Calling all MD's who want to leave medicine

[DazedMD]

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Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

My question is....When is it time to leave medicine.. and what to do afterwards. I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD. No work experience basically. Just a huge amount of education which I am proud of and don't have regrets about the process of my degree....just questioning my success in the future in a career outside of medicine.

I loved the first two years of medical school, but when it came time for the clinical rotations I began to feel as though I was drowning in sorrow. I don't enjoy performing history and physical exams at all. It does not make me happy.

We only have one life to live. We have all seen the old bitter physicians who obviously hate their jobs but continue to practice. Why? Because of a feeling of responsibility? Security? Pride?:

When is enough, enough? I just want to know if any other MDs are out there who are looking for jobs outside of medicine. I just want to love what I do for a living. I want to enjoy my time here without constant care and worrying about strangers (patients) or the emotional drain of autopsy and gross dissection (pathology), but I don't know where to go from here...

 

[LADoc00]

Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

My question is....When is it time to leave medicine.. and what to do afterwards. I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD. No work experience basically. Just a huge amount of education which I am proud of and don't have regrets about the process of my degree....just questioning my success in the future in a career outside of medicine.

I loved the first two years of medical school, but when it came time for the clinical rotations I began to feel as though I was drowning in sorrow. I don't enjoy performing history and physical exams at all. It does not make me happy.

We only have one life to live. We have all seen the old bitter physicians who obviously hate their jobs but continue to practice. Why? Because of a feeling of responsibility? Security? Pride?:

When is enough, enough? I just want to know if any other MDs are out there who are looking for jobs outside of medicine. I just want to love what I do for a living. I want to enjoy my time here without constant care and worrying about strangers (patients) or the emotional drain of autopsy and gross dissection (pathology), but I don't know where to go from here...

You quit before you even started?? How the heck does that make sense? How would you possibly know whether the job lacked "meaning and depth"??
That honestly sounds very cheesy.

Get a job, seriously. You will be very depressed in short order doing nothing. I have looked and still look around at jobs outside of health care, but Im always working. Any serious gap in your employment (like an extended time off) will not be looked kindly upon by future employers.

You are dazed...Dazed and Confused.

 

[drbon]

That's really a terrible thing to devot yourself to such a rigorous and demanding education and then realize that you don't want to do it. I sort of know how you feel, while studying for step one i became so disillusioned with medicine in general, i just wanted to quit and start something completely new. thankfully, i'm enjoying my rotations, so i guess medicine is for me after all....
there are non-patient-settings that MDs can work in....you can work for a pharmaceutical company or become a med school professor or a college professor (off shore schools, like in the caribbean, would probably be easier to get a job at, and the weather's great!)
but, i'm also wondering why you don't just go into pathology or radiology?? i mean, path definitey is NOT history and physicals....you never have to see a single patient (unless they're already dead) 🙄

 

[Pureride]

I left my resudency for very similar reasons.

PLease email me

[email protected]

or PM me.

PURERIDE

 

[Obedeli]

Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

My question is....When is it time to leave medicine.. and what to do afterwards. I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD. No work experience basically. Just a huge amount of education which I am proud of and don't have regrets about the process of my degree....just questioning my success in the future in a career outside of medicine.

I loved the first two years of medical school, but when it came time for the clinical rotations I began to feel as though I was drowning in sorrow. I don't enjoy performing history and physical exams at all. It does not make me happy.

We only have one life to live. We have all seen the old bitter physicians who obviously hate their jobs but continue to practice. Why? Because of a feeling of responsibility? Security? Pride?:

When is enough, enough? I just want to know if any other MDs are out there who are looking for jobs outside of medicine. I just want to love what I do for a living. I want to enjoy my time here without constant care and worrying about strangers (patients) or the emotional drain of autopsy and gross dissection (pathology), but I don't know where to go from here...

Two words: Radi Ology
😀

 

[LADoc00]

Two words: Radi Ology
😀

Okay...you wanna play this game, huh? (rolls up sleeves)..

