One exhausted doc leaves it all behind for the ultimate road trip

“I had the idea of reuniting with myself because I felt like I had lost myself. One of the things that does me the most good is not having this pressure of lab exams to manage and forms to fill out. For me, this road trip is therapeutic,” said Dr. Dominique Guénard who, at the time of the interview with ProfessionSanté.ca, was in Monterey, California. Left alone last November, the 58-year-old woman—who returned sporadically to Quebec for the holiday season and for funerals—is enjoying this new life a thousand miles from the pressure and administrative burden of her profession. “I discovered the beauties of nature in the United States. It's fantastic, especially in Arizona and Texas. I just want to be there and relax. To read a little. Hanging out without feeling guilty for doing so. Now I have time. ” she said. Read: A new way to diagnose endometriosis quickly The doctor, who had stopped exercising because of her busy obligations, goes on the occasional hike, which does her “a lot of good,” she said. Before making the big decision to leave, Dr. Dominique Guénard suffered from a major depression that she took months to recognize. "As doctors, we haven't learned to recognize our own signs of weakness, since we are not in an environment that allows this," she said, noting she'd never suffered from a mental health problem before. A combination of personal and professional factors led to this depression. But the professional factor played a big part in it, she said. Her youthful dream Dr. Guérard dreamed from a young age of becoming a doctor. This dream came true in the mid-90s when she got her license to practice. “I was very proud to have achieved this,” she said. Read: Zeposia approved for treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis For years, her profession was a great source of happiness; she lived out beautiful, human moments. “Before, I used to arrive at the office with the desire to attack my day, ready for the challenges that awaited me. When things weren't going well in my personal life, I found take refuge in my work and that's where I was reborn, it was so pleasant and rewarding." However, over the years, her love for the profession and her pride in being a doctor gradually waned. The “doctor bashing,” when Dr. Gaétan Barrette was at the helm of the Quebec's Ministry of Health from 2014 to 2018, was one of the triggers. “I followed him on Twitter and responded to comments I thought were nonsense. I was emotionally affected by the falsehoods conveyed about doctors. I spent my time answering Dr. Barrette and the population,” she recalled. Governments and the population often criticize family doctors for the lack of care, she said. But, medical specialists also have their role to play, she underlined. “Specialists absolutely have to take charge and stop being just consultants. We don't always feel like we're working as a team." Read: Which immunizations should patients with inflammatory bowel disease receive? Constant lab exams In addition to the “doctor bashing,” her practice got heavy, which affected her motivation. “Very often I had to manage laboratory examinations in the evening. I was going on vacation in an all-inclusive and I even had to do some every morning! My children were fed up, ”says this single mother of four children who are now adults. The worst: she continued to manage the laboratory tests during the first six months of a sick leave. “There was no mechanism to help me leave and support my lab tests. My team was already overwhelmed,” she said. Read: New decision aid for selecting treatments for osteoarthritis pain in primary care However, for Dr. Dominique Guérard, the pandemic was the straw that broke the camel's back. During the health crisis, the family doctor volunteered to work in COVID-19 settings. For her, there was something exhilarating and rewarding in putting your shoulder to the wheel in an emergency situation. However, the many changes during this period and the tension within the work teams caused her anxiety and took a toll on her health. “Initially, I rolled up my sleeves, but over the months I saw that there was no end to the pandemic. I lost my motivation. Also, I have had my share of difficult personal situations in recent years. So I was very depressed,” she explained, adding she feels guilty for “abandoning” her patients and increasing the workload of her colleagues. Back in Quebec At time of interview, Dr. Dominique Guérard is heading to the central states of the U.S. to return to the east of the country. She will notably cross Utah, Idaho and Dakota. Later, she plans to continue her trip, but this time in Quebec. This article was translated from its original French and first appeared in our sister publication Profession Santé.

One exhausted doc leaves it all behind for the ultimate road trip

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