179. Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur on Why the Doctor Is No Longer In and Why Doctors Are Walking Away from Medicine
What happens when the physician trained to save lives can no longer survive the system she works in? In this episode, Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur joins Dr. Erin Hurley and Dr. Joanne Sotelo to unpack the deeper forces, from burnout and moral injury to dehumanization, loss of autonomy, and broken trust. She shares the story behind her book, The Doctor Is No Longer In, and the documentary Suck It Up, Buttercup, reminding us that healthcare reform cannot happen without both physicians and patients reclaiming their voices. Press play for a bold, honest conversation about identity, courage, and the systemic change medicine urgently needs.
Key Takeaways To Listen For
- Why physician burnout is not just a personal problem, but a systemic warning sign
- How loss of autonomy, moral injury, dehumanization, and betrayal are pushing doctors out of patient care
- Why patients must be part of the healthcare reform conversation, not treated as an afterthought
- The emotional weight of leaving medicine when being a physician is tied to identity, worth, and legacy
- How financial pressure, “golden handcuffs,” and family expectations can keep physicians feeling trapped
“I love to nerd out about the history of why that happened. There are no villains. It's just what it is. But our system was designed around the dollar, not about the patient.” - Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur
About Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur: Dr. Wilbur is an author, public health strategist, and a fierce physician advocate. Until 2022, she was a practicing Gynecologic Oncologist. She now works full-time using research and narrative medicine to advocate for change within US Healthcare. Dr. Wilbur will share her personal journey in academic medicine and how research guided her path.
Connect with Dr. MaryAnn Wilbur:
Book - The Doctor Is No Longer In: https://www.thedoctorisnolongerin.com/
Suck it Up, Buttercup Film - https://siubfilm.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-wilbur-md-mph-mhs-5ab008230/
Resources Mentioned In This Episode
- Episode 172 - Dr. Todd Otten: Suck It Up, Buttercup and the Fight to Fix Medicine - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/172-dr-todd-otten-suck-it-up-buttercup-and-the-fight/id1752701820?i=1000761689443
Connect With Us
Do you want to hear more from the doctors of the Create Meaning In Medicine podcast? Discover more empowering content when you go to https://www.createmeaninginmedicine.com!
▶️ Watch our videos: https://youtube.com/@createmeaninginmedicine
🎧 Want to hear more? Find us on Apple Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/create-meaning-in-medicine/id1752701820