The Taboo Doctors Still Don’t Talk About

Doctors + GoApe + A Boat..? 🐒

Author

Dr. Abeyna Bubbers-Jones
March 23, 2025

This week I’ve been reflecting on something that keeps showing up in my strategy calls with doctors — and it’s both powerful and revealing.

When I ask what they want, most start with something surface-level.

But it’s only with gentle prompting that the real truth emerges: how much they really want to earn, or what they truly desire in their lives and work — often things they’ve never said out loud before.

Sometimes it surprises even them.

It’s clear: money remains one of the biggest taboos in medicine.

And it’s not just about the money — it’s about self-worth.

It reminds me of when I started Medic Footprints 11 years ago.

Back then, even talking about alternative careers was taboo. That’s changed — slowly, but meaningfully.

Now, I believe money is the next taboo we need to dismantle.

Too many doctors are undercharging, undervaluing themselves, and avoiding the uncomfortable but necessary conversations that lead to growth — personal and professional.

Yesterday, I spent the day with 46 incredible doctors at GoApe — climbing, zip-lining, training and networking.

We literally and metaphorically tackled fear together. We also celebrated the amazing progress of fellows who committed to their growth over the past year.

And in all of it — from the tree tops to the strategy calls — one thing is clear:

When we stop avoiding fear, and stop avoiding money, we open the door to real transformation.

As I said last night in front of my network of Doctors in Industry

In developing careers beyond traditional - we aren’t ‘leaving’ medicine

This is Medicine - we are simply expanding and re-defining it.

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🎙️New PODCAST EPISODE

Doctors and Money Shame: The Last Taboo

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Abeyna and the MF Team