Chitra Sankaran MBBS, MRCOG, DFSRH, FRCGP

Coach

Leadership; burnout; career transitions; mindset; resilience; confidence; clarity; NLP; high-achievers; women in leadership; international medical graduates

About the coach

I’m a GP, Executive and Leadership Coach, and NLP Master Practitioner with over 30 years in the NHS. I’ve walked the path of the ambitious, high-performing professional, driven to succeed, yet quietly running on empty. 

After years in gynaecology, fertility, and general practice, leading two major practice mergers and serving on the Enfield CCG Board and North Central London ICB, I hit my own crossroads: burnout, exhaustion, and the uncomfortable question—“Is this it?” 

That moment changed everything.

Now, I help dedicated professionals in high-pressure roles map out their next career move with clarity and confidence, without burnout or guilt. I blend leadership strategy with mindset mastery, using my C.R.U.I.S.E. framework to help clients navigate overwhelm, rediscover balance, and lead with calm authority. 

Professional background

  • Founder of Lifeline Academy, supporting ambitious professionals to elevate leadership, performance, and well-being.
  • Accredited Coach, NHS Leadership Academy.
  • Certified NLP Master Practitioner.

Personal background

I entered the UK as an international medical graduate when there was little support for IMGs. I know the pressure to prove yourself, the fear of change, and the cost of burnout. My journey taught me that success without alignment drains you, but clarity brings freedom.

I still practise as an NHS GP and balance that with my coaching work, mentoring doctors and professionals worldwide. Off-duty, I’m a book lover, gamer, and Pokémon Go enthusiast, because play matters as much as purpose.

Selected qualifications

  • NLP Master Practitioner
  • Accredited Coach, NHS Leadership Academy
  • MBBS, MRCOG, FRCGP

Helping

  • Practising physicians
  • Senior clinicians and medical leaders
  • Professionals in career transition or leadership roles

Key words

Leadership; burnout; career transitions; mindset; resilience; confidence; clarity; NLP; high-achievers; women in leadership; international medical graduates

Free 30-minute introductory meeting