For years, I did what I thought I was supposed to do. I worked long shifts. I went back to school—twice. I said yes to everything. I poured my energy into being the best nurse, then the best nurse practitioner, then the best provider I could be. But somewhere along the way, the fuel started running low. The passion that had once gotten me out of bed in the morning was replaced by exhaustion. Not just the physical kind, but something deeper—emotional burnout. And for a while, I didn’t even realize it was happening.

Burnout in healthcare is almost expected, like it’s just part of the deal. We don’t talk about it enough, and when we do, it often comes with guilt. We’re supposed to be the strong ones. The helpers. But when you’re the one running on empty, there’s no one left to help you but yourself. That moment—when I had to admit to myself that I was burned out—was hard. But looking back, it was also the beginning of something new. Something better. Something more aligned with who I truly am.

The Breaking Point

The turning point for me didn’t come with fireworks. It came with quiet frustration. I remember sitting in my car after a particularly long day, staring at the steering wheel, not wanting to go home, not wanting to go back to work, just feeling stuck. I loved my patients, but I felt like I was constantly racing a clock, battling a system that valued productivity over people. I was charting late into the night, missing family time, and wondering if this was really what I had worked so hard for.

That feeling—the disconnection between the work I was doing and the life I wanted to live—was the real problem. It wasn’t just about being tired. It was about feeling like I had no control over how I used my time, my skills, or my purpose. I knew something had to change.

Choosing a New Path

What I didn’t know at the time was that burnout wasn’t the end—it was the beginning. It forced me to stop and ask myself some hard questions: What do I want my life to actually look like? What kind of care do I want to provide? What kind of legacy do I want to leave?

The answer came slowly, but it was clear: I wanted to build something of my own. I wanted to create a practice where people felt truly seen and heard—patients and providers alike. I wanted to stop measuring success in RVUs and start measuring it in outcomes, in trust, in wellness. I wanted to lead with heart.

That’s how Holistic Medical Services was born—not just out of ambition, but out of necessity. I needed to reclaim my time, my energy, and my purpose. I needed to build a space where healthcare could be human again.

Redefining Success

Starting my own practice was scary. There were risks, doubts, and plenty of learning curves. But for the first time in a long time, I felt alive again. I wasn’t just going through the motions—I was creating something that mattered to me. And I was doing it on my own terms.

Success used to mean climbing the ladder, getting more letters after my name, earning a bigger paycheck. Now, it means something different. It means waking up and feeling excited about the day ahead. It means spending real time with patients, not rushing through appointments. It means mentoring young providers who want to practice with purpose. It means being home for dinner with my wife, Julie, and being present when our daughter Clara calls from grad school.

Success, for me, is about alignment. It’s about living and working in a way that reflects my values. And that shift didn’t just make me a better business owner—it made me a better clinician, a better husband, a better father.

What I’ve Learned

If you’re a healthcare professional feeling burned out, I want you to know this: you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. The system is broken, but you don’t have to be. There is another way to do this work—one that doesn’t cost you your well-being.

Burnout doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means you’ve cared deeply for too long without enough care for yourself. And when you finally choose to listen to that inner voice telling you something’s off, that’s not weakness—that’s wisdom.

My advice? Start small. Get honest with yourself. What’s draining you? What’s feeding your soul? What’s one thing you can do this week to shift the balance back toward purpose?

Maybe you start a side project. Maybe you go part-time. Maybe you take a break. Or maybe, like me, you take the leap and build something of your own. Whatever it is, know that your purpose doesn’t have to disappear just because you’re tired. Sometimes, it just needs to be redirected.

Full Circle

Now, years into running my own practice, I still work hard. But it’s a different kind of hard. It’s meaningful. It’s connected. It’s mine. I’ve found that the path through burnout isn’t about quitting—it’s about choosing again, with clarity.

Clara recently told me she wants to go into therapy because she sees how much purpose it brings. I smiled because I know she’s going to face her own challenges, but I also know she’s learning that success isn’t just about titles or income. It’s about staying true to who you are.

Burnout taught me that. And in a strange way, I’m grateful for it. Because without that low point, I might never have found this new direction. Today, I’m not just surviving the healthcare world—I’m shaping my own version of it. And if you’re reading this and feeling like you’ve hit a wall, let me say this:

There’s more ahead for you. There’s purpose beyond the pressure. And you have what it takes to redefine success, on your own terms.