Not Retiring; Doubling Down on Medicine the Right Way
I started my practice, Navigate Weight & Metabolic, because I wanted to deliver a better model of care. The traditional insurance-based "fee-for-service" model—which most of us are familiar with—is a poor match for the practice of Obesity Medicine.
Success in this field requires high-touch, frequent follow-ups, especially early in treatment. It requires long-term continuity to address multiple factors beyond just the number on the scale. Fee-for-service, by contrast, requires rushed visits and bloated patient volumes that make personalized attention very challenging. It became clear to me that remaining trapped in that system was a one-way ticket to burnout.
Moving away from the traditional model toward something new requires taking on financial risk. This is a step I felt comfortable taking because I am grateful to have reached financial independence.
I bring this up because you may have encountered a recent article in Business Insider that featured my wife and me (Business Insider Profile). The article discusses being intentional with finances and avoiding "financial autopilot"—a subject I can go on at length about. We were honored to be featured, and I think it’s a great read.
However, I want to clarify a point that may cause some confusion. The headline might suggest that I am retiring. I want to make it very clear that I am not.
The word “retirement” is inextricably linked to the "FIRE" movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early). It’s a catchy buzzword that attracts attention, but the true value of FIRE for me is the independence, not leaving clinical practice.
For me, financial independence means I can work because it’s what I want to do, not out of obligation. In fact, I feel more energized now than ever because I am building a better kind of medical practice: easy access, frequent follow-ups, and really getting to know my patients over the long term. It is the kind of care I would want for myself if I were a patient. And working within a direct care model, as we have at Navigate, allows me to develop the kind of long term partnership with patients that may not be possible otherwise.
To reiterate: I am not retiring, and I am not leaving my role at the hospital. I am planning to deliver high-quality, personalized care for a long time to come.
