Prescription to Pivot: How Pediatricians Can Transition and Thrive in Academia and Beyond

Sunday, April 27, 2025

7:00am – 8:30am HST

Location: Convention Center: 325

CE: 1.5

Leader(s)

Erin King, MD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Co-Leader(s)

Erin King, MD (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Nicole Webb, MD, FAAP (she/her/hers)

Program Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Hospital Medicine
Kaiser Permanente Oakland Medical Center
Berkeley, California, United States
MR

Mary Robbins, MD

Associate Professor
University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States
AV

Angela Veesenmeyer, MD MPH (she/her/hers)

Associate Professor of Pediatrics
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
CC

Cynthia Castiglioni, MD, MHQS (she/her/hers)

Assistant Professor
Dell Children's Medical Center
Austin, Texas, United States

Disclosure(s):

Erin E. King, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Nicole E. Webb, MD, FAAP: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Mary E. Robbins, MD: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Angela F. Veesenmeyer, MD MPH: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Cynthia Castiglioni, MD, MHQS: I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.

Workshop Description: According to the AMA, nearly 1 in 3 pediatricians state they are moderately likely to leave their job in the next 2 years. Since 2022, nearly 40% of 451 physicians surveyed by CHG Healthcare changed positions or employers. Transitions occur for a variety of reasons yet often begin with a “strong sense of restlessness” that cannot be ignored. Early and Mid-career women physicians often face a unique set of challenges as they navigate transitions to new roles or positions within the medical field. Evidence suggests that successful transitions are supported by targeted interventions such as mentorship programs, continued professional development, self-promotion, and structured onboarding. In this workshop, we will assist attendees in identifying their stage of transition, current values, and ideal career map. We will review the literature on career transitions for women and use that as a framework for helping attendees identify their transition stage and core values. These values will be used to compare to their employer’s values. We will then guide attendees in creation of their individual action plan in line with their identified career stage. Attendees will be supported by a facilitator team with diverse expertise in varied practice settings, including both community-based and academic medicine, as well as extensive experience in education, research, leadership, and coaching. Each member of this team has recently undergone their own career transition, providing firsthand insights and guidance.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the top 3 drivers of career transition and compare to their personal experience.
Distinguish work frustration and/or need to identify a personal niche from values malalignment.
Construct a personalized plan with action steps (as appropriate) in each of the following relevant areas: Contemplation, Interview/Negotiation, Transition, and Ongoing Alignment.