The Doctor’s Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast Episode #223: Who Am I Without The Scalpel? Redefining Identity and Finding a New Way Forward
Today’s episode is a powerful conversation about identity, loss, and rediscovery. I’m joined by Dr. John Fondran, a colorectal surgeon whose career ultimately came to an end due to severe arthritis in his hands and feet—a condition he had long been managing, but whose impact he struggled to fully accept.
Dr. Fondran takes us through the difficult process of stepping away from surgery—not by choice, but by necessity—and how he confronted the emotional weight of no longer being able to do what he loved. We explore the dark period that followed, the impact on his identity, and how he ultimately found healing and purpose in a new role in clinical informatics.
You can find the show notes for this episode and more information by clicking here: www.doctorscrossing.com/episode223
In this episode we’re talking about:
- What it’s like to lose your surgical career due to physical limitations
- The emotional toll of walking away from a deeply ingrained identity
- How Dr. Fondran navigated depression, denial, and a major transition
- The importance of support systems, therapy, and self-care in recovery
- What clinical informatics is and how it allowed him to stay in medicine
- How physicians can still see themselves as “healers” after leaving patient care
- Advice for others facing forced or voluntary career transitions
Links for this episode:
LinkedIn for Physicians Course - Would you rather clean out your garage or attic than “put yourself out there” and network? No worries! My LinkedIn course is geared to make networking doable and fun. I will show you how to connect with people who can be helpful for your career, what to put in your messages, and how to apply strategically for the job you really want. You can learn more about this course and get a sneak peek inside right HERE.
Episode #61: Coping with anxiety as a new attending