Episode # 3 • 17 Jan 2025
Building the Career You Want in OB/GYN
What does it take to design a career in medicine that truly fits your values, your life, and your goals? On this episode of BackTable Women’s Health, Dr. Nicole Faulkner welcomes Dr. Chitra Akileswaran, board-certified OBGYN and founder of Avaiyar Private Care, for a candid discussion on building a career that breaks the mold. Dr. Akileswaran traces her path from global public health and a joint MD-MBA to leadership in county health systems, digital health startups, and now direct pay practice, sharing how each chapter reflected her changing priorities.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
06:19 - Public Health and Global Work
10:33 - Residency and Early Career Choices
15:04 - Founding a Digital Health Company
19:48 - Ambulatory Operations Leadership
24:36 - Leading a County Medical Group
29:32 - Physician Needs and Retention
34:25 - Physician Compensation Overhaul
41:47 - Physician Unionization and Employment
46:25 - Pregnancy Loss and Perspective
49:09 - Launching a Direct Pay Practice
57:10 - Mentorship in Private Practice
01:03:28 - Closing Remarks
Resources
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More about this episode
The conversation explores lessons learned leading hundreds of physicians, overhauling compensation and benefits, and navigating unionization and administrative change. Dr. Akileswaran speaks openly about personal milestones, including pregnancy loss, and how it drove her to redesign her life and practice. Topics include mentorship, apprenticeship, work-life integration, and the practical steps and mindset shifts needed to carve out a fulfilling, sustainable career in medicine.
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