In today's episode, Dr. Onwuemenenvites physicians to pause and ask a powerful question:

What am I optimizing for in this season of my career—and who chose that target?

Too often in medicine, we inherit our optimization goals. Early on, it may be productivity or proving ourselves. But as our lives evolve, so do our priorities.

Dr. Onwuemene reflects on how her own decisions shifted across seasons—from choosing proximity to family over prestige in medical school, to prioritizing community when transitioning to faculty, to seeking institutional environments that truly supported physician-led research.

She outlines seven optimization targets physicians may consider:

• Community – proximity to family and meaningful support
• Experience – the type of training or  ...