Mindful Practice Podcast

Dr Bertina Hooks
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  • MEDICINE

Mindful Practice Podcast is a weekly audio-visual podcast hosted by Dr. Bertina M. Hooks, a board-certified internal medicine physician, entrepreneur, author, and coach with over 15 years of clinical experience. Through honest conversations and practical guidance, the podcast supports physicians who are navigating burnout, imposter syndrome, systemic bias, and career dissatisfaction. Drawing from her personal journey of resilience and reinvention, Dr. Hooks empowers listeners with mindfulness strategies, wellness tools, and real-world insights into alternative and value-aligned career paths in medicine. Each episode is designed to help physicians protect their well-being, reclaim their purpose, and build fulfilling careers beyond the traditional white coat.

Episodes

  1. The Money Fear: Physician's Financial Anxiety and Career Reinvention (EP08)

    MAR 25

    The Money Fear: Physician's Financial Anxiety and Career Reinvention (EP08)

    Most physicians don't fear leaving medicine. They fear not being able to afford it. And that fear when it's undefined feels infinite. In this episode of the Mindful Practice Podcast, Dr. Bertina Hooks breaks down the financial frameworks that turn overwhelming fear into a manageable, strategic plan. No toxic positivity. No reckless courage. Just clarity, the kind that lets you make career decisions from alignment, not panic. IN THIS EPISODE: → Why financial fear hits physicians harder than anyone else delayed earnings, student loan debt, lifestyle inflation, an identity built around a high-income bracket. → The most critical distinction: high income and financial stability are not the same thing. High earners can be financially fragile. Knowing the difference changes everything. → The 3 fears that paralyze physicians considering a pivot and why every single one is a modeling problem, not a destiny. → How to calculate your Baseline Survival Number — your true monthly minimum to remain stable. → The Runway Calculation: That number alone changes how your nervous system responds. → Income layers physicians can activate without fully leaving: Locums, Utilization Management, Telemedicine, Medical Writing, Expert Consulting, Chart Review, and Coaching. → The lifestyle inflation trap — and why reducing fixed overhead is often more powerful than increasing income. → Dr. Hooks' personal path: from Locums in 2016, to Utilization Management in 2022, to full financial independence from clinical medicine by December 2024 earning more, with more freedom, than ever before. YOUR 90-DAY ACTION PLAN: 1. Calculate your Baseline Survival Number 2. Run your Runway Calculation 3. Identify 2 income streams to activate within 90 days 4. Reduce non-essential fixed overhead where possible 5. Do not resign without remodeling first 6. Consult a licensed financial planner before pivoting About Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach. After redefining her own success over 10 years, she helps physicians build careers aligned with their core values through coaching, strategic planning, and honest conversations about money, status, and fear. Resources: 📧 Email: info.pinnaclebusinessacademy@gmail.com 🌐 Website: PinnacleBusinessAcademy.org Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode. Link: https://learnatpinnacle.com/education Subscribe & Share: If this episode gave you permission to question your definition of success, subscribe and share with a fellow physician who needs to hear this.

    20 min
  2. Career Pivots Without Panic: Redesigning Your Medical Career as a Physician (EP07)

    MAR 18

    Career Pivots Without Panic: Redesigning Your Medical Career as a Physician (EP07)

