Opinion: I was a surgeon. The hardest part of leaving medicine was believing that I could
Why it matters: Burnout‑driven exits threaten care quality; supporting doctor transitions safeguards health outcomes.
- Frances Mei Hardin details her emotional struggle and eventual liberation after quitting surgery (opinion piece).
- American Medical Association reports record‑high physician burnout, fueling exits from clinical practice.
- Harvard Business Review highlights that purposeful career pivots can restore mental health and professional satisfaction.
- Patients stand to gain from healthier, more engaged doctors who avoid burnout and maintain quality care.
Former surgeon Frances Mei Hardin reveals that the toughest part of leaving medicine was convincing herself she could thrive elsewhere, a personal lens on the wider crisis of physician burnout and the search for purpose beyond the operating room. Her story illustrates how many clinicians wrestle with identity loss and the urgent need for pathways to fulfilling second careers.
