In Need of a Serious “Latitude Adjustment” Leaving the Healthcare Career Ladder to Chart a Course for Accessible Travel
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
By Dr. Karen C. Dwire, OTD
For over twenty-five years, my definition of success was a rigid, vertical line. As an Occupational Therapist (OT), the metric was simple: work harder, log longer hours, and accumulate degrees (and student loan debt). I diligently climbed that healthcare ladder, chasing the external validations of title and tenure, believing the “win” was at the top.
That definition didn’t just break last year, it shattered.
I had been specifically recruited for a high-stakes, overseas role serving U.S. military personnel—it felt like the pinnacle of my career. Then, without warning or reason, I was terminated. Being cast aside from a job I moved across the world for was a shock to the system. Suddenly, the degrees and decades of that healthcare grind meant nothing.
No one tells you that over-identification, self-care sacrifice, and burnout are what build the rungs on that ladder. When one gives way, they go like dominoes.
But in the stillness that followed, I unearthed something new. I had been running a side business in accessible travel for a couple of years, a passion project often eclipsed by my clinical career. When that ladder broke, I realized I didn't want to repair it to look exactly like what had just broken me. I needed to build something entirely different.
Reimagining the Path
Success stopped being about who employed me and started being about who I empowered. My true value wasn't in a job description, but in my unique intersection of skills: the clinical expertise of an OT and the logistical know-how of a travel planner.
Real success became empowering other therapists to escape burnout by starting their own accessible travel planning businesses. It became about the tangible joy of a family of differing abilities taking a vacation they never thought possible.
Building a Bridge Over the Generational Gap
This shift also changed how I view leadership. The younger generation of therapists often perceives experienced leaders as threats, and success is increasingly measured by compliance and productivity numbers, often at the expense of the "therapeutic use of self." My goal now is to change that narrative. I want to see generations collaborate, forging ahead arm-in-arm into emerging markets like accessible travel. We need the innovation of the new generation mixed with the wisdom of the old to truly serve our clients.
The Ultimate Internal Win
The most profound shift has been internal. For decades, I relied on external validation—a raise, praise, or a title change—to feel worthy. Over the last six months, since losing that job, I have stopped asking for permission to be great.
I have moved from needing validation to a mindset of internal gratitude. I know my skills and experience matter. The realization that my worth starts from within, regardless of my employment status, is the greatest win of my life.
As women, we are often told that success is a destination we arrive at after years of struggle and sacrifice. I’ve learned that success is actually the courage to pivot when the road ends, and the wisdom to measure your worth by your own standards, not someone else’s.
Connect With Dr. Karen
Instagram: @dr.dwire | @accessibletravelplanners
YouTube: @AccessibleTravelPlanners.com
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