Making Big Decisions

I've often found that my biggest decisions happen slowly, and then all at once.

That's exactly how it felt when I decided to retire from clinical medicine.

After a career in pediatric oncology, I find myself at a point where I still hav

e so much to give, but I also feel called toward a new challenge. Sometimes the best way to reach for a dream is to take a leap, even when it means stepping away from something you have worked long and hard to build.

As I was navigating this decision, I picked up The Greatest: My Own Story by Muhammad Ali. I'm certainly not comparing my life to his, but I was inspired by his willingness to follow his convictions, even when it required letting go of the very career, fancy titles, and identity he had fought so hard to achieve. There was something powerful in that reminder that growth often requires us to trust where the road is leading.

Five years ago, I completed coursework to become a life and career coach. At the time, I saw coaching as another tool in my professional toolbox. What I didn't realize was how much joy and fulfillment it would bring me. The coaching mindset has shaped the way I lead, communicate, solve problems, and support others. Over time, I began to recognize that this work wasn't simply something I enjoyed, it was something I wanted to do more deeply.

And now, I'm ready to jump in with my whole self.

For my physician colleagues, you'll appreciate that we're not exactly a "two weeks' notice" profession. So here I am, about 8½ months away from retirement, taking small steps toward my next chapter as a coach, consultant, and speaker dedicated to supporting healthcare professionals.

Healthcare professionals spend their careers caring for others. Coaching offers something many of us rarely give ourselves: dedicated space to reflect, gain clarity, reconnect with our values, and intentionally shape what comes next.

If your organization offers coaching and you've been curious about trying it, consider this your nudge!

And if you don't have access to coaching, I'd be honored to meet you. As I build my practice, I'm offering a limited number of complimentary 30- and 60-minute coaching sessions for healthcare professionals.

Here's to big decisions, small steps, and the courage to follow what calls us forward.