As a doctor mother, you are faced with a unique set of challenges. You have to balance the demands of your medical career with the demands of parenting and family life.
Fortunately, there are many alternative career options available to doctor mothers that allow them to pursue their passions while providing them with the flexibility they need to juggle their multiple roles.
From podcasting and consulting to entrepreneurship and creative pursuits, there is no shortage of exciting opportunities for doctor mothers who want to explore alternative careers.
 
In this episode of Disrupting Doctors Career podcast, your host, Dr Abeyna, talks with Dr Sola, who hosts the Mothers In Medicine Podcast. In this episode, they talk about alternative careers for doctor mothers and why mothers in medicine should explore these careers.
Dr Sola also talks about her inspiration, journey and lessons she has learned from starting a podcast as a doctor. She also advises doctor mothers as they navigate the mom's guilt of returning to work.
 
Listen in to learn why the number of mothers leaving medicine for alternative careers is on the rise and what new opportunities are available. For many, childcare costs outweigh their salary, making it difficult to make ends meet. Furthermore, a demanding career in medicine can lead to burnout and exhaustion. As such, many are turning to alternative professions that allow them to spend more time with their families while still providing a stable income.
 
What You Will Learn:
[00:01] What's in for you in today’s show
[01:21] Dr Sola’s medical career so far
[05:14] Why Dr Sola chose South Africa for her medical career
[06:39] Trying daring things while in South Africa
[08:43] Getting the first child and how her career as a doctor changed
[11:49] Having children and a career is proof of the potential that women have
[13:03] What inspired Dr Sola to start a podcast as an alternative career
[18:28] Why do many mothers leave medicine for other careers
[19:11] Dr Sola’s advice to doctor mothers who want to navigate the mom guilt of going back to work
[21:34] Is podcasting a good alternative career for people with other careers?
[25:17] Key takeaway nuggets for mothers who are exploring alternative careers
[27:28] Call to action and end of the show
 
 
Standout Quotes:
“As a medic, focusing on that one circle of life is unusual. There is family, relationships, hobbies, and things you like.” - Dr Sola [03:14]
“Before women become mothers, they are very ambitious to get their teeth into many avenues and opportunities, but that slowly dwindles with parenting.”- Dr Sola [09:15]
“Sometimes we are forced to make tough decisions when the money stops coming.”- Dr Sola [10:26]
“Having children is a great reason to push things forward. It is also a demonstration of women’s potential and what they can do in the world as doctors too.’- Dr Abeyna [11:49]
“Most mothers are leaving medicine for other alternative careers because they realize it’s hard to juggle all the demands of motherhood and medicine or the cost of child care is more than the pay they get as a doctor.”- Dr Abeyna [18:28]
 
 
KEY TAKEAWAYS

As a medic, you can become very focused on that one circle in your life but there are many circles in life including family, hobbies and other things you enjoy
You are really not the same person when you go back after maternity leave
Maternity leave is a space where you are going through a lot of changes, it’s a time to reassess and re-prioritise
There are lots of opportunities in podcasting and it’s been an opportunity for me to step out and try something new
Don’t  be afraid to step out and try something new and maternity leave is a great time to explore a side hustle

 
 
RESOURCES FOR THIS EPISODE
Dr. Sola Mothers in Medicine Podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/momsinmedicine/
 
Do You Need Further Support?
Join our membership and get a direct one-on-one with me or one of my team doctors: https://medicfootprints.org/go