Leaving academic medicine doesn't have to mean starting over

I'm Elisha Peterson, MD—a Harvard-trained anesthesiologist and physician strategist.

I served as the longest-running Director of Chronic Pain at Children's National and was the only full-time pain-boarded physician in the organization.

Over time, I saw something clearly. Highly capable physicians—especially women—are often trained to think in ways that quietly limit how they see their value, their options, and what's possible for their careers.

I experienced it myself. And once I saw it, I couldn't unsee it.

Now I help physicians gain clarity and think strategically—both inside and outside the hospital. Through coaching, expert witness work, and speaking, I help physicians apply their expertise with greater intention, influence, and range.

"Physicians are not limited by their training—only by how narrowly they're taught to apply it."