contributed. So have our increasingly disconnected healthcare systems. It’s not surprising that more and more doctors are reflecting on what they want from their careers, and what might need to shift.
Moving on is sometimes the best and healthiest choice. But change doesn’t always mean leaving your organization or giving up your practice altogether. Sometimes transformation begins by renegotiating how you work: seeking new roles, advocating for flexibility, or crafting a job description that better aligns with your strengths and goals.
Still, thinking about change of any type can feel like stepping into the unknown. The hardest part is often getting started. It may even feel as if your feet are stuck in quicksand. That’s normal. But once you begin, you’ll discover that your momentum will build and possibilities will unfold as you continue to move forward.
In this article, I’ll give you seven actionable steps that can help you move forward when you’re feeling stuck.
1. Self-Reflection
Before deciding what’s next, take time to reflect on what matters most, both professionally and personally. You don’t need to know the final destination yet, but clarity around your values, interests, and strengths is essential.
Journaling for a few minutes each day can help. Ask yourself:
❓What are my defining values? How do I want to manifest those values in my daily life?
❓What aspects of my current role energize me—or drain me?
❓What skills do I love using? And what would I be happy to give up?
❓How do I want to feel at the end of each day?
❓What would I regret not doing, both personally and professionally?
❓How will any change I make impact my loved ones, either positively or negatively?
Making time for self-reflection will lay the foundation for building a more aligned, satisfying professional life, whether that’s in a new place or a new role within your current setting.
2. Recognize Your Triggers and Limiting Beliefs:
When you’re contemplating change, it’s natural for doubts to arise: “I can’t start over,” “I’m too far along,” “What would my colleagues/ family/friends think of me?” or “I’m lucky to have a job—why rock the boat?”
Instead of pushing these thoughts aside, examine them:
❓What stories am I telling myself?
❓What are these beliefs protecting me from?
❓Are they actually true—or just familiar?
❓What would it take to feel more confident in exploring a new path?
❓If there are meaningful limitations that are holding me back, how can I close the gaps?
Acknowledging and challenging these beliefs is a key step toward moving forward.
3. Seek Guidance
Talk to mentors, colleagues, or others who’ve made career shifts, whether big or small. You may be surprised by how many have reimagined their roles without leaving their organizations. Others may have made audacious shifts and found greater fulfillment. And some may have dealt with regrets and learned from their mistakes. The point is not to recreate anyone’s story, but rather to understand that your own possibilities may be more expansive than you realize.
Tapping into others’ experiences can offer both perspective and inspiration. Just be thoughtful about whom you confide in—especially if your plans are still unfolding.
4. Set Achievable Goals
Break your career change into smaller, manageable goals. This not only makes the process less intimidating but also gives you a way to envision the road ahead.
Rather than winging it and hoping for the best, create a timeline with defined milestones. These might include:
✅Gaining specific qualifications or licensure
✅Attending relevant conferences,
✅Researching places you might want to live
✅Identifying internal opportunities that might better align with your goals
✅Exploring part-time or leadership roles within your system
✅Updating your CV or LinkedIn profile
✅Reaching out to potential employers or colleagues in your desired field.
Use the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to track your progress and stay motivated.
5. Reframe Setbacks as Lessons
Rejection can sting. And not every door will open right away. Setbacks are part of any meaningful journey. Instead of seeing them as failures, view them as data.
What did you learn? What might you do differently next time? What can you take with you to the next opportunity?
Stay rooted in your “why,” and let that guide your next move.
6. Get Comfortable with the Unknown
Uncertainty is normal. It’s uncomfortable, especially if you’ve grown accustomed to defined pathways. But the unknown becomes less intimidating when you ground yourself in research and preparation.
If you’re exploring a nonclinical role, learn the landscape. If you’re considering a new position, understand the expectations, workflows, and culture. And if your skills need to be refreshed, find out what you need to do to make that happen, then make a plan to get it done.
The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel taking the next step.
7. Keep an Open Mind
You don’t need to have everything figured out right now. Stay open to possibilities while keeping your perspective grounded. Often unexpected new opportunities will present themselves while you are putting in the work.
Seek input from those you trust, but recognize that you’re the one who knows yourself best. Give yourself the space to grow into what’s next.
Final Thoughts
Redefining your path as a physician takes courage, clarity, and commitment. You’ve honed these skills over the past decades of training and professional practice. Now, it’s about using them to design the life that you want to live. Whether you're stepping into a new career, transitioning into a different role within your current system, or simply giving yourself permission to explore, start by addressing the internal roadblocks that stand in your way.
Be willing to ask bold questions and take thoughtful action. Most of all, trust in your ability to create a more fulfilling and sustainable future.
If you’ve enjoyed this article and would like to stay in the loop for more insights on creating a sustainable, fulfilling, and happy life as a physician, sign up for my newsletter or reach out on my website. I’d love to hear from you.
And if you’d like to schedule a complimentary introductory meeting with me, click the link below.