I have 2 words: POLE DANCING

 

[InfraMan]

Dazed -

You sound just plain depressed. Get some counseling, or get some meds, or both and

get a job and get on with your life.

 

[radonc]

Dazed -

You sound just plain depressed. Get some counseling, or get some meds, or both and

get a job and get on with your life.

inframan-
i hope you arent going into psych...

 

[tuscanito]

I went trough the same process of thinking that im not for medicine, because the patients, malpractice stuff, etc etc etc, but after almost 6 months of serious thinking and talking with different physicians and no physicians i came to the comclusion that NOTHING IN THE WORLD IS EASY, if you want to be a dirty rich you have to rob a bank or sell drugs, or work hard every day, my mom has a supermarket and she is getting a good amount of money after 12 years of working 12 hrs a day so do physicians work more than everyone in the world dam no! so don't complain too much... you are about to be a member of one of the most respectable and noble professions!!! plus the earning is well enough to live a nice life! so go ahead you can do this!!

 

[DazedMD]

Understanding that you are not passionate about a certain career does not equal sanity. It's called honesty.

Your remarks about medication, etc are uneducated so why bother to post them. I think that attacking another person's fair question= insecurity.


QUOTE=InfraMan]Dazed -

You sound just plain depressed. Get some counseling, or get some meds, or both and

get a job and get on with your life.[/QUOTE]

 

[DazedMD]

Obviously you have not had another job outside of medicine after graduation. You must be very closed minded based on your stripper comment.

Get a life and don't try to supplement your most likely non existent sex life with stupid sexual jokes on an online site.

Once a person completes medical school other jobs in business seem to lack "meaning" as in you are not saving another person's life etc. So, it's difficult to make the transition. I didn't enjoy the particular job from day one. What's the point of staying around and wasting the company's time and money to train you when you have already eliminated the possibility of staying??

I've stayed around too long in a profession I'm not sure of. I won't make the same mistake twice.

Read the title of my initial post. I'm looking for MD's who are successful OUTSIDE of the medical profession and want to know how and what kind of jobs they have found.

You quit before you even started?? How the heck does that make sense? How would you possibly know whether the job lacked "meaning and depth"??
That honestly sounds very cheesy.

Get a job, seriously. You will be very depressed in short order doing nothing. I have looked and still look around at jobs outside of health care, but Im always working. Any serious gap in your employment (like an extended time off) will not be looked kindly upon by future employers.

You are dazed...Dazed and Confused.

 

[DOnut]

Dazed, you said that you enjoyed the 1st 2 years of medical school, but hated the clinical side. Why don't you just get a PhD and then do research or teach or both.

 

[sophiejane]

Read the title of my initial post. I'm looking for MD's who are successful OUTSIDE of the medical profession and want to know how and what kind of jobs they have found.

If you really want to go outside the medical profession, the sky is the limit-- a career change is a career change, period. There's a violinist in our local symphony who quit medicine for music. I know an internist who went to chef school and is as happy as he can be. There are lawyers, bankers, teachers, you name it with MD or DO degrees.

If you want to use some of your skills from medicine and stay in the field but not practice, you could go into academics/administration, but you really have to practice medicine awhile before doing that.

I've run into several physician drug reps who are doing quite well because the docs take them more seriously and they're "insiders"...

You could consult for pharm companies, consult for other medical business, you could do insurance audits (EVIL, however, and your colleagues will despise you!).

It really is up to you. What does your heart tell you? It sounds like you are a pretty sensitive individual and that suffering and death really affects you. Funny, I'm the same, but I felt I HAD to do medicine because mitigating the pain and helping prolong life or even evade death was the only way I could deal with knowing how much suffering there is in the world.

But you are right, if it is that draining for you, I think you should really reconsider clinical medicine. Bench research might be just the thing for you--meaninful work without the H&Ps 😉

 

[Obedeli]

If you really want to go outside the medical profession, the sky is the limit-- a career change is a career change, period. There's a violinist in our local symphony who quit medicine for music. I know an internist who went to chef school and is as happy as he can be. There are lawyers, bankers, teachers, you name it with MD or DO degrees.

