Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Former Doctor Leaves Medicine to Run a Bun Shop
Dong was a doctor for about 20 years.
She often felt stressed by her medical job.
She had to treat patients and also manage many other responsibilities.
She was also worried about disputes between hospitals and patients.
In 2023, she helped start a steamed bun shop in Wuhan.
When the cook left, Dong learned how to make the buns herself.
She liked the work so much that she decided to leave medicine.
Her family first disagreed, but later helped her.
Dong says she wants to keep running the shop and live a life she loves.
Dong, 48, left a 20-year medical career to run a steamed bun shop in Wuhan.
She trained at Wuhan University School of Medicine and began working as a gynaecologist in Shenzhen.
Dong said managing inspections, non-medical duties and medical disputes created significant pressure.
After a chef resigned, she learned to make the buns herself and discovered she enjoyed the work.
Her family initially objected, but later supported her; she opened a second outlet in July.
- Who
- Dong, a 48-year-old former doctor and steamed bun shop owner.
- What
- She left medicine to operate a steamed bun business.
- When
- She opened her first shop in 2023 and opened a second outlet in July; the year of the second opening is not specified.
- Where
- The shop is in Wuhan, Hubei province; Dong previously worked in Shenzhen and Tianmen.
- Why
- She wanted to escape the pressure of medical management and disputes and pursue work that makes her happy.
Dong’s choice
Traditional expectations
Leaving medicine
Dong’s choice
Dong says she wants to live a life she loves and is happy running the bun shop.
Traditional expectations
Her family initially opposed the decision because being a doctor is traditionally viewed as a decent and respected profession.
Work pressures
Dong’s choice
Dong said inspections, non-medical management duties and responsibility for medical disputes made her former role highly stressful.
Traditional expectations
The articles do not provide a direct defense of those medical responsibilities or a contrary account from her former workplace.
- Age
- 48
- Medical career
- About 20 years
- Medical education
- Wuhan University School of Medicine, graduated in 1999
- First shop
- Opened in Wuhan in 2023
- Former specialty
- Gynaecology
- Second outlet
- Opened in July
- Business goal
- Dong hopes to run the bun shop until she can no longer move