#199 How I Created a Multimillion Dollar Coaching Program to Empower Women Physicians ft. Dr. Sunny Smith

Empowering Women Physicians

Dr. Sunny Smith gives an overview of the mission and objectives of Empowering Women Physicians, aiming to assist them in prioritizing their well-being and determining their life goals.

She shares that they focus on empowerment through various platforms including a Facebook group, podcasts, retreats, and coaching programs. Their common voice is to stop self-sacrifice and start enjoying life while emphasizing individual autonomy, agency, and self-efficacy. 

They also challenge the traditional medical culture that may lead to learned helplessness, encouraging fellow physicians to recognize their choices and potential for change, ultimately aiming to reduce suffering and promote personal well-being.

“What we really want to do is to help people to know that they have autonomy, agency, self-efficacy, and they are not stuck.” — Sunny Smith, MD.

Shifting Mindsets From Medicine

Dr. Kim continues by asking Sunny to share more about her background and career path, and when her mindset shifted towards prioritizing wellness.

She recounts a harrowing experience during their medical internship where she suffered severe neurological symptoms, leading to Status Epilepticus and a coma. The extreme pressures and lack of regard for personal well-being she experienced, prompted her to become an unintentional advocate for the toll medical training takes on physicians.

She reflects on the culture of overwork and admits that despite her role as an educator promoting student well-being, she herself struggled with her own work-life balance. 

Following a transformative experience after a bike accident, she learned the importance of intentional choices in life and work, realizing the need to question the urge to take on everything and instead prioritize what is truly meaningful. This reflection led her to let go of unnecessary commitments and start helping others do the same — to re-evaluate priorities, make intentional choices that lead to a more fulfilling life, and align what they do with their values.

“I decided that I wanted to help others because I saw all of my close friends and colleagues running around like chickens with their head cut off…”  — Sunny Smith, MD.

Leverage and Growth Summit for Physicians

Dr. Peter invites everyone to join the annual Leverage and Growth Summit, a virtual event for physicians filled with stories of doctors using their medical expertise for ventures outside medicine to create their ideal lives. 

Happening from February 26 to March 1, 2024, the Summit is FREE and has attracted thousands of physicians to learn from others’ experiences and get inspired to leverage their skills for personal growth and fulfillment.

“It’s about stories of physicians doing amazing things beyond medicine, utilizing their medical degrees, ambition, and skills developed during their training for other ventures. These doctors are crafting their ideal lives with intentional design.” —  Peter Kim, MD.

A Life Changing Accident

When asked what it meant for Dr. Sunny to help other physicians, she shares her journey from a life-changing event to creating a successful coaching business focused on physician wellness.

Finding inspiration from a podcast and a fellow physician, she pursued a new path after her accident. Dr. Smith underwent training and offered her services for free to validate its impact. After encouraging friends and strangers to try receiving coaching from her, she gained confidence as she witnessed positive outcomes from various life challenges, including reducing burnout and increasing professional fulfillment among physicians. 

Overall, Sunny highlights the need for physicians to adapt and take control of their well-being amidst increasing burnout rates and changing demands in the medical field. She shares that it is important to have a supportive community for physicians seeking a better work-life balance.

“I think that physicians need to understand, right, we have skills, we are smart, we are adaptable, we can do anything in any emergency…” — Sunny Smith, MD.

What Defines Physician Success

After being asked what sets successful doctors apart, Dr. Sunny Smith shares that it is through continuous personal and professional growth. She emphasizes the importance of embracing change, evolving throughout one’s career, and adapting to shifting priorities and aspirations at different life stages. 

She discusses feeling stuck or trapped in a career, usually because of financial worries or a lack of perceived options, and emphasizes the importance of holding onto hope and exploring different paths for personal fulfillment and professional contentment.

“You need to have the belief that it’s possible, the belief that it’s possible for you, and ‘pathways thinking’ that there are many different ways to get there. ” — Sunny Smith, MD.

Connecting With Sunny Smith

Dr. Peter concludes by asking Sunny about ways others can connect with her and her big advice for anyone willing to follow her path. 

Sunny invites everyone to explore the free coaching guides and resources on their website, as well as listen to her podcast “Empowering Women Physicians“. Through a community of certified physician coaches, they aim to restore the caring and unique qualities of physicians often overshadowed during medical training, helping physicians reconnect with what initially inspired them in their medical careers.

Her big advice is to think outside the box, be creative, and explore imaginative scenarios to discover personal desires and aspirations. She recommends engaging in creative activities, drawing inspiration from nature, and considering unconventional possibilities without constraints. 

She stresses that it is crucial to take small steps towards these goals and connect with a supportive community for motivation and guidance.

“Walk in the woods, go to the ocean… and allow yourself to dream again, without constraints”  — Sunny Smith, MD.