Dr. Duprès, a specialist in neurological rehabilitation, faced burnout and systemic challenges in French hospitals before finding a new path as a self-employed physician.
Early career and professional goals
Dr. Duprès*, a specialist in physical and rehabilitation medicine with a focus on post-intensive care neurological rehabilitation, began working at a hospital near Toulouse in 2018. She was tasked with leading the neurological rehabilitation department, which treats patients with neurological disabilities after they leave intensive care, some still requiring tracheotomies and ventilators.Ambitious plans and initial challenges
Dr. Duprès aimed to introduce specialized treatments such as neuro-urology and botulinum toxin injections, which were typically available only in university hospitals. She worked to establish a multidisciplinary team with local urologists but faced challenges due to understaffing and a lack of support in managing the department.Workload and status issues
By 2020, Dr. Duprès returned from maternity leave to find the department understaffed and the temporary worker taking extended leave. When she raised concerns, the hospital offered her a less secure status with variable pay based on performance targets. Feeling disrespected, she refused and resigned, leading to a reduction in patient care and her own psychological strain.Personal and professional crisis
In 2021, Dr. Duprès experienced a mental health crisis and was temporarily unable to work. She felt overwhelmed by the lack of support for caregivers and the decline in her own capacity to care for patients. After months of struggle, she took on temporary work but eventually left the hospital, fired for incapacity, and registered with the French employment agency Pôle emploi.Return to practice and new role
A year later, a colleague offered Dr. Duprès a temporary position as a replacement for a physician who had a stroke. This experience helped her regain confidence in her ability to care for patients. She later moved to a health center in the Ariège, where she set up her own practice as a rehabilitation physician, focusing on a more collaborative approach with monthly multidisciplinary meetings.Mentorship and advocacy
Dr. Duprès now works as a self-employed rehabilitation physician and participates in training sessions for young professionals. She shares her experiences to help prevent similar burnout among caregivers and emphasizes the importance of support and collective practice in the medical field.