If you want to use some of your skills from medicine and stay in the field but not practice, you could go into academics/administration, but you really have to practice medicine awhile before doing that.

I've run into several physician drug reps who are doing quite well because the docs take them more seriously and they're "insiders"...

You could consult for pharm companies, consult for other medical business, you could do insurance audits (EVIL, however, and your colleagues will despise you!).

It really is up to you. What does your heart tell you? It sounds like you are a pretty sensitive individual and that suffering and death really affects you. Funny, I'm the same, but I felt I HAD to do medicine because mitigating the pain and helping prolong life or even evade death was the only way I could deal with knowing how much suffering there is in the world.

But you are right, if it is that draining for you, I think you should really reconsider clinical medicine. Bench research might be just the thing for you--meaninful work without the H&Ps 😉

good stuff!

 

[InfraMan]

Understanding that you are not passionate about a certain career does not equal sanity. It's called honesty.

Your remarks about medication, etc are uneducated so why bother to post them. I think that attacking another person's fair question= insecurity.

It wasn't an attack - it was honest advice. You sound like you have no motivation to do much of anything - that's depression.

Tell me - what in your life are you passionate about. Anything?

 

[DazedMD]

It wasn't an attack - it was honest advice. You sound like you have no motivation to do much of anything - that's depression.

Tell me - what in your life are you passionate about. Anything?

I am passionate about many things.

I have a strong passion for Education in General

I love being a student

I love teaching, especially chemistry but I don't want to subject myself to another 5 plus years of graduate school when I'm not sure exactly what I want to get a PhD in.

I love thinking through long difficult problems and coming up with new solutions

I love pharmaceuticals and the impact that a new drug can have on an individual

I am passionate about studying oncology and if I didn't have to go through IM first, I probably would enjoy Heme/Onc

I enjoy the science of medicine...I am passionate about studying physiology, pharmacology, micro, pathology, biochemistry.

I love the details but often could care less about the big picture

I love people even though I don't enjoy taking care of all patients (unless they have cancer or other serious condition that is not a direct effect of what they have brought on themselves...). The two don't always have to go hand in hand.

I am passionate about finding exactly what it is that motivates me the most

I am passionate about not settling for much

I am passionate about understanding and searching for what my true calling is.

I love spending time with people I care about

I enjoy standing up for for I believe in, even though its not always the most popular view...such as saying I am not passionate about medicine.

So, there are many things and more I could list.

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

 

[LADoc00]

I am passionate about many things.

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

But you judged strippers...Hypocrisy I say!! Strippers are law abiding citizens, doing hardwork to boost the morale of the American working man (and woman).

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

 

[deleted87716]

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

If you're not passionate about medicine, did you really expect to get any useful advice from a bunch of people who are? 😕

Find something you enjoy, and do it. Life's too short.

 

[sophiejane]

Okay...you wanna play this game, huh? (rolls up sleeves)..

I have 2 words: POLE DANCING

Pole dancing is actually a great workout....er, not that I would know...

But seriously, you (women only, actually) can take pole dancing classes for exercise.

 

[fang]

Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD.

You need a little perspective; maybe taking time off will let you have time to reflect. Medicine isn't a perfect job, and neither is the consulting job you turned down-- there are no perfect jobs. Unless you have rich parents that will pay for your food and housing, you need to work. Honestly, saying you quit consulting because it was "shallow" and didn't like medicine because "doing h&p's doesn't make me happy" sounds both naive and indulgent. Here are some options:
1. Get a residency next year in primary care (can work 3 days a week in clinic); at least you'll have time for a great life outside of your career. Or if you're competative enough and can explain your year off, you could do something like pathology, where you can avoid the nastier aspects of medicine.
2. Ask the consulting job for your place back. How do you know it's shallow? It might be better than your other options.
3. Get a teaching certificate and teach high school
4. be a drug rep
5. Work at a coffee shop
6 (and I hope this isn't you) spend the next 10 years of your life living off your parents lamenting about your failed career in medicine.