    A career pivot is not failure, betrayal, or quitting. Board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Bertina Hooks explains how to take the panic out of career transition and redesign your medical career with intention instead of fear. In This Episode: Medicine trains physicians for a linear path. Deviation is rarely discussed and often judged. Fear shows up quickly: "I wasted my training. I'm disappointing people. What if I can't practice clinically again?" Dr. Hooks dismantles these myths and shares her personal career evolution—from full-time hospitalist to locums to exploring non-clinical pathways including utilization management, telemedicine, coaching, medical expert work, and education. You'll discover: Why career pivots feel so threatening to physicians (and why that fear is conditioning, not truth)Common myths dismantled: "If I pivot, I can never go back" and "Pivoting means I failed"What a career pivot actually is (reorientation, not rejection)The grief and guilt no one talks about (and why these emotions mean you cared deeply)Dr. Hooks' personal career evolution from burnout to redesignWhy your medical degree is a launching pad, not a life sentenceThe thoughtful pivot framework: Why, what, how, and what stays vs. what goesWhy you don't owe anyone an explanation while you exploreKey Truths: Myth: Physicians who go non-clinical are "selling out" Reality: They use the same transferable clinical skills with often greater impact and fulfillment Myth: You can never return to clinical medicine Reality: Re-entry programs exist. Don't leave for more than 1-2 years depending on specialty Myth: Your medical degree defines you Reality: Your values define you. Your degree is a means to an end The Pivot Framework: WHY you want to changeWHAT you're moving towardsHOW you'll test the market safelyWHAT stays and what no longer serves youThis keeps pivots grounded, not reactive. About Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach. After redefining her own success over 10 years, she helps physicians build careers aligned with their core values through coaching, strategic planning, and honest conversations about money, status, and fear. Resources: 📧 Email: info.pinnaclebusinessacademy@gmail.com 🌐 Website: PinnacleBusinessAcademy.org Subscribe & Share: If this episode gave you permission to question your definition of success, subscribe and share with a fellow physician who needs to hear this.

    13 min
  3. Redefining Success After Medicine: When Achievement Stops Working for Physicians (EP06)

    MAR 11

    Redefining Success After Medicine: When Achievement Stops Working for Physicians (EP06)

    What happens when you achieve everything you worked for in medicine, but success stops feeling successful? Board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Bertina Hooks explores the moment when external achievement no longer matches internal reality, and why redefining success isn't failure it's maturity. In This Episode: There comes a moment for many physicians when success quietly stops working. Not because you failed, but because something inside you went quiet. On paper, everything looks right the training, credentials, career. Yet there's a persistent feeling: "Is this it?" Dr. Hooks examines the inherited success script medicine gives us, why those metrics eventually break, and how to build a definition of success that supports who you are now. You'll discover: The success script medicine gives us (and why it eventually stops working)When the metrics break: Why achievement brings pressure instead of reliefThe emotional cost of questioning success in medicineMoney, status, and fear: What keeps physicians trapped in misaligned careersWhy "I should be grateful" is inherited pressure, not wisdomNew metrics for success: Sustainability over impressivenessHow to release comparison and the voice of "should"The shift from external validation to internal alignmentReal coaching case: Why a physician couldn't let go of clinical workWhat success looks like when it holds youKey Takeaways: ✅ Success stops working when external achievement no longer matches internal reality ✅ Medicine's success script is entirely external more productivity, more endurance ✅ "I should be grateful" is inherited pressure, not wisdom ✅ Fear around money keeps physicians trapped in misaligned careers ✅ Questioning success brings grief and that's okay ✅ New metrics: Sustainability over impressiveness, presence over productivity ✅ Success you can hold doesn't require self-abandonment ✅ There's no morally superior version of success ✅ Redefining success isn't failure, it's maturity Reflection Question: What definition of success would actually support who I am now? You don't need the perfect answer. You just need the courage to stop using the wrong one. This Episode Is For You If: You've achieved everything but success feels emptyYou feel guilty for wanting something differentMoney and status are keeping you in a misaligned roleYou're tired of "should" running your lifeYou need permission to redefine success on your terms About Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach. After redefining her own success over 10 years, she helps physicians build careers aligned with their core values through coaching, strategic planning, and honest conversations about money, status, and fear. Resources: 📧 Email: info.pinnaclebusinessacademy@gmail.com 🌐 Website: PinnacleBusinessAcademy.org Subscribe & Share: If this episode gave you permission to question your definition of success, subscribe and share with a fellow physician who needs to hear this.

