I identify with this so deeply. My trauma working as an ER doctor also prompted me to leave the field & I’m now enrolled in a grad program in narrative medicine and diving into the healing power of stories!
Lenoir Rhyne university! They have a graduate certificate program in narrative medicine and an MFA with a concentration in narrative medicine. The head of the program is absolutely wonderful!! I can’t say enough good things about it and the people I’ve met through it!
I am so encouraged by Narrative Medicine. And frankly wonder whether it was initiated by female medical doctors? I hope you find healing joy in this grad program.
I am also an ER doctor and also in the process of leaving. I don't know where I'm heading next, which is so tremendously uncomfortable, but my bodymind is screaming it's time to go.
I'm so sorry you've hit that point. I hope your transition is as painless as possible. For what it's worth, I've never regretted leaving. It was honestly the best thing I ever did. Blessings on your journey, Amy.
I feel that so much. I waited way too long & definitely paid the price physically and mentally. Hope you find the place you’re supposed to land!! And if you ever want to chat about it, DM me!
I would love to chat more. I don't think I have DM powers on Substack yet, but I believe I have your email now, or perhaps we could write letters if you're into that kind of thing? I think that's part of what has made taking the leap difficult is that I don't have any physical or mental illness forcing my hand (aside from burnout/existential crisis, but I don't know that feels like baseline in a medical career tragically enough). On the other hand, I was listening to an interview with author Annie Duke, who wrote the book Quit. She interviewed an ER doctor and asked her what the chance was that she would be happy in her job in a year. She responded 0%. I started sobbing with self-recognition. I realized I might be less miserable, but I definitely wouldn't be happy. That was the beginning of the end, I think.
For anyone writing about trauma, this is lovely encouragement to keep sharing and telling our stories. Being expected to coerce women into c-sections -- that is a particularly cruel form of trauma to inflict on a physician. I commend you for speaking up, as nervous and terrifying as it was.
So brave to stand up for yourself and your patients this way. I am preparing to take the leap out of clinical medicine and trying to figure out what's next.
I gasped as I read this, Lissa! What a shocking scene. How DARE he?! (Because the system - and our culture - supported him, basically)It is most definitely a story that needs to be read and I am glad you retrieved it and got it onto paper. Wow.
I identify with this so deeply. My trauma working as an ER doctor also prompted me to leave the field & I’m now enrolled in a grad program in narrative medicine and diving into the healing power of stories!
That's so great that you're in grad school for narrative medicine. Where? I'm curious about the program...
Lenoir Rhyne university! They have a graduate certificate program in narrative medicine and an MFA with a concentration in narrative medicine. The head of the program is absolutely wonderful!! I can’t say enough good things about it and the people I’ve met through it!
I am so encouraged by Narrative Medicine. And frankly wonder whether it was initiated by female medical doctors? I hope you find healing joy in this grad program.
One of the first books about it was by a female physician! Thank you so much!
I am also an ER doctor and also in the process of leaving. I don't know where I'm heading next, which is so tremendously uncomfortable, but my bodymind is screaming it's time to go.
I'm so sorry you've hit that point. I hope your transition is as painless as possible. For what it's worth, I've never regretted leaving. It was honestly the best thing I ever did. Blessings on your journey, Amy.
Thank you! The challenge I am facing is finding a way to connect many passions into a livelihood. I feel like a little time will clarify a lot though.
I feel that so much. I waited way too long & definitely paid the price physically and mentally. Hope you find the place you’re supposed to land!! And if you ever want to chat about it, DM me!
I would love to chat more. I don't think I have DM powers on Substack yet, but I believe I have your email now, or perhaps we could write letters if you're into that kind of thing? I think that's part of what has made taking the leap difficult is that I don't have any physical or mental illness forcing my hand (aside from burnout/existential crisis, but I don't know that feels like baseline in a medical career tragically enough). On the other hand, I was listening to an interview with author Annie Duke, who wrote the book Quit. She interviewed an ER doctor and asked her what the chance was that she would be happy in her job in a year. She responded 0%. I started sobbing with self-recognition. I realized I might be less miserable, but I definitely wouldn't be happy. That was the beginning of the end, I think.
Haha forgot this was Substack and not like insta for DMs. Yes, please email me!! People ask me if I’m going back and I emphatically say never!!
I will collect my thoughts and questions and reach out in the next xouple days:)
For anyone writing about trauma, this is lovely encouragement to keep sharing and telling our stories. Being expected to coerce women into c-sections -- that is a particularly cruel form of trauma to inflict on a physician. I commend you for speaking up, as nervous and terrifying as it was.
So brave to stand up for yourself and your patients this way. I am preparing to take the leap out of clinical medicine and trying to figure out what's next.
I gasped as I read this, Lissa! What a shocking scene. How DARE he?! (Because the system - and our culture - supported him, basically)It is most definitely a story that needs to be read and I am glad you retrieved it and got it onto paper. Wow.