Meet Dr. Shola Ezeokoli
Coach. Speaker. Leader.
I help physicians and leaders make confident decisions, protect their well-being, and build fulfilling careers with room to enjoy life.
I’m a board-certified internal medicine physician, ICF-trained professional coach, author, and the founder and CEO of Balance With Dr. Shola LLC, the company behind Physician Heal Yourself.
My work brings together more than two decades of experience in medicine with a commitment to helping people lead, work, and live well.
Why this work matters to me
I understand how much dedication it takes to become a physician. I also understand how easily your own needs and interests can get pushed aside when so much is expected of you.
My own experience of burnout, alongside seeing the pressures faced by colleagues, helped shape my decision to support physicians through coaching. I wanted to help people address what was draining them, recognize their options, and make changes they could put into practice.
As I developed my interests in coaching, writing, and speaking, I created more ways to contribute and find fulfillment. That experience continues to inform my work with physicians who want to explore their own possibilities.
There is room for meaningful work, professional ambition, strong relationships, and enjoyment of life. Helping people build that combination is central to what I do.
As a coach, I help you turn clarity into action.
I work with physicians navigating overload, career uncertainty, professional growth, and the desire for a more fulfilling life.
Through honest and purposeful conversations, practical strategies, and ongoing support, we identify what needs to change and create a clear path forward. I’ve helped physicians explore nonclinical careers, leave unhealthy work environments, and rebuild confidence.
SHOLA Method™
My SHOLA Method™ connects five areas of personal and professional well-being: Self, Head & Heartspace, Offshoots (relationships), Language, and Avocation. It helps us consider your identity, well-being, relationships, communication, and interests alongside your professional goals.
You can expect warmth, directness, thoughtful questions, and practical guidance from someone who understands medicine from the inside.
As a speaker, I make important conversations practical and memorable
Since 2011, I have spoken nationally and internationally on burnout prevention, empowerment, leadership, and whole-life well-being.
My keynotes and workshops bring together storytelling, humor, and tools audiences can use in their work and daily lives. I speak to healthcare professionals, leadership audiences, corporate teams, and women’s groups about boundaries, communication, identity, and healthier ways to work and lead.
My goal is to help people recognize something that needs attention and leave knowing what they can do next—whether that is making a clear request, setting a boundary, or approaching a difficult conversation differently.
My media appearances include Fox 32 Chicago, WVON radio, and Outcome Health TV.
As a leader, I connect personal well-being with the way we work.
As the founder and CEO of Balance With Dr. Shola LLC, I bring the perspective of a physician, business owner, and coach to my work with individuals and organizations.
Workload, expectations, communication, and access to support all deserve attention. In my work with leaders and teams, I help make those conversations more useful: identifying what needs to change, what people need to do their work well, and how leaders can respond.
I believe effective leadership includes setting clear expectations, listening carefully, addressing difficult issues, and making decisions that support both the work and the people doing it.
A perspective shaped by different places and possibilities
I was born in the United Kingdom, raised in Nigeria, and earned my medical degree from the University of Ibadan in 2001. I practiced in London before continuing my medical career in Chicago, where I am based today.
Those experiences have brought me into contact with different cultures, expectations, and ways of working. They remind me to ask questions and understand the person in front of me.
Writing is another way I share what I have learned. My books include Physician Heal Yourself: 10 Remedies for a Complete Life Makeover for Doctors and Free to Be: The Empowered Woman’s Handbook.
Across coaching, speaking, leadership, and writing, my purpose is consistent: helping people make choices that support their well-being, their contribution, and the lives they want to lead.
Let’s work together.
Whether you are considering your next professional step or looking for a speaker for your organization, I bring practical insight, honest conversation, and a clear focus on helping people move forward.