Helping You Reconnect with Your Talents and Skills
to Create a Life and Work You Love
Top Career Coach for Physicians
About Dr. Karen Barnard
With over 30 years of clinical experience, working in health systems like Boston Medical Center and Duke University, I relished a career in academic medicine.
I loved patient care and teaching, climbing the academic ladder, and I genuinely thought I would do it forever! You can imagine my surprise when I found myself unexpectedly wanting something different.
- The freedom to work from anywhere
- To determine my own schedule
- To get my workouts in every day
- To choose who I work with
- The ability to do a lot more travel
- To put my work down at 5 pm and walk away
- To have my weekends for rest and relaxation
After I hired the best Physician Career Coach, I discovered that my love of teaching and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows translated perfectly to the world of career coaching. I’ve made it my legacy work to help physicians like you find fulfillment and satisfaction outside of clinical medicine.
My Medical Training & Clinical Appointments
- MBBCh degree from the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
- Internal Medicine Residency at Legacy Portland Hospitals, OR.
- Fellowship in General Internal Medicine, Boston University Medical Center (BUMC).
- MPH from Boston University School of Public Health.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
- Associate Professor of Medicine, University of South Carolina.
- Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Duke University Health System (DUHS).
- Assistant Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology, DUHS.
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine, DUHS.
My Coaching Training & Accreditations
- Accredited Coach Certification from ICF
- Professional Certified Coach (PCC) minimum 500+ hours of coaching required
- Certified Professional Co-Active Coach
- Mentored in Physician Career Transition Coaching by Heather Fork, M.D.
You deserve to live according to your values.
Physicians are resilient, smart, hard-working, and caring individuals. We deserve to be fulfilled in our careers, according to our values and integrity. We have the right to rest and restore, to have lives outside of medicine, to have autonomy over our schedules, and to have enough time for our families. And while practicing medicine is a privilege and for many, a calling, it does not mean clinical medicine has to be your forever career. It’s okay to close that chapter and write a new one that fulfills the person you are today.
A Little More About Me
I thought medicine would be my forever career, but when the signals were there for me to make a change, I’m so glad I did! I’m living proof there’s life on the other side of a career in medicine!
I chose to pursue a career in Medicine when I was 17 years old because I really wanted to help people. I worked hard, had good grades, and joined many of my friends who were going into Medicine.
While I found the path to becoming a physician very challenging, I was happy and fulfilled in medicine… until I wasn’t. With the support of my mentor coach, I found the perfect-fit career for me, and I’d love to be that for you.
When we work together, you don’t have to be perfect. I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome, and many other obstacles along my path but I’m here to assure you that the future is bright and clarity comes when you take action!
Here are a few fun facts about me
- I love South African nature and people.
- I enjoy meditation, introspection, and personal growth.
- Strength training has become a passion in recent years.
- I love to travel, learn how different cultures view the world, taste their food, and learn the basics of their language.
- I speak 3.5 different languages, and French is my favorite.
My style is respectful, approachable, and kind.
If you’re interested in connecting, I encourage you to do so.
Meeting new people is a joy for me.