Perfectionism
“I spend too long on my notes.”
“I don’t have time to do it properly right now, so I’ll do it later.”
“My baseline is doing everything at 110%.”
You are not the problem.
Medicine asks way too much of its physicians, and we are feeling it.
And you have likely done what any good doctor would do: tried to figure it out yourself.
Trying new templates, dot phrases, scribes, productivity systems, therapy, self-help books, cutting back your FTE or going for the worlds best multitasker award.
You have done all these things and still work more than you'd like, chronically short staffed, cararying a staggering mental load, feeling drained and wondering how you're going to keep it up.
And the worst part is when the irritation comes home with you.
I'm not spying on you, but I do work with women doctors every day who come to me invariably thinking some version of
"Is this really how medicine is supposed to feel?"
I spent years wondering that too.
What I didn’t understand was that time management strategies are only a small part of the answer.
They can help treat the symptoms. But they don’t address a major upstream contributor to the cycle of overwhelm: our patterns of thinking namely the MD mind traps.
The six patterns I see most often that create a large amount of downstream trouble in women physicians:
“I spend too long on my notes.”
“I don’t have time to do it properly right now, so I’ll do it later.”
“My baseline is doing everything at 110%.”
“I’m scared to say no.”
“I’m always apologizing for running behind.”
“I’ll just do it myself. I don’t want them to think…”
“I might get fired if I make a mistake.”
“I’m not as good as my colleagues.”
“I only got this far because I work so hard.”
“That was so stupid.”
“I should be able to handle this better.”
“What is my problem?”
“I never have enough time.”
“I don’t know enough.”
“I might miss out on opportunities if I say no.”
“I am not enough.”
“There’s no point in asking. They’ll say no.”
“I tried before. It didn’t work.”
“This is just how medicine is.”
"I was one of those people who was wildly behind in my charts. I'd see my family going out for walks and think, I'm going to stay home, I have so many notes to do.
..Now I go into the weekend and I am done with my notes, and it's incredible. It's amazing to be in the busiest, craziest time of my work life ever and feel like it's okay, because of these tools that I've learned. This unbelievable burden lifted off me."
— Lara, Academic Peds
"Should have been taught in medical school"
Women physicians from all identities and backgrounds are welcome here.
Our community includes doctors of all specialties, life stages, and career paths. The program is designed so everyone can participate fully.
8 weeks of live coaching
A supportive community of women physicians
30 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Optional weekly small groups
Lifetime access to 60+ coaching replays and resources
Direct 1:1 coaching support via Voxer
1:1 personalized compensation review and negotiation support with Karen
Wednesdays 8–10pm ET
Saturdays 11am–1pm ET
All sessions are live and recorded so afterwards they are available to watch anytime.
You’ll have access for one full year.
A group of women physicians who actually understand what this work feels like.
For many, it’s the first time they’ve been able to say things out loud- about their day, their decisions, their doubts-
without having to explain or justify any of it.
Physicians across specialties and practice settings from all over the U.S. and Canada are in the room.
Earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
Many physicians use CME or professional development funds to cover the cost.
If you need help requesting funding, you’ll have exactly what you need Click here
1:1 support when you need it.
Send a voice or text message and hear back within 24 hours.
Meet weekly in a small group of 10–12 women physicians with a physician coach for deeper discussion and individual attention.
See how your compensation compares with physicians in similar roles and get help asking for more if there’s room to improve it.
Included at no additional cost.
This isn’t just about getting through your workday.
We also bring in a small group of trusted experts to support the parts of your life that work tends to spill into.
Some of the expert guest coaches inside Feel Better:
Dr. Sarah Smith
Dr. Bonnie Koo
Brig Johnson
Maggie Reyes
You don’t need a new job.
You need a better set of tools for the one you already have.
Many physicians use CME funds or professional development budgets to participate.
If that’s something you’re considering, we’ll help you navigate it.
Partial scholarships are available
for physicians who identify as BIPOC
or work in FQHC or Indigenous/Tribal communities.
Email us at [email protected]
Attend the first four sessions.
If it’s not the right fit, just let us know and
we’ll refund your full payment.
No hoops to jump through.
There’s a cost to staying where you are, too.
Not just financially—
but in your time, your energy, your relationships.
In how heavy your days feel.
You’ve already invested years of training,
and a lot of yourself, in this career.
This is about making it feel sustainable again.
Included Bonus: Personal Negotiation Support
You’ll receive:
A 1:1 strategy session with Karen
plus follow-up support
So you know what to say—
and don’t default to “I’m just grateful to be here.”
For many physicians, one negotiation
more than covers the cost of the program.
Use it when the timing is right.
"Already getting a return on my investment in time spent at home with my family instead of working on my inbox or ruminating over a patient outcome."
"In the grand scheme of my $350K med school debt, this felt like the right investment at the right time."
"It helped me negotiate a raise, better schedule, and more respect."
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you join.
Still have a question I don't answer here? Let's talk.
Still have questions? Let's talk.
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Karen Leitner, MD. Pinnacle Conference, LLC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
“Work feels better, and my relationships are more fulfilling. I feel more confident than I have in years”
- Dr. Frannie K, Pediatrics
December is coming either way.
By the nineteenth of December you will either be finishing the year the same way you started it, or finishing it with more work done, more evenings back, and a way of working that does not take so much away from the rest of your life.
You’ve put too much into this career for it to keep costing you this much.
Let’s make staying feel worth it.
Want to talk with Karen or ask a question?
P.S. Come to the first four sessions. If it is not right for you, email us and we will refund you in full. No forms, no explanation. The risk is just four sessions.
Join the Waitlist for the next Cohort!