Reaching five years in business is no small feat.
In a landscape where many small businesses struggle to survive their early years, 2025 is officially Whole Hearted Medicine’s fifth full year in business, and this June marked an even more meaningful milestone for us- as exactly five years since we ran our first educational wellbeing retreat for doctors.
After many months of business mapping, curriculum writing, applying for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) accreditation and event planning; in June of 2021 we delivered our first retreat in Jan Juc on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria.
Given we already had to cancel two retreats planned to be held in Queensland as border closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic meant that no one was travelling in, or out, of our state- to be delivering our first retreat felt almost surreal.
The very first reflection from our first five years in business is that establishing a new business at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a baptism of fire! But alongside this timing, we were very fortunate to benefit from the rising societal and cultural awareness of the hard work and dedication of our healthcare professionals. During this tumultuous time, the wellbeing of healthcare professionals began to noticeably gain the attention it has always deserved, yet not always had, amongst the broader population. Whole Hearted Medicine, borne from the catalyst of my own experience of burnout in clinical medicine, was created on the understanding that all of us deserve the same care and nurturing that we give to our patients.
Since our inception, we have had the immense privilege of walking alongside nearly 400 doctors across 23 retreats. Welcoming professionals from every medical specialty, at every stage of their medical career journey, from doctors-in-training to those reflecting on retirement.
This anniversary is a testament to the clarity of our vision, the strength of our values, and the trust of our community. Over the last five years we have grown steadily and intentionally, always guided by the deep knowing that this work matters. It has been our honour to hold space for this community of compassionate caregivers as they reconnect with themselves, their purpose, and their humanity. These retreats are more than just professional development, they are sacred invitations for doctors to step out of the demands of clinical life and into a space where their own needs matter.
In a profession that often idolises self-sacrifice, it can be radical to say, “I matter too.” Yet time and again, we have seen the courage of doctors who make that choice- who dare to explore how to care for themselves with the same dedication they offer their patients. Our work is rooted in the belief that doctors are not superhuman. We are, first and foremost, human, and we deserve the grace and space to explore that humanness with tenderness and care.
Over the years, our curriculum has grown into a holistic and deeply integrated exploration of what it means to be both human and doctor. Drawing from Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory, self-compassion research, lifestyle medicine, mindfulness, and narrative reflection, we have created an evidence-informed and heart-centred program. Our retreats are designed not just to teach, but to gently guide doctors into experiences of inner connection, emotional safety, and authentic presence. This evolution reflects our understanding that true wellbeing encompasses body, mind, and spirit; and that professional identity must be nurtured alongside personal humanity.
Central to this journey is the cultivation of embodiment, the practice of tuning into and inhabiting one’s body with awareness and compassion. In a profession that often rewards disconnection from physical and emotional cues, reclaiming the wisdom of the body is an act of profound healing. We support doctors in relearning how to listen inwardly, regulate their nervous systems, and experience safety and presence within themselves. Embodiment is not an abstract concept- it is a lived, moment-to-moment skill that deepens resilience, empathy, and authenticity in both personal and professional life.
The path hasn’t always been easy.
In the early days, we encountered scepticism about the legitimacy of wellbeing education as part of Continuing Professional Development. There were moments we questioned whether the system would ever catch up to what we intuitively knew: that the wellbeing of doctors is not a luxury, it is foundational. Forging forward however, to know that we have helped shape a shift in how wellbeing is valued within the medical profession is a privilege we hold with great respect.
As our community has grown, we now face the challenge of scaling with integrity. Growth, while exciting, requires a fierce commitment to preserving the depth, safety, and authenticity that define our retreats. Looking to the future, ensuring every experience stays true to our values was, and remains, a guiding priority.
Yet, through all the challenges, the joys have been profound. We have witnessed extraordinary transformations and doctors rediscovering joy, softening self-criticism, setting new boundaries, rekindling their sense of vocation. Each story of renewal fuels our purpose. We are deeply grateful that over 90% of our business comes through word-of-mouth referrals, and that trust means everything to us. When a doctor encourages a colleague to attend a Whole Hearted Medicine retreat, it speaks volumes. It is a gesture of belief in our work and a powerful endorsement of its impact.
This community of trust and shared vision continues to energise our purpose and our momentum and it’s in this spirit of collective care and commitment that we are delighted to share some exciting news.
Whole Hearted Medicine has advanced to Stage Three in the Telstra Best of Business Awards in the category of Championing Health. This recognition affirms our commitment to advocating for systemic change- where the health and wellbeing of our healthcare professionals is seen as the most critical indicator of a healthy healthcare system.
We know that when doctors are well, care is better.
But just as importantly, when doctors are well, THEY are better.
As we look ahead, our hearts are full. We remain devoted to our mission: to create nurturing spaces where doctors can reconnect with their inner wisdom, heal, and grow. In November this year we are overjoyed to be one of the sponsors of this years Australasian Doctors Health Conference, a place where so many passionate and dynamic change-makers in the space of doctor wellbeing will come together to support each other in this important, ongoing work.
So, thank you to every doctor who has trusted us with your story, your presence, and your courage. Each and every one of you has made Whole Hearted Medicine what we are today and I hope that you are able to feel the respect and gratitude that we have for you, for everything that you are, and for everything that you bring to our profession and the world at large.
When I think about how viscerally I wanted to leave behind ‘the system’ at the depths of my own despair, I am eternally grateful to be able to look to the beautiful faces of you, my colleagues and know that we, all of us, are ‘the system’.
And each small ripple of change that we make is slowly, but surely, making waves.
So now, I look forward to the next chapter with reverence, excitement, and unwavering dedication.
With endless gratitude,
