From Neurosurgeon to Nature Enthusiast: Dr. Gooby's Journey

Background

• Education and Training
  • College at MIT
  • 4 years of medical school
  • 6 years of neurosurgery training
  • Nearly 10 years as a neurosurgeon
• Reason for Quitting
  • Complex decision after 20 years in the field
  • Goal: relieve suffering as taught by an older professor in medical school

Initial Motivation and Interests

• Relieve Suffering
  • Doctors' role is to relieve suffering, not just perform surgery or administer pills
• Interest in the Brain
  • Curious about how the brain works and consciousness
  • Interest in brain-machine interfaces and robotics

Neurosurgery Career

• Training
  • Learned both brain and spine surgery
  • Early career motivated by the potential of brain-machine interfaces
  • Realization that the technology has limitations (scar tissue rejection)
• Spine Surgery Focus
  • Most common procedure for neurosurgeons

Dissatisfaction and Ethical Conflict

• Emotional and Physical Toll
  • Initially excited but became very unhappy despite good pay and supportive colleagues
  • Successful surgeries didn't always lead to patient recovery
  • Many patients couldn't be helped by surgery alone

Realization of Deeper Issues

• Insights from Patients
  • Diet, lifestyle, and social support play crucial roles in healing
  • Patients who healed had better lifestyles (plant-based diets, exercise, good sleep, low stress, etc.)
• Medical System Flaws
  • System is geared towards economic growth and profit
  • Healing methods that aren't profitable (like lifestyle changes) aren't promoted
  • Ethical dilemma: surgeries fix symptoms but not underlying causes

Decision to Quit

• Personal Crisis
  • Moral injury from performing surgeries that didn't address root problems
  • Conversations with wife led to decision to quit without a clear plan

Life After Quitting

• New Routine
  • Walking and spending time outdoors to recover
  • Focus on health (lost 40lbs), spending time with dog
  • Creation of YouTube channel to record experiences and nature scenes

Conclusions

• Reflection
  • Letting go of neurosurgery opened up new paths
  • Sharing nature scenes as a way to relieve suffering
  • Emphasis on trusting one's heart and leaning on loved ones for support

Final Thoughts

• Hope the story can help those in a tough spot. Trust your heart and lean on your loved ones.