Think you're burned out? You're not alone and you're definitely not broken. In this powerful episode, Dr. Bertina Hooks cuts through the wellness industry to reveal what physician burnout really is, why it happens, and why your yoga retreat isn't fixing it.

This isn't another "self-care solves everything" lecture. Dr. Hooks breaks down the systemic issues driving physician burnout, from moral injury to productivity pressure, and provides a practical framework for actually recovering not just surviving. If you've ever felt competent on the outside but completely depleted on the inside, this episode is your wake-up call.

Learn why burnout is about misalignment (not fatigue), how to do an energy-value audit, and the exact steps to start your burnout recovery journey today.

What You'll Learn:

• The real symptoms of burnout (emotional, behavioral, physical)
• Why healthcare systems reward self-abandonment
• The energy-value audit that reveals misalignment
• The 3-step recovery framework that actually works
• How to set boundaries without guilt

Key Takeaways

1. Burnout ≠ Fatigue. It's about misalignment between your values and your work. Rest restores tired bodies. Alignment heals burned-out ones.
2. Know the Symptoms. Dread before work, brain fog, cynicism, feeling competent outside but depleted inside, chronic exhaustion that vacations don't fix.
3. It's Systemic, Not Personal. Healthcare systems prioritize productivity over people. Documentation overload, RVU pressure, moral injury—the system is broken, not you.
4. Do an Energy-Value Audit. What energizes you vs. depletes you? Does your daily work align with your core values (empathy, integrity, patient connection)?

3-Step Burnout Recovery Framework

STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE GAP Assess which values are being violated. Where's the misalignment?

STEP 2: ADJUST YOUR WORK Set boundaries, restructure your schedule, or make bigger career shifts.

STEP 3: REFLECT & RECONNECT Unplug. Clarify what matters. Reconnect with why you went into medicine.

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: info.pinnaclebusinessacademy@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.

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.

Welcome to the Mindful Practice Podcast, a judgment-free space created specifically for physicians who are navigating burnout, identity shifts, and career transitions.

Hosted by Dr. Bertina Hooks, a board-certified internal medicine physician, certified coach, and writer, this podcast is your safe haven to explore what it truly means to build a sustainable medical career and a life that goes beyond just surviving.

In This Brief Introduction:

Dr. Hooks welcomes you to the Mindful Practice community and sets the tone for what this podcast is all about: honest conversations without pressure or judgment. Whether you're feeling exhausted, questioning your path, or seeking career clarity, this is your space to be heard, seen, and validated.

What This Podcast Offers:

• Honest discussions about physician burnout and its impact
• Support for physicians experiencing identity shifts and career uncertainty
• Guidance on building sustainable careers in and beyond clinical medicine
• A judgment-free zone where your struggles are validated
• Real talk about what it means to live, not just survive, as a physician

This Podcast Is For:

• Physicians feeling burned out, exhausted, or emotionally drained
• Doctors questioning their career path or contemplating change
• Medical professionals seeking work-life sustainability
• Physicians navigating identity crises beyond their white coat
• Anyone in medicine looking for honest conversations about career design

About Your Host - Dr. Bertina Hooks:

Dr. Bertina Hooks is a board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach, and writer. Through her own journey of burnout, survival, and career reinvention, she has dedicated herself to helping physicians reclaim their identities, find career clarity, and build lives aligned with their core values.

What's Coming Next:

In upcoming episodes, Dr. Hooks will share her personal story of physician burnout, a life-threatening health crisis, and complete career transformation. You'll also hear from other physicians who have successfully navigated career pivots, burnout recovery, and identity reinvention.

Subscribe & Connect:

If you're a physician who needs this space, subscribe to the Mindful Practice Podcast on your favorite platform. Join a community of physicians who are choosing sustainability over survival and sovereignty over struggle.

Connect with Dr. Hooks:

Email: bmhooks@gmail.com

Website: pinnaclebusinessacademy.org

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