All Episodes

October 13, 2025 42 mins

Feeling exhausted, heartbroken, and questioning your future in medicine? You are not alone. In this powerful episode of Life-Changing Moments, host Dr. Dael Waxman sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir, a primary care internist, geriatrician, and master certified physician coach, for a raw and honest conversation about physician burnout, moral injury, and finding a path forward.

Dr. Shabbir bravely shares her own story of reaching a breaking point in traditional primary care, describing it not just as burnout, but as a profound "heartbreak." She opens up about the crushing weight of systemic issues, perfectionism in medicine, and the feeling that her suffering was unwitnessed.

This is a must-listen for any healthcare professional feeling stuck, depleted, or considering a career pivot. Discover:

  • The critical difference between physician burnout and heartbreak.

  • Why asking for help as a doctor is an act of courage and how to overcome the stigma.

  • A realistic roadmap for navigating a career transition in medicine, including her shift into geriatrics.

  • The powerful role that physician coaching, counseling, and mental health for doctors played in her healing.

  • How to combat perfectionism and reclaim your agency and self-advocacy.

  • Practical steps for making a change, including the importance of rest and "white space" before making major decisions.

If you are struggling with clinical exhaustion, feeling trapped by the sunk cost fallacy, or seeking to reclaim your joy in medicine, this episode offers validation, hope, and a clear message: your well-being matters.

Keywords: physician burnout, doctor mental health, career change for doctors, life coaching for physicians, medical career advice, geriatrics, primary care physician, moral injury, perfectionism, physician coach, MD Coaches, Dr. Amna Shabbir, Dr. Dael Waxman, how to leave clinical medicine, physician well-being, doctor burnout, physician depression, finding joy in medicine, medical career pivot, physician resilience, healthcare professional wellness.

-+=-+=-+=-+=

Join the Conversation!

We want to hear from you! Do you have additional thoughts about today's topic? Do you have your own Prescription for Success? Record a message on Speakpipe

 

Unlock Bonus content and get the shows early on our Patreon

Follow us or Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Amazon  | Spotify

---

Music by Ryan Jones.
Find Ryan on Instagram at _ryjones_, Contact Ryan at ryjonesofficial@gmail.com

Production assistance by Clawson Solutions Group, find them on the web at csolgroup.com

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.