Hey Doc—

This week’s episode is one of my favorites yet because it’s a full-circle moment.

I’m sitting down with my friend Dr. Sarah Stombaugh—family medicine physician, obesity medicine specialist, private practice owner, coach, podcast host, and mom of three.

And fun fact: she’s the reason I started Dr. Toya Coaching.

Yep. You’ve heard me mention her before. The woman who looked me in the eye and said, “That’s not a medical practice. That’s coaching.”

And here we are. Two years later. Full circle.

In this conversation, we walk through Dr. Sarah’s incredible journey—from meeting her husband in med school and navigating the couples match, to having her first baby the day before residency graduation (yes, really).

We talk about the chaos of postpartum, what it was like to parent through a pandemic while her husband was a critical care fellow, and how she finally built a life that honored her values.

It’s a story of boundaries, self-trust, and creating work that actually fits the life you want—not the other way around.

You’ll laugh, you’ll probably tear up, and if you’re in a season of questioning what’s next, this episode will remind you that you can design something better.

Dr. Sarah Stombaugh is a family medicine physician and diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. Graduating from Creighton University Medical School and completing her family medicine residency at University of Chicago, Dr. Stombaugh practiced outpatient primary care in Evanston, Illinois before moving to Charlottesville, Virginia with her family.

Upon moving to Charlottesville, Dr. Stombaugh opened a private practice weight loss clinic, in which she sees patients in-person at her downtown Charlottesville office and by telemedicine throughout the states of Virginia, Tennessee, and Illinois.

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Stombaugh is the host of the "Conquer Your Weight" podcast. Through this platform, she shares valuable insights, expert opinions, and practical advice on weight management, contributing to the well-being of a broader audience.

Dr. Stombaugh believes in empowering both individuals and the medical community in order to promote an evidence-based approach to the treatme

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

What happens when you stop following the script and start building a life that actually fits you?

This week on Stethoscopes and Strollers, I’m joined by Dr. Saumya Dave — psychiatrist, author, private practice owner, and mom of two — for a conversation that’s equal parts real, reflective, and full of permission.

We talk about the seasons of life and how every one of them demands something different from us. From navigating 200+ rejections on her path to becoming a published author, to choosing private practice straight out of residency, to redefining success and motherhood on her own terms, Dr. Saumya reminds us that there’s no single path to fulfillment.

This episode isn’t about “balance.”

It’s about alignment — and the courage to keep reshaping your life, even when people don’t understand it.

You’ll hear:

• How Dr. Saumya turned 200 rejections into a bestselling book deal
• What it looks like to build a creative life alongside medicine and motherhood
• Why listening to your body is a skill physicians often have to relearn
• The power of grace and empathy in healing relationships with parents
• How giving yourself permission to change your mind can change everything

If you’ve ever wondered how to honor all the parts of yourself — the doctor, the creative, the mom, the partner, the you, this conversation will remind you that you’re allowed to be all of it without apology and without limits.

🎧 Tune in and hear how Dr. Saumya’s story invites us all to live expansively, define success on our own terms, and embrace the seasons we’re in.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

I just came out of 30 days without formal childcare — and let me tell you, it was brutal.

Even with my mom’s help, the constant interruptions, scattered energy, and exhaustion left me running on fumes. I was counting down to bedtime, doom scrolling late at night, and struggling to stay in flow.

Trying to hold everything together without reliable childcare doesn’t prove anything — it only shows how unsustainable it really is. For our family, childcare has always been non-negotiable. But this past month highlighted something important: when formal support falls away, even temporarily, it reveals just how much stability, peace, and freedom the right childcare brings into our lives.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The impact of parenting without structured childcare (on your work, marriage, and health)
• Why “just making it work” comes at a cost you can’t afford
• How residual fatigue lingers even after support arrives
• The surprising gifts I found during this season (yes, there were some!)

Doc, I don’t want you living in countdown-to-bedtime mode, running on fumes, or scraping by without the support you need. You deserve better.

🎧 Listen in now as I share what 30 days without childcare really looked like — the struggles, the surprising gifts, and the lessons I want every physician mom to hear.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

Are you the problem? Not you alone, but us. Women physicians.

Without realizing it, we uphold the very systems — patriarchy, sexism, racism — that keep us playing small. It shows up in the way we react when another woman asks for more, when we hesitate to negotiate, or when we discourage salary transparency, and when we are passing down outdated advice to younger women physicians.

The truth is: the system of medicine was built in a different era, for a different demographic — and those old rules still shape how we show up today.

This isn’t about blame. It’s about accountability. It’s about unlearning what we were taught, and replacing them with a culture that actually serves us.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why asking for more should be celebrated, not criticized
• The danger of believing negotiation is “unprofessional”
• Why pay transparency matters (and who really benefits when we stay silent)
• How to hold yourself and other women physicians accountable in a way that opens conversation instead of shutting it down

Doc, it’s time to stop shrinking yourself to fit outdated expectations.

Take back your power.

Ask. Negotiate. Advocate.

And support other women when they do the same.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

We need to talk about something that I believe is absolutely essential for every woman physician — especially those of us juggling medicine, motherhood, and marriage.

Money.

