Sogol Pahlavan is a pediatrician.

A new vision for success beyond the American dream

Physician
December 20, 2023

Being a first-generation immigrant growing up in the conservative South, I followed the “traditional” vision board. At the age of 40, I reached the American dream: successful mommy doctor entrepreneur, married, raising three kids, living in an affluent neighborhood, driving an environmentally friendly vehicle, investing in real estate, traveling the world, and making yearly charitable contributions.

I made it! OK, great, now what?

My knee-jerk reaction was: Now you do more.

You work …

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A new vision for success beyond the American dream

Doctors’ emotional struggles in the medical field

Physician
November 26, 2023

Most humans, especially doctors, are completely disconnected from their bodies. This conditioning starts in childhood, escalates through teenage years, and peaks in residency where we are trained to completely detach from our body. Our emotions are held in our body. But in order to survive the chronic stress and trauma of medical training, we stop feeling.

It’s our coping mechanism.

It’s survival.

Yet this is so counterintuitive to our soul’s calling because most …

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Doctors’ emotional struggles in the medical field

From immigrant to pediatrician: a midlife transformation

Physician
November 1, 2023

I was born in Tehran, Iran. I immigrated to the U.S., specifically Houston, Texas, at the age of 10. I completed my undergraduate degree, medical school, and pediatric training, all in Texas. I consider myself a Houstonian. I am a board-certified pediatrician. Additionally, I am an entrepreneur, co-founder, and managing partner at ABC Pediatric Clinic in East Houston, serving the low-income Hispanic community. I have an amazing and supportive husband …

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From immigrant to pediatrician: a midlife transformation

Conquering fear: Embracing possibilities beyond the horizon

Physician
October 25, 2023

When you think about a beach vacation, what comes to mind? What do you picture?

Fish, seaweed, sharks, sea foam, water bugs, or clear sunny skies? The sound of surfing waves, the feeling of soft sand, or the desire for a perfect tan?

My daughter possesses a meticulous, organized, and clean nature. She finds solace in predictability and dislikes the uncertainty of nature. Consequently, she rarely enjoys hiking, dismissing it as “too …

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Conquering fear: Embracing possibilities beyond the horizon