Meet Sally Hambly, Doctor and Life Coach, as part of our series “Inspirational You, Awesome Sisters United” about women in medicine achieving incredible things in today’s world. Here she discusses her varied career path, the challenges of balancing family life, personal goals, perfectionist traits, and the demands of an altruistic vocation.
Through her journey, she has ultimately discovered a way to be true to herself. Sally’s story provides valuable insights for medical students and doctors at any stage of their careers. This mental health awareness week, learn how to prioritise your own well-being!
From GP to Medicine for the Elderly
“You cannot pour from an empty cup”
My medical journey started in Manchester – a long way from my hometown of Southampton, but I loved it! My biggest achievement during my training was a 4-month placement in France with the Erasmus Programme. I undertook my fourth year medical and surgical attachments in Rennes – a massive linguistic challenge, but the rewards were immense!
As a junior doctor I dabbled with several different specialties. Eventually, I trained as a GP and, alongside this, developed a special interest in Sexual Health. After having my first child, I returned to work as a Specialty Doctor in Sexual Health and worked in 3 different locations as my family moved around the country.
After spending over a decade practising in this specialty, I underwent a mid-life career crisis and switched to Medicine for the Elderly.
Reactive vs Proactive Decisions
It was during my time in Medicine for the Elderly that I came across coaching. A friend told me about a 2-day foundation course she had attended. I was fascinated by her experience, and knew I wanted to find out more.
I began by seeking out a career coach for myself. On reflection I realised that most of my career to date had been led by reactive decisions (based on what I DIDN’T want), as opposed to proactive decisions (based on a sound understanding of myself, and what I DID want). I realised that I needed to change my methodology of decision-making.
And so, I made some tweaks to my day job, which made a big difference. But I also started training as a coach as I now knew that was what I really wanted to do in the longer-term.
I loved learning about coaching and putting the methodology into practice. Becoming a coach also presented me with the new challenge of setting up my own business – another adventure, and one which continues to keep me on my toes!
Coaching Medical Professionals
I wish I’d come across coaching earlier in my own journey. That’s why I decided to bring the skills I have learnt back into the world of medicine. I feel passionately about doctors being able to access support – doctors endlessly give of themselves, but are unused to receiving support themselves.
Working in medicine brings all sorts of challenges on an individual level. The conscientiousness that helps us gain entry and achieve success in medical school can silently tip into unhealthy perfectionism.
Imposter syndrome is very common. Lack of career support can result in doctors finding themselves in fields of medicine that are not a good fit for them. Many difficult emotions arise as a result of the nature of our profession, and I feel there is insufficient focus on doctors’ personal wellbeing. I would love to see more support for healthcare workers embedded within the NHS.
Balancing Act
One of the main challenges that I have faced during my medical career is how to combine work with other life priorities – in particular, my family. I managed to adapt my career, but there were times when I was present in body only, not in mind.
Although I wouldn’t change any of my previous decisions, I am now aware that I could have approached these decisions in a way that felt less exhausting and overwhelming. This would have enabled me to be more present, in the fullest sense of the word, for my family.
Coaching allows people to step back and reflect on what is really going on. I help my clients to work through options that enable them to shift from a place where they feel stuck and miserable to a place of personal fulfilment.
Some of the doctors who contact me have completed their vocational training but feel unfulfilled; others are undecided which direction they would like their careers to take.
Sometimes it’s about the challenge of balancing the demands of the role with personal wellbeing, and some want to step away from clinical medicine entirely and embrace a new challenge.
Prioritise Your Wellbeing
To any doctor who is feeling stuck, I would urge you to seek support. Many doctors continue in a state of unhappiness because they’ve already sacrificed so much to get to where they are.
They feel there is no other choice, yet this only adds to the personal cost. And, of course, work life spills over into all other aspects of life.
There are always more choices than you may imagine, and prioritising your own wellbeing positively impacts you, your family, your patients, and your colleagues.
‘You cannot pour from an empty cup’ is a well-known adage for good reason!
If you would like to speak to Sally you can email her or find her on LinkedIn.