    19 min
  4. Life After the White Coat Myth: Reclaiming Physician Identity, Choice & Freedom (EP5)

    MAR 4

    Life After the White Coat Myth: Reclaiming Physician Identity, Choice & Freedom (EP5)

    What happens after the white coat myth breaks? Board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Bertina Hooks guides you through life after realizing medicine doesn't have to define your entire identity. This episode explores the uncomfortable in-between space, the grief that comes with expansion, and what freedom looks like for physicians rebuilding their lives. In This Episode: After naming the truth "this identity doesn't fit me anymore", comes the question: Now what? Dr. Hooks shares her 10-year journey from burnout to building a hybrid medical career aligned with her core values and provides a roadmap for physicians navigating life after the myth. You'll discover: · Why grief comes before relief when the myth breaks · The in-between space no one prepares you for (and why it's not a problem) · How identity expands rather than disappears · Why choice can feel overwhelming after years on autopilot · The energy value audit: discovering what energizes vs. drains you · What freedom looks like (it's not dramatic, it's subtle) · Why you're not late and you're not broken · Creating a strategic 90-day transition plan This Episode Is For You If: · You've realized the white coat doesn't define you but now feel lost · You're in the uncomfortable in-between space · You're experiencing grief alongside the desire for change · You want practical frameworks for career clarity · You need permission to explore without immediate answers · You're considering a career pivot but don't know where to start · You want to hear a real physician's 10-year journey About Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach, entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. After her own journey of separating identity from role, she helps physicians reclaim themselves and design careers aligned with their authentic values. 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.

    19 min
  5. The White Coat Myth: When Physician Identity Becomes a Cage (EP04)

    FEB 25

    The White Coat Myth: When Physician Identity Becomes a Cage (EP04)

    The white coat ceremony marks the beginning of your medical journey, but what happens when that symbol of professionalism becomes your entire identity? Board-certified internal medicine physician Dr. Bertina Hooks explores the white coat myth: the dangerous belief that medicine must define you, sustain you, and justify your suffering. In This Episode: Dr. Hooks shares her personal white coat ceremony story and examines how the symbol meant to honor physicians can quietly become a cage. This isn't about rejecting medicine it's about reclaiming yourself. You'll discover: What the white coat was originally meant to symbolize (trust, not self-sacrifice)When professional role collapses into personal identityHow the white coat myth keeps physicians trapped in burnoutWhy shame is the strongest bar of the cageSigns that the myth is starting to crack (body notices first)How to separate who you are from what you doThe difference between wearing the coat and living inside itPermission to evolve beyond your original medical identityTaking the White Coat Off Without Burning It: Here's the reframe that changes everything: You don't have to reject the white coat. You just have to stop living inside it. The coat is a role not a prison, not a personality, not your worth. When physicians begin separating who they are from what they do: Curiosity returnsPossibility expandsSelf-trust rebuildsMedicine becomes one expression of you, not the whole story. Some stay in clinical medicine. Some pivot. Some create hybrid lives. The point isn't the outcome, it's the choice. Freedom begins when the coat becomes something you put on and take off, not something you disappear into. Reflection Question: Does my identity still serve who I'm becoming? You don't need answers today, just permission to ask. This Episode Is For You If: You feel successful but unfulfilled in medicineYour professional identity feels suffocatingYou experience dread or anxiety about workYou've forgotten who you are outside of being a doctorYou feel shame about wanting something differentYou need permission to evolve beyond your original medical identityAbout Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach, entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. After her own journey of separating identity from role, she helps physicians reclaim themselves and design careers aligned with their authentic values. 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.

    16 min
  6. How Coaching Heals Physician Burnout: The Difference Between Therapy, Mentoring & Coaching (EP3)

    FEB 18

    How Coaching Heals Physician Burnout: The Difference Between Therapy, Mentoring & Coaching (EP3)

