About Me
“Coaching with Jessie has totally transformed my family life. I am happy and there is a lightness in my house that has not been present for a long, long time. Thank you!“
Ten years ago, I had achieved “all the things.”
I had an Ivy League degree from Dartmouth, an MD from UCSF, a thriving pediatric practice, and several significant leadership positions at TPMG.
I had a husband, a house, 3 sons, and even a dog.
On the surface, I was successful. And yet, as is true for so many of you, I was struggling underneath.
Checking all the boxes had not led me to a life of internal peace, contentment, and joy.
When my husband of 25 years began to seriously struggle with his mental health, the added stress exacerbated my over-responsibility and toxic independence.
I focused on fixing and managing everything.
Making sure everyone and everything would be ok.
Medicine had taught me to focus on what could go wrong, to catastrophize, and to equate control with safety.
These habits made a hard season even harder.
I ultimately found solutions through a blend of mindfulness, somatics, nervous system work, neuroscience, and mindset coaching.
When I changed myself, everything changed.
“When I started coaching, I was anxious, unsettled, and unhappy. Working with Jessie, I immediately felt calmer and more relaxed.
Nothing seems overwhelming; everything is manageable.” - Endocrinologist
The tools that changed my life now shape how I help others
I understand from the inside the realities of medicine and the toll a medical career can take on health, relationships, and life.
Weaving these additional tools into traditional mindset coaching is the secret to success for many women physicians who struggle to sustain changes amidst overly full lives and a broken healthcare system.
I regained calm and a sense of presence. I lost 40 pounds, improved all my relationships, and became a force of positivity and inspiration in almost every area of my life.
“Jessie guided me through a significant career transition, helping immensely to smooth the bumps. Her support has also improved other crucial aspects of my life, such as my marriage and family. I highly recommend working with her.” - Dr. Jennifer Yager, Psychiatrist
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" — Mary Oliver
I had spent decades building a career, raising three sons, holding everything together.
I had never once paused to ask myself what I actually wanted my life to feel like.
That question is the reason Pause & Presence exists.
This has become my life’s work
Coaching is the most effective and transformative intervention I have found in over twenty years of leading physician wellness.
Over the last six years, I have shared these tools with thousands of physicians across the US and Canada through virtual coaching, retreats, and keynote talks.
I have also continued to practice it in my own life. As a result, my life has continued to transform beyond what I ever believed was possible.
I have built a wildly successful coaching and retreat business and become a nationally sought-after physician wellness keynote speaker and a TEDx speaker. My TEDx talk What would Love Do? The Most Powerful Question We Are Not Asking was released in January 2026.
I host a popular podcast, Healing Medicine, with Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang. I work with national organizations such as ACOG and the American College of Cardiology, as well as large health care organizations, including Stanford, UCSF, Sutter, Dignity Health, and Providence Health.
My personal life has also completely transformed. My husband and I moved past an extremely challenging patch in our marriage (listen to my TEDx talk to learn more).
My husband stopped practicing law in 2023 to support Pause and Presence full-time. We moved out of the city after 31 years in 2024. We now live and work on a magical farm. This work has been essential to celebrating 33 years of marriage. We are featured in a recently released docuseries on Neurodiverse Love.
Credentials & Experience
I am a pediatrician, physician coach, speaker, and retreat leader.
Since 2019, I have focusing my full attention on helping physicians create lives and careers that feel more sustainable, more connected, and more true to who they are.
Education
Dartmouth College, BA Psychology
UCSF School of Medicine, MD
Professional Background
Board-certified Pediatrician
Former physician leader at TPMG (Kaiser Permanente)
More than 20 years in physician wellness leadership
Coach Training & Experience
Certified Martha Beck Wayfinder Coach, 2024
Certified Life Coach and Master Coach, 2018 & 2022, The Life Coach School
6+ years full-time physician coach
Supported thousands of physicians through coaching, retreats, and keynote talks
Speaking & Media
TEDx speaker
Host of the Healing Medicine podcast
Speaker for physician groups, health systems, and national medical associations
What women physicians love about coaching with me
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“Jessie has been able to get me to look at my life from a 180 degree different point of view. It literally is “mind-opening”. Coaching doesn’t even begin to explain the fascinating transformation. She is phenomenal.” - Endocrinologist
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“The change was magical... with every week I transformed my mind - I became calm, I stopped reacting & was/am able to choose my actions. My goal was for my words & actions to have a positive impact on people & come out feeling empowered. We achieved it. “
If you are doubting this process - please go for it! Jessie is amazing!!” -Interventional Cardiologist
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“The coaching experience has been an actual “lightbulb turning on”. It has helped me to see things in a completely new way and has changed my mindset and my whole life for the better.” - Pediatric Pulmonologist
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“I am now navigating my days from a lighthearted, simple, spacious spot. I see and know magic and the adventure continues.” - Anesthesiologist
Ways to Work with Me
1:1 Coaching
Personalized support for physicians ready for meaningful change.
Small Groups for Women Physicians
Thoughtful, high-touch topic based group coaching
Retreats
Restorative experiences designed for reflection, reconnection, and renewal.
Speaking
Talks, workshops, and retreats for physician groups and healthcare organizations.
