Dr. Chrissie Ott has lived more than one medical life: nearly a decade in primary care, another in hospital medicine, and now medical director of a skilled nursing facility serving medically complex children and young adults—while moonlighting as a newborn hospitalist. In this episode, Chrissie unpacks the moment of awareness that changed everything: realizing that the “dream” solo practice she built no longer sparked joy. She explains the practical (and emotional) steps of closing a micro practice, reframing sunk costs, and embracing the belief that reinvention is a sign of aliveness. We explore why burnout is often a thought trap, how right-sizing your clinical “dose” protects your nervous system, and why coaching (not performative “resilience” lectures) can return clinicians to themselves. Chrissie also shares creative pathways to access coaching—from group models to residency-supported programs—and why financial independence should empower physicians to practice on their terms, not rush to retire. Highlights • The awareness moment: daily meditation revealed misalignment—then gave permission to pivot. • Closing a micro practice: the logistics, the losses, and the gain of personal wellbeing. • “Dose makes the poison”: reshaping workload to fit a human nervous system. • Coaching vs. “resilience”: action-oriented tools that change habits, not blame clinicians. • The greenest growth edge: a practical lens for your next professional step. • Staying in medicine: redesigning scope and schedule so joy and service can coexist.Top 3 Key Takeaways 1. Reinvention signals life, not failure. Career chapters can evolve while your identity as a healer remains intact. 2. Right-size your dose. Adjusting hours, setting boundaries, and redefining roles can turn exhaustion into engagement. 3. Coaching works when it’s practical. Values-aligned goals, small experiments, and accountability outpace generic “be resilient” advice.About the Guest Chrissie Ott, MD is a dual-boarded Med-Peds physician with a third certification in integrative care. She has served across primary care, hospital medicine, newborn hospitalist work, and currently leads a skilled nursing facility for medically complex children and young adults. As the leader of the Physician Coaching Summit, Dr. Ott coaches clinicians to cultivate alignment, meaning, and delight in their work. Connect: www.Chrissieottmd.com (https://chrissieottmd.com/) • www.joypointsolutions.com (https://www.joypointsolutions.com/about-1) About the Host: Dr. Peter Crane is a board-certified physician, educator, and storyteller with a heart for service and a calling to spotlight doctors who make a difference—in their communities, in medicine, and in the lives they touch. Through Doctors Making a Difference, he brings you into intimate conversations with physicians who have overcome challenges, redefined success, and found purpose in and beyond the clinic. His goal is simple: to help more doctors stay in medicine by showing them what's possible. About the Show: Doctors Making a Difference is more than a podcast—it’s a movement to highlight the good, the gritty, and the deeply human side of medicine. In every episode, Dr. Peter Crane interviews physicians whose stories defy the script. From burnout recovery to bold career pivots, health challenges to quiet leadership, this show honors the truth that healing begins with connection—and doctors, too, deserve to be whole. Visit: doctorsmakingadifference.com (https://www.doctorsmakingadifference.com) The Doctors Making a Difference Podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult appropriate experts regarding your unique circumstances.