Balancing acts
Alumni panel shares advice on careers, care and balance in medicine
Top row: Lexi Crawford, M.D. ’16, Stephanie Byerly, M.D ’92, and Shelly Holmstrom, M.D. ’98. Bottom: Karin Hotchkiss, M.D. ’99, Leora Lieberman, M.D. ’19.
March 23, 2026 — When medical students imagine their futures, they often picture the specialty they will choose, the patients they will treat and the impact they hope to make. It’s harder to picture how a demanding medical career will intersect with life outside of work.
A March 12 panel with four University of Florida College of Medicine alumni addressed this important topic and other subjects relevant to physicians-in-training. The conversation, titled “Balancing Acts: Careers, Commitments and Care in Medicine,” brought together physicians from across specialties and career stages to share honest reflections on building meaningful careers while navigating family life, leadership roles and personal well-being.
The panel included anesthesiologist Stephanie Byerly, M.D ’92; pediatric otolaryngologist Karin Hotchkiss, M.D. ’99, M.B.A.; obstetrician-gynecologist Shelly Holmstrom, M.D. ’98; and pediatric intensive care physician Lexi Crawford, M.D. ’16. Leora Lieberman, M.D. ’19, a pediatric ICU fellow who will soon return to Gainesville to join the UF faculty, moderated the conversation.
Selecting a specialty that brings joy, fulfillment and passion
One of the strongest themes of the conversation was the importance of following genuine passion when choosing a specialty.
Holmstrom, who has spent much of her career in obstetrics and gynecology and resident education, said she entered a field often known for demanding hours because she truly loved the work. That passion, she said, has sustained her through decades of practice.
“I love everything about my specialty,” she said. “I still read constantly, and I just find it so fascinating. I love being an advocate for my patients.”
For Crawford, a pediatric ICU physician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., her path to critical care was less straightforward. During residency, she initially struggled with the intensity of the ICU environment. But an experience caring for a family during a difficult situation changed her perspective.
Sitting with them during a quiet moment, helping them navigate fear and uncertainty, she realized the role she could play in those moments of vulnerability.
“I found joy in that and found fulfillment,” Crawford said. “It almost felt like a calling.”
‘Finding a tribe’
With new physicians facing some of the most demanding training of any profession, the challenges of growing into a confident practitioner can come with a lot of pressure.
Holmstrom recalled the grueling hours of residency before duty-hour limits were introduced. Community, she said, made those years manageable.
“I’ve actually made some of my best friends through my professional organizations and through medicine,” she said.
Byerly, who spent 25 years in academic medicine before moving to private practice, emphasized the importance of building trusted support networks, particularly for women physicians.
“Finding a tribe as a resource of safe women that you feel like you can be seen, heard and witnessed by is incredibly important,” she said.
Hotchkiss, who founded her own practice in Tampa and now serves as chief medical officer of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital while continuing clinical work, echoed that sentiment. Having friends outside of medicine, she said, has helped keep her grounded.
“They’re my check-in accountability girls,” she said. “We meet once a week for coffee, and it’s just a space where I can show up and be myself.”
'Still growing and figuring things out’
For medical students just beginning to imagine their future careers, the panelists emphasized that professional success rarely follows a perfectly planned timeline.
Hotchkiss said that early in her career she believed she needed to accomplish everything at once — building a practice, publishing research, raising a family and advancing into leadership roles simultaneously. Over time, she learned that a fulfilling career often unfolds in seasons.
“You can do it all,” she said. “Just not all at the same time.”
That perspective resonated with Crawford, who encouraged younger physicians to give themselves grace as they grow and change.
“It’s OK to change your mind,” she said. “We’re all still growing and figuring things out.”
The panelists also spoke openly about negotiating contracts, setting boundaries and championing themselves in the workplace — lessons they wished they had learned earlier.
Holmstrom urged young physicians to understand their priorities and ask for what they need.
“If it’s reasonable and they’re a reasonable employer, it’s worth asking,” she said. “And if they tell you no, you just have to decide if it’s something you can live with.”
Hotchkiss added that physicians often underestimate their own value in a health care system that depends heavily on their expertise.
“We don’t always appreciate our negotiating power,” she said.
Navigating challenges for future physicians
As the discussion concluded, the panelists reflected on the evolving challenges facing the next generation of physicians — from navigating health system pressures to building trust with patients in an era of widespread medical misinformation.
Despite those challenges, the physicians expressed optimism about the future of medicine and current students preparing to enter it.
Crawford encouraged future physicians to remember that empathy and human connection remain central to patient care.
“Sometimes the most important skill isn’t knowing the newest guideline,” she said. “It’s listening and connecting with people.”
For the alumni on the panel, sharing their stories was also a way to pay forward the mentorship they once received.
Hotchkiss encouraged physicians to seek out mentors and support others along the way.
“Have someone ahead of you who can guide you,” she said, “and someone behind you that you’re helping along the path.”
