Finding Joy: Resigning From My Clinical Job and What’s Next for Me
Finding Joy: Resigning From My Clinical Job and What’s Next for Me  
Podcast: The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom
Published On: Wed Jan 14 2026
Description: In this solo episode, I am opening up about a big life change. I recently resigned from my clinical job. On paper it may sound simple, but the story under it holds a lot of layers, emotion, and growth. I talk about what led to my decision, what it brought up from my childhood, and how this shift is changing the way I raise my kids. If you grew up chasing safety, grades, or approval, parts of this will feel familiar. I get into: Why leaving a “stable” job can feel scary even when it is the right move Growing up with fear of failure and how that shaped my choices How the healthcare system wore me down over time The grief that comes with leaving patients, residents, and a place that shaped me Panic, burnout, and the signs your body gives you before your mind catches up How I want my kids to think about failure, risk, and self trust Why security matters and why quitting is not always simple or possible What it means to choose alignment even when fear is in the room Check out more on Poppins as I step into a new role there  00:00 – What Bravery Really Means 01:06 – Welcome and Finding Joy Returns 02:35 – Growing Up With Fear of Failure 03:48 – Why Medicine Felt Safe 04:25 – Burnout and Losing Alignment 04:46 – Building PedsDocTalk 05:31 – Signs It Was Time to Leave 06:45 – Choosing Risk and Entrepreneurship 07:46 – Grief, Loyalty, and Letting Go 09:09 – When the System Moves On Without You 09:53 – Breaking Generational Patterns 10:15 – What I Want My Kids to Learn 11:44 – Choosing Yourself Despite Uncertainty 12:45 – Questions to Find Your Own Alignment 13:30 – Closing and What’s Next Our podcasts are also now on YouTube. If you prefer a video podcast with closed captioning, check us out there and ⁠subscribe to PedsDocTalk⁠. Get trusted pediatric advice, relatable parenting insights, and evidence-based tips delivered straight to your inbox—join thousands of parents who rely on the PDT newsletter to stay informed, supported, and confident. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠! And don’t forget to follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠@pedsdoctalkpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram—our new space just for parents looking for real talk and real support. We love the sponsors that make this show possible! You can always find all the special deals and codes for all our current sponsors on the ⁠PedsDocTalk Podcast Sponsorships⁠ page of the website.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices