Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Miguel Villagra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Miguel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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.

“Leaving the certainty of medicine to start Adoctorsjourney was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken.”

For most of my life, the path was clear: study hard, get into medical school, complete training, and practice medicine. And I did just that. I spent over a decade becoming a physician, investing years, emotions, and energy into building a clinical career. But somewhere along the way—amid long shifts, endless EMR clicks, and seeing brilliant colleagues burn out—I realized something was missing. We were trained to heal, yet the system often left little room for the physician’s own growth or creativity. I started asking: What if doctors could chart their own paths beyond the traditional system?

That question led to Adoctorsjourney—a platform and community designed to empower physicians to think entrepreneurially, explore digital health, and redefine what it means to be a doctor in the 21st century.

But starting it wasn’t easy.

I was walking away from a stable, respected profession to build something unproven. I had no formal business background. I faced skepticism from colleagues—“Why would you leave medicine?” “Is this even going to work?” I was bootstrapping the venture while still juggling clinical responsibilities, learning digital marketing at night, interviewing physician-founders on weekends, and constantly battling imposter syndrome.

The risk wasn’t just financial. It was personal. I was risking identity—stepping outside the box of what a doctor is ‘supposed’ to be.

And yet, that risk opened a new chapter.

Adoctorsjourney has now grown into a movement. It has helped dozens of physicians explore non-traditional careers, build startups, and reclaim agency over their lives. I’ve since been invited to speak on digital health, mentor physician-entrepreneurs, and consult on healthcare innovation strategy. Most importantly, I’ve found meaning not just in practicing medicine—but in shaping its future.

The lesson? Sometimes the greatest risk is staying where it’s safe. Taking the leap into the unknown is where real transformation begins.

Miguel, 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?

Meet ADOCTORSJOURNEY: Empowering Physicians to Redefine Their Path

For those just getting to know us, ADOCTORSJOURNEY is more than a company—it’s a movement grounded in purpose, transformation, and empowerment. Founded by Dr. Miguel Villagra, a physician who personally experienced the weight of burnout, ADOCTORSJOURNEY was born from a deep desire to help fellow doctors reclaim their passion for medicine and discover new, fulfilling career paths beyond the traditional clinical track.

We’re here for the physicians who feel stuck, exhausted, or disillusioned. The ones asking, “Is this all there is?” Our platform provides the tools, support, and community to help them realize the answer is a powerful no—there’s so much more.

How We Got Started

Dr. Villagra’s own journey through burnout sparked a mission: to create a space where physicians could pause, heal, reflect, and reimagine their futures. What began as a personal calling has grown into a thriving, physician-centered ecosystem offering coaching, mental fitness training, and education in digital health and entrepreneurship.

What We Offer

At ADOCTORSJOURNEY, we specialize in guiding physicians through career reinvention and resilience-building. Our core services include:
• Physician Coaching (RevitalizeMD Program): Personalized one-on-one and group coaching that helps physicians explore new opportunities, develop clarity, and create actionable plans for transition.
• Positive Intelligence Training: A science-based 6-week program that strengthens mental fitness, teaching doctors how to manage stress, increase resilience, and shift their mindset.
• Digital Health & Entrepreneurship Education: Online courses that prepare physicians to lead and innovate in the fast-evolving world of health tech, from startups to strategy.
• Community & Networking: A supportive space where physicians connect, collaborate, and grow together—through forums, webinars, social content, and thought leadership.

The Problems We Solve

Physician burnout is not just a personal issue—it’s a systemic crisis. We help physicians:
• Reconnect with their “why”
• Transition into non-clinical or hybrid careers without guilt
• Build resilience and mental fitness
• Learn how to lead and innovate in healthcare
• Develop confidence to forge their own path

Whether it’s helping a physician launch a startup, step into a consulting role, or simply find joy again in their day-to-day, we walk with them every step of the way.

What Sets Us Apart

What makes ADOCTORSJOURNEY unique is our heart-centered, strategic approach to transformation. We combine empathy and evidence-based coaching with forward-thinking innovation. We don’t offer cookie-cutter solutions—we honor each physician’s unique story and aspirations.

And we’re not just helping individuals; we’re building a movement of empowered, innovative physicians reshaping healthcare from the inside out.

What We’re Most Proud Of

We’re proud to have helped dozens of physicians:
• Prevent burnout and rediscover joy
• Launch digital health ventures
• Break free from career stagnation
• Build lives that are balanced, meaningful, and impactful

Even more, we’re proud to have cultivated a thriving community of like-minded professionals who support each other, share knowledge, and celebrate each win—no matter how small.

What We Want You to Know

If you’re a physician reading this, we want you to know: you are not alone. Your feelings are valid, your dreams matter, and change is possible—starting now.

ADOCTORSJOURNEY is here to support you in redefining success on your own terms. This isn’t just about career change—it’s about reclaiming your life, your purpose, and your power.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

“One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was that success as a physician only comes from staying on the traditional clinical path.”

For most of my early career, I believed that being a “real” doctor meant seeing patients, working long hours, and putting my own needs last. That belief was ingrained in me through training, culture, and a healthcare system that often rewards self-sacrifice. I wore burnout like a badge of honor—until it started breaking me down.

The turning point came when I realized I wasn’t just exhausted—I was disconnected from the very passion that brought me into medicine. I started questioning not just the system, but the identity I had built around being a physician. And that was terrifying. But it was also the beginning of a new journey.

Unlearning that narrow definition of success opened up everything. I began exploring leadership, entrepreneurship, digital health, and coaching. I discovered that my value didn’t disappear outside the hospital walls—it expanded. That mindset shift became the foundation for ADOCTORSJOURNEY.

Now, I help other physicians unlearn that same belief—that their worth is tied only to direct patient care. We guide them to define success on their own terms, whether that means pivoting to a startup, becoming a health tech innovator, or simply finding a more balanced version of clinical work.

It’s not easy to unlearn what you’ve spent your whole career believing. But it’s one of the most liberating things you can do. And it’s the first step to building a life that’s sustainable, fulfilling, and still deeply impactful.

Have you ever had to pivot?

“The most defining pivot in my life happened when I made the decision to step away from clinical medicine—not because I stopped caring, but because I cared too much.”

As a physician, I was trained to push through exhaustion, suppress emotions, and prioritize patients over everything else. But over time, that mindset led me straight into burnout. I was constantly tired, emotionally drained, and questioning whether this was the life I had worked so hard to build.

The pivot wasn’t immediate—it was a slow unraveling that forced deep reflection. I began exploring coaching, mental fitness, and the growing world of digital health. What started as a search for relief became a revelation: I didn’t have to abandon my identity as a doctor to live a more balanced, purpose-driven life. I could evolve it.

That realization sparked the birth of ADOCTORSJOURNEY. I knew I couldn’t be the only one silently struggling or questioning their path. So I built a platform that would become the very thing I needed during that time: a safe, empowering space for physicians to rediscover themselves, build resilience, and explore new possibilities—without guilt.

That pivot—from burned-out doctor to founder, coach, and advocate—changed my life. And now, through ADOCTORSJOURNEY, I help others navigate their own pivots with clarity, confidence, and community.

Because sometimes the most powerful move isn’t pushing through—it’s stepping back and choosing a different path entirely.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.adoctorsjourney.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADJblogCoaching/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adjblogcoaching/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ADJblogCoaching
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@adoctorsjourney
• Other: https://www.podbean.com/pu/pbblog-mning-1112be0