We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Mona Amin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Dr. Mona, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I remember staring at my laptop late at night, exhausted after another long day in corporate medicine. My husband and I were both doctors, drowning in student loans, and I felt stuck in a system that didn’t align with the impact I wanted to make. I loved caring for families, but the rigid structure of traditional medicine—rushed visits, burnout, and little autonomy—left me unfulfilled.

At the same time, I had started sharing pediatric advice online. PedsDocTalk was just a passion project, a way to educate and connect with parents. But I saw something happening—I wasn’t just answering questions; I was building a community. Parents were hungry for relatable, evidence-based guidance, and my platform was growing.

The logical part of my brain told me to stay in my secure, well-paying job. We had loans, a mortgage, and responsibilities. But the part of me that craved purpose saw an opportunity. I didn’t have a clear blueprint, no guarantee of replacing my income, but I took a leap—I went part-time.

That decision was terrifying. Cutting my income while investing time into an unproven business felt risky, but I gave myself a window to see if I could make it work. And I did. I leaned into my expertise, expanded my content, built partnerships, and monetized strategically. Today, PedsDocTalk is a thriving business with four employees, a podcast, a YouTube channel, and brand partnerships that allow me to reach millions of parents.

Looking back, the risk wasn’t just about leaving a stable job—it was about betting on myself. It was about redefining success on my terms, stepping away from the expected path, and creating a career that aligned with my values. Taking that leap wasn’t easy, but it was the best decision I ever made.

Dr. Mona, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Dr. Mona Amin, a board-certified pediatrician, parenting expert, content creator, and founder of PedsDocTalk—a platform dedicated to helping parents feel more confident, informed, and supported in their parenting journey. I wear many hats: doctor, entrepreneur, educator, podcast host, YouTuber, and, most importantly, a mom of two. My mission is simple—to bridge the gap between evidence-based medicine and real-life parenting in a way that’s digestible, relatable, and free of guilt or fear-mongering.

How I Got Into This Work
I always knew I wanted to be a pediatrician. I love caring for children and families, guiding parents through the ups and downs of raising little humans. But just four years out of residency, I found myself completely burnt out.

I was working in corporate medicine, juggling patient after patient in a system that prioritized volume over quality. I’d come home crying, thinking, There’s no way I can do this for the rest of my career. It wasn’t pediatrics that I had fallen out of love with—it was how it was being run.

I was seeing the same patterns over and over in clinic:
❌ Parents were anxious and overwhelmed, bombarded with conflicting advice online.
❌ I didn’t have enough time in short visits to truly educate and reassure them.
❌ Misinformation was running rampant, filling the gaps left by rushed doctor’s visits.

I knew there had to be a better way. So I started PedsDocTalk—first as a simple Instagram page where I could explain things in a way I didn’t always have time for in clinic. What started as a side project quickly grew into a thriving platform. I realized I wasn’t just answering medical questions—I was helping parents feel heard, validated, and empowered in their decisions.

Taking the Risk to Build Something Bigger
At the time, I was married to another physician, and we were both carrying a mountain of student loan debt. The safe choice would have been to stay in my stable job. But I couldn’t ignore the feeling that I was meant to do something different—something bigger.

I didn’t have a full plan or a guarantee of financial success, but I knew I had to bet on myself. I took a risk, went part-time in medicine, and poured my energy into building PedsDocTalk. It was scary, but that decision changed everything.

Today, PedsDocTalk is a thriving business with four employees, a podcast ranked in the top 50 of parenting shows, a YouTube channel, and meaningful brand partnerships. More importantly, it’s a space where parents get real, evidence-based, relatable advice—without fear-mongering, judgment, or guilt.

What I Offer & Problems I Solve
Through my content, courses, consulting, and public speaking, I focus on:
✅ Child health & development: Helping parents navigate everything from newborn sleep to toddler tantrums.
✅ Parenting mindset & confidence: Encouraging parents to trust their instincts and break cycles of fear-based parenting.
✅ Myth-busting & advocacy: Tackling misinformation and making science easy to understand.
✅ Community & support: Creating a space where parents feel seen, supported, and reassured—because parenting is hard enough.

What Sets Me Apart?
🔹 I blend medical expertise with real-life experience. I’m a practicing pediatrician, but also a mom navigating parenthood firsthand—so I give practical, non-judgmental advice.
🔹 I make complex science simple. I translate research into bite-sized, actionable takeaways that parents can actually use.
🔹 I don’t do fear-mongering. Parenting is overwhelming enough—I help parents feel confident, not scared.
🔹 I keep it relatable. Whether it’s discussing tantrums, fevers, or mom guilt, I create content that resonates because I get it.