Specifically, your knowledge of it. Your relationship to it. And the way you might be giving away your power around it, even if your income looks good on paper.

In this episode, I’m sharing how I fired my financial advisor (thanks to my husband, actually), learned to manage my money confidently, and why that decision transformed my sense of freedom.

This isn’t about becoming a finance pro. It’s about refusing to be disempowered in a system that already makes it hard for us to thrive.

You’ll hear:

• Why “my husband handles it” is not a financial strategy
• How financial advisors profit off your confusion and why most are not worth your coins
• The 3 things every physician mom needs to know about her household money
• Why money can buy happiness (but only if you have the right foundation first)

This isn’t about judgment. It’s about claiming your freedom — because financial knowledge is protection, peace of mind, and having the power to choose.

And I want that for you.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by money, avoided looking at your accounts, or told yourself “I’m just not good with finances” — this episode is for you. Listen now!

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

If you’ve ever looked into the au pair program and wondered, “Okay but… how much does it actually cost?” — this is for you.

This episode was inspired by a client who asked me directly what she’d really be signing up for financially. And when I say there’s nuance? Whew. There’s nuance.

The au pair program can be more cost-effective than a nanny, but only if you understand what you’re actually paying for and how to make it work for your family.

Yes, it can be more affordable. The flexibility is unmatched. The cultural exchange is a beautiful benefit for both your kids and your home.

In this episode, I walk you through:

• A full breakdown of the real costs — required and optional
• How program structures differ between agencies
• What to absolutely know before you offer more than the stipend
• The subtle traps that can cost you way more than money (👀)
• How to avoid common mistakes that lead to frustration… or rematch

I also share how we’ve structured our own au pair experience to support our values, our lifestyle, and our kids.

Key Takeaways:

• Hosting an au pair will cost you at least $20K/year, but most spend closer to $25K–$35K (or more).
• Some perks sound generous, but can cause friction later if not clearly defined from the start.
• Even with the extras, an au pair is often still more cost-effective than a nanny — especially if you're using close to the full 45 hours of coverage.

This episode isn’t about convincing you to choose one path or another. It’s about clarity. Because the more you know, the more empowered your decision will be to make the right choice for your family.

🎧 New to the au pair program? Listen now and bookmark this episode!

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

This episode is about the reason I created ✨The Connected Motherhood Experience✨ — a space specifically for Black physician moms.

It came out of years of being in rooms, reading books, and trying to apply lessons that were never written for me. Most of the popular resources in the personal and professional development world weren’t created with women like us in mind. The frameworks often reflect lives with different levels of privilege, support, and responsibility.

And too often, the burden falls on us to translate.

To fit our reality into someone else’s formula. To ignore what doesn’t apply and pretend the rest is enough. To carry the weight of being the only one in the room.

In this episode, I talk about what that’s looked like in my own journey, and how it shaped the kind of space I knew I needed to create for others.

✨The C.M.E.✨ isn’t an afterthought.

It’s not a branding angle.

It’s an intentional space built around the lived experiences of Black physician moms — with room for difference, without the need for explanation.

Inside this episode I talk about:

• What it feels like to grow in spaces that weren’t built for you
• The emotional and cognitive labor of translating frameworks that don’t reflect your life
• Why representation isn’t just “nice to have” in coaching, it’s necessary
• The vision behind ✨The Connected Motherhood Experience✨ and what makes it different

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...

Hey Doc,

This one’s different.

In format and in focus.

In this episode, I’m sharing excerpts from a book that reshaped the way I think about boundaries.

It’s called Boundaries After a Pathological Relationship by Adelyn Birch.

Yes, it’s about toxic romantic relationships... but when I read it, it felt like it captured everything I’ve experienced while in medicine.

The way we’ve been trained to tolerate mistreatment, to deny our needs, to believe we can’t leave... It’s the very definition of a dysfunctional relationship.

And most of us are still in it.

You’ll hear some of the most soul-shaking passages from the book and I’ll unpack them through the lens of physician motherhood. Because boundaries aren’t just about saying no. They’re about reclaiming your time, your worth, and your right to want more.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why confrontation isn’t a character flaw, and what it actually signals
• The radical idea that your wants and needs are legitimate (yes, even as a doctor, even as a mom)
• How medicine gaslights physicians into forgetting their power — and how to take it back
• A list of your basic human rights in relationships that will stop you in your tracks

If you’ve ever felt stuck, dismissed, or just deeply tired this conversation is for you.

Not to fix it all.

But to remind you that your truth matters.

And you don’t need permission to honor it.

🎧 Tap play. Then send this to another physician mom who’s been silently questioning everything.

What did you think of the episode, doc? Let me know!

Thinking about leaving your job? Start here.
Before you walk out for the last time, make sure nothing gets left behind.
The Empowered Exit Checklist helps you leave with clarity, peace, and a plan.
📥 Download it now

Subscribe to ✨Stethoscopes and Strollers✨ on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode.

Apple Podcast | Spotify | YouTube

Connect with me: Website | Instagram | Facebook

Join my Email list to get tips on navigating motherhood in the medical field.

If you are going through a transition -- becoming a parent, leaving a job, figuring out how manage it all, schedule a free coaching session.

...