I have overheard them while paging through the in-flight magazine and contemplating my beverage options, though, and I’ve noticed they always tell you to locate the nearest emergency exit. Pro tip: it may be behind you.
I think the same is true of early-career physicians when they hear someone talk about saving, investing, and financial independence. Are you looking for an escape hatch? Dr. James Turner is here to help you find one.
Surveys show that there are many causes to burnout, but they have a common theme – doctors are losing autonomy. They have lost the autonomy to treat patients. Insurance companies fight back and steal that right.
Actually, the “solutions” suggest that the problem is caused by doctors who are not resilient enough. We are told to meditate/pray, practice mindfulness, seek resilience training, and to go to counseling.
While FIRE may not be the answer, a focus on financial independence (FI) can often provide the escape hatch we are looking for. It is our way out from this crashing and burning plane that is medicine.
As we approach the point where we are no longer dependent on our paycheck, we find freedom. To fix this moral injury problem we have on our hands. We no longer have to worry about losing our jobs or the ramifications of standing up for the right thing.