    Physician burnout affects 40-60% of doctors, but many don't know that coaching can be a powerful tool for burnout recovery. In this episode of the Mindful Practice Podcast, board-certified internal medicine physician and certified life coach Dr. Bertina Hooks explains how coaching specifically helps physicians heal from burnout—and why it's different from therapy and mentoring. If you're a burned-out physician wondering whether coaching, therapy, or mentoring is right for you, this episode will give you the clarity you need to take the next step toward sustainable wellness. In This Episode, you'll discover: Critical differences between coaching, therapy, and mentoring for physiciansWhy coaching is uniquely effective for physician burnout recoveryHow coaching helps doctors rebuild identity beyond productivityThe pilot-copilot relationship: understanding the coach-client partnershipWhat to look for in a qualified physician coach (ICF certification matters)The Four C's of purposeful coaching: Connection, Communication, Clarity, ConsistencySMART goals framework for burnout recoveryKey Takeaways: ✅ Coaching is future-focused, therapy is past-focused, mentoring is career-focused ✅ Physicians need coaching because medical training doesn't teach self-exploration ✅ Coaching addresses burnout root causes: boundaries, values, resilience, identity ✅ ICF-certified coaches provide psychological safety and respect autonomy ✅ Consultation helps assess fit before committing This Episode Is For You If: You're experiencing physician burnout and wondering if coaching helpsYou're confused about therapy vs. coaching vs. mentoringYou're considering hiring a coach but don't know what to look forYou need to rebuild identity beyond clinical productivityYou want sustainable career changes aligned with your valuesAbout Dr. Bertina Hooks: Board-certified internal medicine physician, certified life and business coach, entrepreneur, writer, and speaker. After surviving severe burnout and a life-threatening illness, she rebuilt her career through coaching, utilization management, telemedicine, and locums. Now she helps physicians navigate burnout and design sustainable careers. Ready to Explore Coaching? 📧 Email: 🌐 Website: PinnacleBusinessAcademy.org 📅 Schedule a FREE 20-minute consultation 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.

    20 min
  7. Burned Out Is Not Broken; Understanding Physician Burnout. (EP02)

    FEB 11

    Burned Out Is Not Broken; Understanding Physician Burnout. (EP02)

    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-abandonmentThe energy-value audit that reveals misalignmentThe 3-step recovery framework that actually worksHow to set boundaries without guiltKey Takeaways Burnout ≠ Fatigue. It's about misalignment between your values and your work. Rest restores tired bodies. Alignment heals burned-out ones.Know the Symptoms. Dread before work, brain fog, cynicism, feeling competent outside but depleted inside, chronic exhaustion that vacations don't fix.It's Systemic, Not Personal. Healthcare systems prioritize productivity over people. Documentation overload, RVU pressure, moral injury—the system is broken, not you.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.

    17 min
  8. From Fire to Freedom: Why I Created the Mindful Practice Podcast

    FEB 4

    From Fire to Freedom: Why I Created the Mindful Practice Podcast

    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 injuryHow a life-threatening crisis became the catalyst for complete career reinventionWhy your worth as a physician is not defined by productivity aloneThe career paths that exist beyond traditional clinical medicineHow to start reclaiming your identity and building a sustainable medical careerThis Episode Is For You If: You're exhausted and wondering if medicine is sustainableYou've asked yourself "Is this really what I worked so hard for?"You feel unseen, unheard, or undervalued in your practiceYou're considering leaving medicine but don't know what else existsYou need validation that burnout isn't your fault, it's systemicAbout 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.

    21 min
  9. Introducing Mindful Practice Podcast: The Podcast for Physicians Who Feel Unseen, Unheard, and Exhausted

    FEB 3

    Introducing Mindful Practice Podcast: The Podcast for Physicians Who Feel Unseen, Unheard, and Exhausted

    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 impactSupport for physicians experiencing identity shifts and career uncertaintyGuidance on building sustainable careers in and beyond clinical medicineA judgment-free zone where your struggles are validatedReal talk about what it means to live, not just survive, as a physicianThis Podcast Is For: Physicians feeling burned out, exhausted, or emotionally drainedDoctors questioning their career path or contemplating changeMedical professionals seeking work-life sustainabilityPhysicians navigating identity crises beyond their white coatAnyone in medicine looking for honest conversations about career designAbout 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/

    1 min
  • 9 Episodes

About

Mindful Practice Podcast is a weekly audio-visual podcast hosted by Dr. Bertina M. Hooks, a board-certified internal medicine physician, entrepreneur, author, and coach with over 15 years of clinical experience. Through honest conversations and practical guidance, the podcast supports physicians who are navigating burnout, imposter syndrome, systemic bias, and career dissatisfaction. Drawing from her personal journey of resilience and reinvention, Dr. Hooks empowers listeners with mindfulness strategies, wellness tools, and real-world insights into alternative and value-aligned career paths in medicine. Each episode is designed to help physicians protect their well-being, reclaim their purpose, and build fulfilling careers beyond the traditional white coat.

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