4.

 

[NonTradMed]

You mentioned you like to teach. How about using that MD to do some teaching? It could be at an offshore school, or at a local university (as a lecturer?) or at a CC....

I'm also a career changer, only I'm changing into medicine. I can tell you that there's a 'grass is greener' mentality in corporate as well. When people heard I was heading off to med school, many thought it was sooooo much better than corporate work, and of course, we hear the exact opposite here on SDN. So, it's very rare that you'll find someone who loves every aspect of their job and/or feels a passion for their job. Most feel fortunate if their job is something they enjoy and can pay enough to provide comfortably.

 

[BKN]

I am passionate about many things.

I have a strong passion for Education in General

I love being a student

I love teaching, especially chemistry but I don't want to subject myself to another 5 plus years of graduate school when I'm not sure exactly what I want to get a PhD in.

I love thinking through long difficult problems and coming up with new solutions

I love pharmaceuticals and the impact that a new drug can have on an individual

I am passionate about studying oncology and if I didn't have to go through IM first, I probably would enjoy Heme/Onc

I enjoy the science of medicine...I am passionate about studying physiology, pharmacology, micro, pathology, biochemistry.

I love the details but often could care less about the big picture

I love people even though I don't enjoy taking care of all patients (unless they have cancer or other serious condition that is not a direct effect of what they have brought on themselves...). The two don't always have to go hand in hand.

I am passionate about finding exactly what it is that motivates me the most

I am passionate about not settling for much

I am passionate about understanding and searching for what my true calling is.

I love spending time with people I care about

I enjoy standing up for for I believe in, even though its not always the most popular view...such as saying I am not passionate about medicine.

So, there are many things and more I could list.

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

Sounds to me like a PhD in Pharm working on the drugs that will cure cancer.

 

[WanderingDoc]

Dear DazedMD,
Here's a synopsis of my sojourn outside of medicine, for whatever it's worth. I'm s/p 7 1/2 years out, no residency, and am moderately successful but very dissatisfied. Specifically, I graduated from a Western region med. school (MD) and matched with the only program to which I applied (Psych.). Most of med. school was allright, though I took a leave of absence during 3rd yr. to deal with a bout of clinical depression/burnout. Less than 1 mo. prior to internship start date, I was DX'd with a serious illness that led to my resignation. PD was sympathetic- offered a 1 mo. delay, but, like me, his options were limited.

My parents helped with the finances during recovery until my father was abruptly laid off from his sales rep. position of 35 yrs.. This was around 12/99, and suddenly both my parents and I were facing a financial crisis. So, my dad and I decided to start liquidating an auto. collection of cars/parts that he had acquired over the years. After I had fully recovered, we worked together to expand the operation and I found myself working 10-16 hr. days tearing apart and then rebuilding more cars than I care to remember, attending auctions, placing ads, dealing with buyers (most legit., some crooked) all while trying to remain financially solvent. In 2001, my PD re-offered the PGY-1 position to me about 1 mo. prior to start date, but unfortunately the economy was dramatically slowing down, our market was shrinking, and leaving possibly would have jeopardized my parents' welfare. My parents told me to take the position, I asked for a start date of 1/2002 so I could find someone else to work with my dad in the interim, but the PD said in no uncertain terms that if I didn't return now it would be very difficult to re-enter the field later on. Wise words. In '04 our position was much more favorable, and I wanted back into medicine, but I had (unknown to me) exceeded the state allotted time to complete USMLE Steps 1-3 (7 yrs.). I had until 6/03 to complete the sequence, so my passing scores for Steps 1-2 were no longer valid. I wasn't then, and am not now, inclined to petition for re-entry to med. school, so medicine is essentially no longer an option. Further, many residency programs are hesitant to consider candidates who have been out of field for more than 3 yrs.. I can't disagree with the time limits as medicine is fluid and competency is a necessity.

