Why I Quit Neurosurgery - Dr. Gooby

Introduction

• Dr. Gooby: Former neurosurgeon with 20 years in the field.
• Education: MIT, 4 years medical school, 6 years neurosurgery training.
• Practiced neurosurgery for almost 10 years.
• Recently quit neurosurgery to seek a different path.

Motivation for Becoming a Doctor

• Main reason: To help people.
• Influenced by a professor who said that a doctor's job is to relieve suffering.
• Initial interest in how the brain works and brain-machine interfaces.
• Dream of creating robotic limbs controlled by thoughts.

Realizations in Medical Training

• Moonlighting as a neurosurgeon, learned about spine and brain surgeries.
• Worked on brain-machine interface research, but found limitations (brain's rejection of electrodes).
• Disappointment in the feasibility of creating effective brain-machine interfaces.

Unhappiness in Neurosurgery Practice

• Despite good colleagues, pay, and support, Dr. Gooby felt deeply unhappy.
• Felt surgeries were not addressing the root causes of patients' ailments.
• Realized many spinal surgeries didn't provide lasting relief.
• Surgery seen as a temporary fix, not addressing prevention or underlying issues.

Key Observations on Patient Healing

• Patients who healed better had lifestyle habits such as:
  • Low-salt, mostly plant-based diets.
  • Regular exercise and activities promoting sweating.
  • Strong social support networks.
  • Good sleep hygiene (8 hours per night).
  • Stress management techniques (mindfulness, meditation).
• Those neglecting such habits often had recurring or new issues despite surgeries.

Ethical Dilemma

• Felt medical system focused on profitable treatments (surgeries, pills) rather than prevention and true healing.
• Frustration with being unable to fully help patients achieve lasting health.
• Morally conflicted about continuing to perform surgeries that didn't solve the root problem.

Decision to Quit

• Suffered from significant personal unhappiness and health issues (e.g., weight gain).
• Key support from wife to leave job despite financial uncertainty.
• Quit job to seek a more fulfilling and healthier life.

Post-Neurosurgery Life

• Focused on personal health and well-being:
  • Lost weight.
  • Improved sleep and diet.
  • Spent more time outdoors.
  • Created a YouTube channel "Gooby and Doobie" to document experiences with his dog.
  • Aims to relieve stress by sharing nature scenes and experiences.

Final Thoughts

• Emphasizes the importance of listening to one's heart and leaning on loved ones for support.
• Encourages others to seek their own path to happiness and well-being.