Episode #75: A Career-Ending Injury Leads to a New Direction

While many physicians are able to spend time pondering their transition out of clinical practice, some are faced with acute challenges that abruptly end their clinical careers. This is what happened to today’s guest, Dr. Stephanie Pearson. Dr. Pearson loved her work as an Ob/Gyn, but when she experienced a severe injury during a delivery that left her unable to practice, her career path took a sharp turn. She’ll share her post-injury emotional struggles and how the issues she encountered with her own disability insurance led her to become an insurance broker and physician advocate.

In this episode we’re talking about:

What Dr. Pearson learned about her own disability insurance once she was disabled
Why Stephanie began speaking with physicians about disability insurance
How her passion about this topic led to her new career as an insurance broker
What kinds of roles are available for physicians in the insurance industry
The emotional struggles Stephanie overcame following her injury
Why disability insurance is so important for physicians
How physicians can transition into insurance work

Links for this episode:

PearsonRavitz – Disability and life insurance company owned by Dr. Stephanie Peason and Mr. Scott Ravitz. Focused on providing coverage with integrity to healthcare professional.

Doctor’s Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast: Expert Witness, IMEs, and Life Care Plans

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Family Medicine

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Family Medicine

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Anesthesiologist

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OB/Gyn physician

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Papillion, NE

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Orthopedic Surgeon

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Pathologist

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Colorectal Surgeon

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Through our work, I learned to trust myself to make good decisions for my own future – something I hadn’t realized I was struggling with because as an emergency physician, I make life-changing decisions with patients every day.

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Emergency Medicine Physician

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Family Physician

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Endocrinologist and Life Coach

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After graduating from residency and starting a family, I lost sight of why I became a physician. I struggled to convince myself to stay in a career that was clearly the wrong fit for me and my family. My anxiety about work was at an all-time high when I reached out to Heather. She provided something that my mentors, friends, and family could not – rather than just offering career advice, she changed the way I think about my life so that I could understand how my career would fit into it. I realized I wasn’t ready to give up on medicine and eventually found a job in academic medicine. I finally feel that excitement for medicine that I used to feel when I was in training. More importantly, I feel like I can be the role model to my young daughter who may one day also face similar challenges between career and family. Thank you, Heather, for all your kindness, support, and skillful coaching! The experience was life-changing!

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Internal Medicine Physician

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Family Medicine

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I had been a practicing Internist for 20 years when I reached a point when I needed to make a serious change in my career path. While I enjoyed seeing patients, I was not satisfied with my life-work balance. My job was taking me away from my family and left me little time and energy to do other things that are important and meaningful to me. I came across Dr. Fork's podcast; The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast, it is such an informative and enjoyable podcast for any physician who wants to do more with their career and life in general. Then I had the pleasure to get career coaching from Heather, it was truly an amazing experience. Heather has broad knowledge of all the different career paths that are available for physicians, she is so insightful and very easy to talk to. She helped me clarify my goals, examine my own mindset and definition of success. Together we developed a clear plan and actionable steps to reach these goals. I eventually made a career transition to a remote non-clinical position that allows me to do meaningful work which aligns with my personal and professional goals and priorities.

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Internal Medicine

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I am deeply grateful that I can continue my work in the emergency department and serve my community as a physician as well as a coach. Working with Heather was a transformative gift that enabled me to rediscover my true self, find clarity in my life's purpose, and unlock my full potential. Through her guidance, I not only reignited the powerful, confident, and bold version of myself I had lost sight of but also realized the boundless possibilities that lay ahead.

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Emergency physician and coach

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I sought Heather’s guidance after practicing outpatient internal medicine for many years, as it was getting difficult to balance my role as a clinician while meeting my needs and those of my family. After our first consultation, I felt like I was seen and heard for the first time in my career. Working with Heather helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, fears, and goals, and ultimately guided me to a non-clinical role that better aligned with my needs and aspirations. I am deeply indebted to Heather for the impact she has had on my personal and professional development. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I continue to seek her guidance years after our initial encounter. She once said that “we are happiest and most successful when we are using our skills and abilities at their highest level.” Heather will help you discover your truth. Thank you for your incredible work and friendship!

Megan Leivant, MD

Internal Medicine