In this deeply personal premiere episode, board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Bertina Hooks shares the story that nearly ended her career and her life and why she created this podcast for physicians drowning in burnout.

In This Episode:

Dr. Hooks takes you inside the moments that broke her: working 20+ patient days on an oncology floor, delivering devastating news while running on empty, and the night in December 2022 when her body finally said "enough." After collapsing at home, she was rushed to the ER with Necrotizing fasciitis and faced an emergency below-the-knee amputation.

But this isn't just a story about survival, it's about what happens after. The silence. The identity crisis. The question every burned-out physician fears: Who am I without this?

What You'll Discover:

• The real definition of physician burnout (and why 40-60% of doctors experience it)
• What burnout actually looks like in daily practice, Missed meals, emotional exhaustion, moral injury
• How a life-threatening crisis became the catalyst for complete career reinvention
• Why your worth as a physician is not defined by productivity alone
• The career paths that exist beyond traditional clinical medicine
• How to start reclaiming your identity and building a sustainable medical career

This Episode Is For You If:

• You're exhausted and wondering if medicine is sustainable
• You've asked yourself "Is this really what I worked so hard for?"
• You feel unseen, unheard, or undervalued in your practice
• You're considering leaving medicine but don't know what else exists
• You need validation that burnout isn't your fault, it's systemic

About Dr. Bertina Hooks:

Dr. Bertina Hooks is a board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach, entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. After nearly losing her life to Sepsis Necrotizing fasciitis and undergoing an emergency amputation, she rebuilt her career through utilization management, medical expert work, telemedicine, locums, coaching, and writing. Now she helps physicians navigate burnout, reclaim their identities, and design careers aligned with their values.

Connect with Dr. Hooks:

Email: bmhooks@gmail.com

Website: pinnaclebusinessacademy.org

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/bertina-hooks-046a3819/

Subscribe & Follow: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to the Mindful Practice Podcast and share it with a fellow physician who needs to hear this message. You are not alone.