Today’s conversation is the kind that lingers long after you’ve hit pause. I had the absolute joy of interviewing Laura Bush, a fellow dermatology PA with over 34 years of experience in medicine (yes, you read that right—three decades-plus!).
Laura started her career in emergency medicine (Grady ER!!) before eventually making her way to derm, and her story is a masterclass in career pivots, personal growth, and learning how to listen to the quiet voice inside that says, “It’s time for something different.”
In this episode, we talk about more than just burnout—we talk about life burnout. You know, the kind that sneaks up when your work is demanding, your personal life is stretched thin, and even the good things (like leadership roles and committee work) start draining you. Laura’s story reminds us that burnout is rarely about a single factor. It’s more like a cocktail of stress, overwhelm, and disconnection from what used to light you up.
She shares how she went from running toward every opportunity (sound familiar, anyone?) to learning to pause, tune in, and make decisions from a place of clarity—not panic.
We also dive into:
Why the grass isn’t always greener—sometimes it’s just different grass
How to build a team you trust, even when you’re tempted to go it alone
What it means to choose happiness, and how mindset really is medicine
The importance of learning to say “no” when your bandwidth is maxed out
CONNECT WITH LAURA:
email: laurapbush@gmail.com
CONNECT WITH HOPE:
BOOK:
Healing Clinician Burnout, How to Revive Your Life and Career (available in ebook and paperback)
CONNECT/COACHING:
August Masterclass Series (starts 8/13)
Hope's Website: www.coachhopecook.com
Hope's IG @coachhopecook
Hope's FB @hopeallencook
Hope's LinkedIn: hope-cook-56041283/
Hope's YouTube @coachhopecook
Email: hope.cook@gmail.com
Love y'all, and remember: There's always hope!