In 2001, Dr. Weisskopf was approved to do a two-year fellowship in neurotology at the House Clinic in Los Angeles, renowned for its work in the treatment of skull base tumors and other challenging conditions. But when he asked his Navy supervisors what their plan was for him after that fellowship was over, “they didn’t have an answer for me,” Dr. Weisskopf said. “So I thought, great, I’ll spend two years at this cutting-edge clinic, and then after it ends, I’d be taking out tonsils at Camp Lejeune instead of the brain tumor surgery that I had become an expert at? That’s when I decided to leave the Navy.”
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August 2025However, Dr. Weisskopf did not say no to the House Clinic: He did that two-year fellowship as a private citizen and then worked with neurosurgeons at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. After more than a decade, he was recruited to the Mayo Clinic. After eight years practicing at Mayo, “I actually made the decision to leave a few months ago.”
Dr. Weisskopf’s choice to leave a large multisite hybrid academic/private practice came from knowing the type of ENT physician he wants—and does not want—to be. He cited, as one example, the growing focus on measuring patient satisfaction as a key indicator of one’s worth as a physician. “Of course, doctors should not be jerks; I’m not saying we disregard cultivating an effective bedside manner,” he said. “But the reality is that some of our patients are going to walk away unhappy due to issues that have nothing to do with the care we provided. And that should be okay; maybe you told them the truth about their condition they didn’t want to hear. My job is to give you the best clinical advice I can, regardless of whether or not that will translate to five stars or high Press–Ganey scores.”
But it’s not just the focus on patient satisfaction that is fueling Dr. Weisskopf’s disillusionment. It’s also due to a steady erosion in reimbursement and a loss of social cache that historically had been quite a bit higher than what he sees today. And that’s not an observation based on reading history books. Dr. Weisskopf’s father was a ship doctor in World War II and went on to a distinguished career as a highly regarded ENT physician.
“Of course, my father used to make fun of me when I talked about ‘the good old days’ of medicine,” Dr. Weisskopf said. “He’d say they weren’t all that good. But I can tell you his social standing in the community was outstanding; in today’s dollars, [he] made a very good wage, and at the end of the day, he felt like he was able to deliver very high-quality patient care.”
Fast forward to today, and “many of us are making less money, in real dollars, than we did when we started practicing medicine; a lot of that social cache is gone, and for myself, at least, I often felt treated more like a technician than a physician. So that’s why I got out.”
Dr. Weisskopf also stressed the importance of “enlightened self-interest” as a guiding principle for finding a good professional fit. “We are conditioned to believe that self-sacrifice is part of our job as physicians,” he said. “That’s not true. I tell people to think about what they really want—whether it’s more time with family, more surgery, or more time with each patient. Then figure out where you can achieve that and what trade-offs you’re willing to make.”
Getting that balance is critically important, “because when you end up in situations that you really don’t want to be in, you will get burned out,” Dr. Weisskopf said. “And make no mistake, burned-out physicians make bad doctors.”
Still in Air Force, but Prepping for New Launch
Becoming an expert on career changes doesn’t always require that one leave the military. Sarah N. Bowe, MD, EdM, is starting her 17th year of a career in the Air Force. During this time, she has filled a wide range of clinical, teaching, and leadership roles, including the director of surgical simulation for Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC), chair of the well-being subcommittee for the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium (SAUSHEC), and her current position as the program director for the otolaryngology residency program at SAUSHEC.
It’s easy to come in with excitement and a desire to make changes or implement a new vision. But I’ve learned that you’re often entering an established culture. So it’s important to take the time to under-stand that culture, build relationships, and work with the team before moving too fast.” — Sarah N. Bowe, MD, EdM
Taking on so many different posts, “you develop an incredible breadth and depth of professional experience, both in the hospital and also in medical education,” said Dr. Bowe, who is also an associate professor of surgery with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, in Bethesda, Md. “But it does require one to be able to pursue and embrace not just one or two but several, often major, career changes throughout your military trajectory.”
One of those changes involved transitioning from a general to a pediatric otolaryngologist several years ago. Now, Dr. Bowe’s current primary focus, pediatric otolaryngology, involves clinical work most days of the week, plus her otolaryngology residency training duties. But a few more big changes are on the horizon. Most immediately, Dr. Bowe is on the cusp of becoming a colonel. If approved by the Senate, the promotion will bring even more leadership opportunities her way. And then, in about three years from now, when her active duty military commitment is over, “I probably will retire from the service, at which point I will have to decide what my next professional step will be.”
Whatever her landing spot, Dr. Bowe said she is confident that the skills she learned in the Air Force will guide her next career choice. She cited, as one example, the importance of patience. When starting in a new position, “it’s easy to come in with excitement and a desire to make changes or implement a new vision,” she said. “But I’ve learned that you’re often entering an established culture. So it’s important to take the time to understand that culture, build relationships, and work with the team before moving too fast.”
Dr. Bowe also echoed the other TRIO panelists’ emphasis on self-awareness. In her case, she knew that continuing in leadership and service was key. To that end, Dr. Bowe recently became TRIO’S social media and culture coordinator, where she is able to mentor residents, fellows, and junior faculty on the committee, get their perspectives on TRIO activities, “and learn how we can continue to grow the kind of future leaders we need to keep the society strong.”
As for what civilian life may bring, the “physician, know thyself” guidepost will be just as valuable for Dr. Bowe as it has been for the other TRIO panelists. “I am fairly sure of one thing: I want to continue practicing medicine,” she said. “Because once you leave it behind completely, it is very hard to come back. So I’m not ready to turn in my otoscope just yet.”
David Bronstein is a freelance medical writer based in New Jersey.
Disclosure: Dr. Bowe disclosed that her expressed views are hers, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Defense Health Agency, the Brooke Army Medical Center, the Department of Defense, nor any agencies under the United States government.
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