Why I Quit Being a Neurosurgeon by Gooby

Background

• Former neurosurgeon, trained at MIT
• 4 years of medical school, 6 years neurosurgery training
• 20 years invested in career
• Quit last year

Motivation for Becoming a Doctor

• Aim: Help people, relieve suffering
• Hippocratic Oath emphasized relieving suffering
• Inspired by curiosity about the brain and consciousness
• Interested in brain-machine interfaces

Journey and Realizations

• Initial interest in neurosurgery driven by brain-machine interface research
• Disillusioned by limitations: Brain rejects the electrodes
• Shifted focus to spine surgery, which is more common
• Initial dissatisfaction despite good job, pay, and colleagues

Ethical and Personal Struggles

• Realization that surgeries weren't addressing underlying problems
• Surgeries were treating symptoms, not the root cause
• Observations: Patients' lifestyles affected recovery
• Factors contributing to healing:
  • Diet (mostly plant-based, low salt)
  • Exercise and sweating
  • No smoking/drugs, limited alcohol
  • Good social support
  • Adequate sleep
  • Stress management
• Frustration with the medical system prioritizing profit over true healing

Decision to Quit

• Moral injury from performing surgeries that didn't address root causes
• Unhappiness, weight gain, and poor mental health
• Support from wife to quit and reassess life

Post-Resignation Reflections

• Initial embarrassment and lack of a clear plan
• Found solace and happiness in nature, walking, and being with dog, Doobie
• Created YouTube channel "Gooby and Doobie" to document and share nature scenes
• Aims to relieve stress for others through nature therapy videos
• Emphasizes trusting one's heart and leaning on loved ones