You’re Not Stuck: Mindset Shifts for Physician Innovators with Dr. Karen Leitner

Have you ever felt like the system just wasn’t built for you? Like you’re in a role that no longer fits—but you don’t know what else is out there, or if you’re even allowed to want more? In this episode, I sit down with my brilliant friend and colleague, Dr. Karen Leitner, a physician, coach, and out-of-the-box thinker who’s reimagined what a meaningful career in medicine can look like. Together, we explore how to recognize burnout, shift your mindset, and open yourself up to the world of startups, innovation, and—most importantly—possibility.

Karen brings such a powerful perspective to this conversation. From leaving traditional practice in a fog of burnout to exploring roles in startups, advocacy, and executive coaching, she shares what it looks like to find clarity, value yourself again, and take courageous steps toward building the life you actually want. If you’ve ever doubted your worth or felt stuck in medicine, this is the episode for you.

Dr. Karen Leitner is the founder of Karen Leitner MD Coaching, where she empowers women physicians to achieve greater happiness and fulfillment in their personal and professional lives. She earned her undergraduate degree from Brown University, her medical degree from the University of Rochester, and completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency at Mount Sinai in New York. Following her residency, Dr. Leitner practiced primary care and student health in the Boston area and held a faculty appointment at Harvard Medical School. She has also ventured into the startup ecosystem, contributing to medical patient advocacy, transgender health, and consulting for emerging healthcare companies.

Episode Highlights:

[1:49] Karen shares her early career in primary care—and the first signs of burnout that sparked her transition.
[5:32] Exploring non-clinical options: from urgent care to CROs to patient advocacy startups.
[7:49] The freedom of startup life: starting with a blank slate and designing care outside the traditional system.
[11:40] Imposter syndrome in medicine—and why startup skills are more transferable than you think.
[14:18] Embracing the unknown: how curiosity (and asking questions) fuels success in new industries.
[16:36] Moving from silenced to seen: what it felt like to be truly valued in a startup setting.
[22:00] Coaching, mindset, and how our value isn’t dictated by others' recognition.
[26:25] Finding opportunities through simple outreach—and why ghosting is never the end of the story.
[30:46] What it means to have a why—and how mission-driven work propels us past fear.
[37:12] On investing in coaching and personal growth—and the ROI that really matters.

Resources:

• Learn more about Karen’s coaching for women physicians at karenleitnermd.com
• Karen’s group coaching program: How to Feel Better for Women Doctors (starting May, CME available!) https://www.karenleitnermd.com/how-to-feel-better 
• Karen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenleitnermd/ 
• Schedule a call with Karen: https://karenleitnermdconsult.as.me/?appointmentType=17942285 

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If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the podcast, rate, and leave a review. Don’t forget to share this episode with fellow physicians who might be interested in startups. Together, we can shape the future of healthcare! See you next time.

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