I resigned from my clinical job—What’s next?!

Hi friends,

This newsletter community has grown to more than 50,000 people, and I consider you the die-hards of PDT. The ones who want more than what I can squeeze into social media, YouTube, or a podcast episode. You’re the people who actually like hearing my thoughts land in your inbox.

I’m sharing this here first because this space has always felt the most personal. 

What’s next for me? 

Well, you may have saw, I resigned from my clinical practice after eight years. I’ve been a pediatrician for ten years and this job was my second job out of residency. It’s where I grew up as a doctor. It’s where I learned what works in healthcare and what doesn’t. It’s where I became a mom, walked through infertility, weathered the hardest parts of the pandemic, cared for families I’ll never forget, and taught residents who reminded me why teaching feels like home.

I’ll miss my kids who turned into teenagers. The newborns who became big kids. The hugs, the tears, the laughter, the trust. I’ll miss the residents who brought so much energy into my days. And yes, I’ll miss the kind of venting that only people in healthcare truly understand.

So this decision was heavy.
But it was also clear.

Working in a large corporate medical system slowly made me feel less like a pediatrician and more like a cog in a wheel. Shorter visits. Less autonomy. More boxes. Less connection. Eventually, I had to face the truth: the system I was in didn’t match the kind of medicine I wanted to practice.

In 2021, I announced I was going part-time. That felt huge back then for where I was in my career. Terrifying. A risk. Looking back now… that decision feels tiny compared to this leap. That was the warm-up. This is the moment I’m finally choosing alignment over fear.

And if I’m honest, fear has always played a role. I was raised with a deep fear of failure. The idea of leaving a steady paycheck, even a very low one (pediatricians, especially part-time peds, do not make much money), felt scarier than trusting myself with PedsDocTalk or relying on the social media algorithm. Stability was the golden rule. 

So for me, joining a startup is a big step. Trusting myself is a big step. Leaving a system I thought I’d stay in for decades is a big step even though the system wasn’t serving me.

But building PedsDocTalk showed me what happens when I follow alignment, not fear. When I speak directly to parents. When I teach in a way that actually calms people instead of confusing them. And in that same time, I’ve been quietly serving as the Medical Advisor for Poppins, writing protocols, shaping care, and training their team behind the scenes. Poppins is a pediatric telehealth platform that gives parents quick access to medical care, real follow-up, and clear communication in a way that actually feels supportive.

We always joked about me joining them “someday.”
And, well, someday showed up early.

They asked if I’d consider joining in a reduced capacity next year. They believed in my ideas. They believed in the way I educate. And they wanted the PedsDocTalk style, with clear communication, knowing when to worry and when not to panic, not overprescribing meds, understanding when intervention is needed, and always, always having steady follow-up, to be the backbone of their medical practice.

That’s what made me leap.

Could I have stayed at my clinical job AND joined Poppins? Yes.
Poppins supported it.
But my practice didn’t. And realistically, it would have taken time away from my family and from the PedsDocTalk content I pour my heart into.

So I took a breath. And I said yes.

I’m joining Poppins as their Chief Medical Officer.

Typing that still feels surreal.

As CMO, I’ll still be practicing medicine. That was a must for me. I’ll be seeing patients on the Poppins platform as soon as my licenses are finalized. Poppins currently provides medical care in Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas, and I’m actively getting licensed in all those states. More states are coming, and I’ll share each update as we grow.

Inside Poppins, I’ll be leading the medical side. Shaping how care flows, mentoring clinicians, and building protocols that reflect exactly what I teach here: calm communication, real clarity, steady follow-up, and evidence-based care that doesn’t overprescribe, overpanic, or overlook the family’s actual needs.

And here’s something I want to say clearly, because it matters:

PedsDocTalk is not changing.

If anything, it’s about to get even stronger.

Leaving corporate medicine woke up something in me. I feel more aligned with my mission than I ever have. I feel more connected to the work we do on this platform. And I feel fired up to pour into this community even more.

So please continue to share the content, engage, subscribe, forward the newsletter, send episodes to friends, and help me help more parents around the world. Your support is what keeps this mission growing. And who knows, maybe I’ll end up seeing you and your child on the Poppins platform someday.

Because the dreams we have for Poppins go far beyond telehealth. I can’t wait to show you what we’re building and what this next chapter will make possible for families.

I’m also planning a podcast episode soon about why this change was hard, what it’s teaching me, and what I hope my kids learn from watching me take this risk. That you’re allowed to choose growth over fear, even when the safer path seems easier.

Thank you for being here.
Thank you for trusting me.
Thank you for growing with me.

With love and gratitude,
Dr. Mona
Pediatrician
CMO of Poppins Health

On The Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with retired pediatrician and grandmother Dr. Bubbie, whose 40 years in pediatrics give her a rare, steady perspective on the highs and lows of raising kids today. We talk about what modern parents are doing well, why so many of us feel anxious even when we’re doing a good job, and how social media has quietly changed the way we parent.

Dr. Bubbie shares what she has learned from decades of caring for families and what surprised her when she stepped into the online world after retiring. We get into the pressures parents feel to get everything right, the fear of making mistakes, and how comparison steals the calm that most families are craving. We also talk honestly about grandparents, boundaries, discipline, and the tension between wanting to follow all the new information out there while trying to honor our own instincts.

Power struggles feel like part of the toddler job description, but they don’t have to run the whole house. In this episode, I break down what’s really happening in those intense moments and how small shifts in tone, control, and connection can turn things around. This isn’t about “winning” a battle. It’s about helping your child feel capable while keeping your own sanity intact.

We talk through the everyday situations that spark the most battles, why strong-willed kids push back as hard as they do, and how to meet them with calm authority instead of getting pulled into the chaos. You’ll learn how to give healthy control without giving up your boundaries, how to use your child’s growing cognitive skills, and how to de-escalate when emotions spill over on both sides.

On YouTube

Traveling with kids is never simple, but there are real ways to make it less exhausting and a lot more doable. In this video, I walk you through the exact hacks my family uses on planes, in cars, and across time zones so you can focus on connection instead of chaos. As a pediatrician and mom, I’m sharing what actually helps, what to let go of, and how to make travel days feel lighter for everyone.

Ask Dr. Mona

An opportunity for YOU to ask Dr. Mona your parenting questions!

Dr. Mona will answer these questions in a future Sunday Morning Q&A email. Chances are if you have a parenting concern or question, another parent can relate. So let's figure this out together!