What I’m Most Proud Of
The biggest win in all of this? The messages from parents saying, “Because of your advice, I felt confident handling my baby’s fever,” or “I stopped second-guessing myself as a mom.” Seeing parents feel empowered in their journey is why I do what I do.

What I Want People to Know
Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection, learning, and trusting yourself. My goal is to give parents the tools they need to feel informed without feeling overwhelmed, so they can raise their children with confidence, love, and a little more ease.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

Yes—but only because I get to call the shots now. I’m my own boss, I set my own schedule, and that flexibility is the biggest gift. Time is something you never get back, and now I get to be fully present with my small children while building the business of my dreams. I’m helping parents in a way that feels truly impactful—giving them the education, reassurance, and confidence they need—not just rushing through 15-minute visits or adding to their stress.

What’s even more exciting is that stepping outside of corporate medicine opened doors I never imagined possible. As a content creator, speaker, and educator, I get to shape conversations around pediatric health in ways that go beyond the exam room. I get to debunk misinformation in real time, advocate for children’s health on a national scale, collaborate with brands that align with my values, and speak on stages I never thought I’d have access to.

I truly believe the future of pediatric medicine is evolving—and digital education, content creation, and advocacy are a big part of that. Parents are turning to social media for answers, and I love that I get to meet them where they are, providing trusted, science-backed information in an accessible, relatable way.

Leaving the traditional 9-5 model felt risky, but now? It’s the best decision I’ve ever made. I have the freedom to create, educate, and impact more families than I ever could in a single clinic. And I get to do it without sacrificing time with my own family.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in managing a team is that a thriving business starts with a thriving team. I truly believe that when my team feels valued, supported, and motivated, they bring their best to the work we do—and that ultimately benefits the parents and families we serve.

Since we’re a fully remote team, maintaining connection and morale takes intentional effort, but it’s something I prioritize because a positive work culture doesn’t depend on a shared office—it depends on shared values, trust, and communication.

Here’s how I keep my team engaged, motivated, and excited to grow with PedsDocTalk:

✅ Positive check-ins & reinforcement – In a remote setting, it’s easy to focus only on tasks and deadlines, but I make it a point to regularly check in—not just about work, but about how they’re doing. A simple “Hey, I appreciate you,” or recognizing individual contributions in our team meetings goes a long way in making people feel seen.

✅ Surprise bonuses, milestone incentives, and random raises – As my business grows, my team grows. If we’re doing well, I believe in sharing that success. Whether it’s a surprise bonus, an unexpected raise, or incentives tied to team milestones, I love rewarding effort and impact in ways that feel organic and exciting.

✅ Flexibility & trust – One of the best parts of a remote team is the ability to work when and where you’re most productive. I trust my team to get their work done without micromanaging. If they need to adjust their schedule, take a break, or work around life’s demands, I fully support that. Work should support your life—not the other way around.

✅ Clear communication & growth-focused conversations – I always want to know: How can we do better? Not just in business, but in the way we work together. Creating an open environment where my team feels comfortable sharing feedback (and where I actively listen and apply it) has been huge in maintaining trust and morale.

✅ Celebrating wins—big and small – We’re always working toward big goals, but I make sure we celebrate along the way. Whether it’s hitting a podcast milestone, launching a new initiative, or seeing our content make an impact on parents, I want my team to feel the joy and success of what we’re building together.

✅ Keeping connection alive in a remote setting – Just because we’re remote doesn’t mean we should feel disconnected. We make space for casual chats, fun updates, and moments to connect as people—not just as coworkers. Even something as simple as sharing a funny parenting moment or a weekend win helps maintain a team culture that feels human.

At the end of the day, my goal is to lead the way I would want to be led—with trust, appreciation, and an understanding that work should be fulfilling, flexible, and rewarding. We’re not just running a business; we’re building something meaningful together—and that’s what makes it all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pedsdoctalk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pedsdoctalk/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pedsdoctalk
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx2hGbeaOvy8P5m357V3gBw
• Other: tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pedsdoctalk?lang=enPodcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-pedsdoctalk-podcast-child-health-development/id1501057527

Image Credits

Jena Langer photography for the family photo