The "Wrong" Path that Made Him a Better Doctor

What if the path you’re meant to follow isn’t the most efficient one? Why the Long Way around Matters… In this episode of A Life Worth Working, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Todd Kim shares a deeply personal and nonlinear career journey shaped by faith, global service, doubt, and courage. From witnessing missionary doctors in rural India, to volunteering with Mother Teresa’s Home for the Destitute and Dying, to switching medical specialties mid-residency, Todd’s story challenges the myth that meaningful careers follow a straight line. This episode explores why changing course isn’t failure—but discernment in action. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why Todd switched residencies mid-training — leaving internal medicine to start over in surgery — and how that “inefficient” detour made him a better surgeon * What he witnessed volunteering at Mother Teresa’s Home for Dying Destitutes in Calcutta — and what it taught him about joy in impossible circumstances * The moment he got feedback that his clinical notes “read like a surgeon’s” — while he was supposed to be an internist * Why a rare heart condition that landed him in the ICU completely reframed his relationship to his work and his patients * How traumatic injuries from road accidents kill more people globally than all infectious diseases combined — and why that changes what global health needs from surgeons * What it felt like to shake Mother Teresa’s hand (spoiler: surprisingly firm grip) * Why being enthusiastic about everything can look like indecision — and why it might actually be your greatest strength 🎧 Listen to the full episode episode with Dr. Todd Kim on A Life Worth Working, and rediscover what it means to build a career rooted in service, compassion, and purpose. Skilling Me Softly | A Life Worth Working is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit michelleweise.substack.com