We were lucky to catch up with Lara Hochman recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lara, appreciate you joining us today. Looking back on your career, have you ever worked with a great leader or boss? We’d love to hear about the experience and what you think made them such a great leader.
The best boss I’ve ever had was more than just supportive. He saw my potential for growth before I knew what I was capable of. He was always available and welcomed all questions I had, whether clinical or related to leadership. I felt supported, respected, and valued. This is the person who I try to emulate when in leadership roles because he instilled confidence in my abilities and because of the impact he had on me as a professional.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a practicing physician and The Medical Matchmaker, I help physicians find the best job they’ve ever had.
We have a huge problem in medicine with physician burnout, a lack of physician autonomy, and the feeling of being devalued. This is leading to doctors leaving the practice of medicine at an alarming rate. At the same time, physician-owned private practices that treat their doctors really well and have an unparalleled camaraderie are having trouble attracting physicians who are choosing more lucrative positions that suck the life out of their souls.
My work helps match physicians with these practices so that they can make their next move their last and really enjoy practicing medicine again.
I’ve recently added the much-needed service of coaching doctors through the job search process. We prepare for interviews together, analyze the practices they’ve interviewed at, and work to advocate for themselves throughout the whole process.
I’m most proud of the physicians who were able to get their lives back after making the switch to a practice that values them and is excited to bring them on board. Almost every physician I speak to would still enjoy medicine if not for the unnecessary hoops we are forced to jump through, and there are always solutions.
My mission is to revolutionize the healthcare landscape in America by connecting doctors with job opportunities where they can thrive, feel valued, and enjoy practicing medicine once again. I prioritize kindness, both in the way I work with my clients and in the people I partner with.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
I attended medical school with the goal of being a surgeon. Everything about surgery was so appealing to me. By the time we were to apply for residency, I was all set to go into Ear Nose and Throat surgery. However, when I took a very close look at my priorities, they didn’t line up with the life that ENT was able to offer. It was at that time that I canceled all of my ENT residency interviews and make the pivot to Family Medicine.
It was a very difficult pivot because I felt that I had to shift my identity significantly during the change. However, I was able to make what I truly valued in life a priority, and I have no regrets.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
To be a great manager, it’s so important to get to know your team and meet with them regularly. That allows you to know to their strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and most importantly… be able to proactively address any issues before they become a real problem.
When employees felt heard and valued, morale follows closely behind. 
Contact Info:
- Website: www.happydayhealth.co (not .com)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happydaymd/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larahochman/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/HappyDayMD1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@medicalmatchmaker