Key takeaways:

• Optum empowers physicians like Dr. David Kang to keep their focus on meaningful, long-term relationships with patients.
• Work-life balance is built in through predictable schedules, short commutes and team-based support that enables physicians to enjoy their passions outside of the workplace.
• We strive to provide a work environment where physicians can stay connected to their original calling while supporting their personal well-being. 

For Dr. David Kang, the desire to help others has been constant since childhood.

That calling has carried him through more than two decades as a family physician, where he has built lasting relationships with patients and their families.

Why Optum?

Kang first joined a local practice whose founder emphasized building “something special” by putting patient care above all else. When that practice later became part of Optum, Kang saw an opportunity to continue that mission on an even larger scale.

“I wanted to be part of something special, and to put my patient care as the most important thing,” he said.

At Optum, Kang has found the structure and resources to do just that. Our organization’s patient-centered model allows him to focus on building relationships and providing care, while also giving him the stability and support to balance his personal life.

Finding work-life balance

Kang’s daily schedule reflects that balance. His commute is just eight minutes, and he begins seeing patients at 7:30 a.m., a popular time for those who want an appointment before heading to work. He typically finishes with patients by 5 p.m., then spends time wrapping up charts and sending prescriptions before heading home.

“My family is the most important part of my life,” he said.

Evenings are reserved for family rituals: dinner together, a 20-minute exercise routine with his wife and two daughters and winding down with either a movie or a New York Islanders hockey game. Weekends are spent exploring new activities as a family, whether that means shopping, exercising or simply relaxing together.

Meaning in medicine

After 20 years of practice, Kang finds fulfillment in both the small and life-changing moments. For example, helping a longtime patient finally quit smoking. 

“I feel privileged that patients consider me part of their lives,” he said. “I have to say I enjoy my career.”

He also offers advice for other physicians navigating the pressures of modern health care.

“Never lose why you are doing this in the first place,” Kang said. “Most of us went into medicine feeling it was our calling — that we wanted to be there to help people in difficult times. It’s easy to lose that in the midst of paperwork or phone calls, but it’s the most important thing to remember.”

A sustainable work model for physicians

Kang’s story shows how Optum supports physicians in maintaining meaningful careers without sacrificing personal well-being. By combining predictable schedules, team-based support and a patient-first mission, the organization helps clinicians meet their calling in medicine while also protecting family time.