37. The 3 Phases Every Doctor Goes Through Before Leaving Corporate Medicine [Clinic Founder Series]

Most physicians don’t wake up one day and suddenly decide to leave corporate medicine.

Instead, the decision unfolds over time.

In this episode of the podcast, I’m joined by my colleague Dr. Matthea Rentea to discuss the journey clinicians take on their path to creating their own businesses. After working with many doctors who have gone on to start their own clinics, we’ve seen a clear pattern emerge. The journey isn’t random—it tends to follow three distinct phases.

Understanding these phases can help you make sense of where you are right now—and what might come next.

Phase 1: The Optimizing Phase

At the beginning, most physicians assume the problem is something they can fix.

So they do what they’ve always been trained to do: improve, adapt, and perform at a higher level.

They try to optimize everything:

• Their schedules
• Their workflows
• Their efficiency
• Their home life

Many take on leadership roles or additional responsibilities, hoping they can improve the system from within.

The mindset in this phase is:

“If I just figure this out, I can make this job work.”

And for a while, it feels possible.

But over time, many physicians begin to notice something frustrating: no matter how efficient they become, the underlying problems don’t go away.

Phase 2: The Realization Phase

This is the turning point—and often the most uncomfortable phase.

It’s when physicians begin to question a deeper truth:

What if the problem isn’t me? What if it’s the system?

This realization doesn’t come easily.

By this point, many doctors have:

• Built strong relationships with patients
• Taken on leadership roles
• Invested years into their current path
• Developed an identity tied to their position

Letting go of that can feel complex—both professionally and emotionally.

This phase is often marked by internal tension:

• Wanting more autonomy, but fearing instability
• Feeling misaligned, but unsure what the alternative looks like
• Recognizing the problem, but not yet ready to act

It’s a space many physicians stay in longer than they expect.

Phase 3: The Reclaiming Phase

Eventually, something shifts.

Instead of trying to fix the current system, physicians begin to ask a different question:

“What would practicing medicine on my terms actually look like?”

This is where new possibilities start to open up.

Doctors begin exploring:

• Starting their own clinic
• Building a private practice
• Creating alternative care models
• Designing a business aligned with their values

This phase isn’t just about changing jobs.

It’s about reclaiming autonomy, redefining identity, and building a version of medicine that feels sustainable and aligned.

For many physicians, this is the beginning of becoming not just a practitioner—but a founder.

Why This Matters

One of the most important things to understand is this:

If you’re feeling frustrated, burned out, or misaligned in corporate medicine, it doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong with you.

It may mean you’re moving through a very normal—and very common—process.

Recognizing these phases can help you:

• Make sense of your current experience
• Reduce self-doubt
• Navigate the transition more intentionally
• See that you’re not alone

If you’re a physician thinking about starting your own clinic or exploring a different way to practice, this episode will give you language and clarity around the journey you may already be in.

To hear the latest stories coming out of our recent Female Founders Accelerator program retreat, listen to the full episode. And if you're a clinician looking for similar support in building your own practice, join our waitlist here.  You won’t want to miss the announcement of the next FFA cohort starting later in 2026.