Now, there are undoubtedly others who earned the degree and went straight to pharma., bus. admin. (MBA), banking, law school, teaching, etc. and I too would like to hear their stories. I wish that I could offer you an A-Z guide to follow as you consider your professional options, but like you I have discovered the limited marketability of the MD without the additional training, licensure, etc.. I worked part-time at a title company a couple years back to explore title/real estate law as a career option, but decided against law school and wasn't eligible for mgmt. positions as I lacked a bus./law background. At present, I have paid off about 55k of debt, still about 85k in the hole, and though I like sports cars (and ladies that like sports cars) I'm really not a nuts and bolts car guy. To find a more meaningful existence, I have put as much money behind me as possible, recently sold my house before the real estate market in my area softens, and am going to retain a career counseling firm. My goal is to find happiness and contentment, though earning potential has to be a consideration. I would strongly urge you to carefully weigh your options and not immediately disavow medicine. The door will stay open for awhile, but I hope that you won't feel the regret that I experienced if and when it finally closes. Remember that feelings, perceptions, and life outlook can, and usually do, change over time. I'm not trying to preach, but rather just attempting to look out for you. I wish you well and hope that you find your own personal brand of success.

 

[LADoc00]

Wandering Doc,
that is one depressing tale. G'luck on things. (dabs tears away)

Have you ever looked in medical devices sales/pharma sales? Good med device positions are in the 200-300+ range, well above primary care levels and they would likely cream themselves to get a real MD.

 

[InfraMan]

I have a strong passion for Education in General

I love being a student

I love teaching, especially chemistry but I don't want to subject myself to another 5 plus years of graduate school when I'm not sure exactly what I want to get a PhD in.

I love thinking through long difficult problems and coming up with new solutions

I love pharmaceuticals and the impact that a new drug can have on an individual

I enjoy the science of medicine...I am passionate about studying physiology, pharmacology, micro, pathology, biochemistry.

I love the details but often could care less about the big picture

I am passionate about understanding and searching for what my true calling is.

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

Sounds like you love school, and don't like the real world. Find a way to teach something.

We're here to judge. You asked for opinions. You may not like some of them.

 

[tr]

I love being a student
I love teaching, especially chemistry but I don't want to subject myself to another 5 plus years of graduate school when I'm not sure exactly what I want to get a PhD in.
I love thinking through long difficult problems and coming up with new solutions
I love pharmaceuticals and the impact that a new drug can have on an individual
I am passionate about studying oncology and if I didn't have to go through IM first, I probably would enjoy Heme/Onc
I enjoy the science of medicine...I am passionate about studying physiology, pharmacology, micro, pathology, biochemistry.
I love the details but often could care less about the big picture

Sounds like a research/teaching career would be a good fit for you. You don't need to do a PhD for that. I'd go for a residency in path with a strong research component (short-track if you like). I know you said you don't like autopsies but those are mostly limited to the early part of the residency; you can get through it. Hook yourself up with a lab that does onc pharm if that's where your interest lies. Then you can segue into a postdoc or even into an asst prof slot if you are very productive during your residency and fellowship.

You should drop by the MD-PhD forum. Some of the readers there have a lot of information to share about clinic-bench transitions.

 

[WanderingDoc]

Wandering Doc,
that is one depressing tale. G'luck on things. (dabs tears away)

Have you ever looked in medical devices sales/pharma sales? Good med device positions are in the 200-300+ range, well above primary care levels and they would likely cream themselves to get a real MD.

Actually, I will be hitting both of those areas hard. My bro. met a woman while out on the town a few wks. back who is a med. device rep. for a smaller company, says she loves it. I'll check her out...err...check out her story and, who knows, she might be a good network contact. Thanks for the advice and continued good luck (and wealth, fulfillment, etc.) to you as well. BTW, one of the agents who showed my house several mos. back was former NFL, incredibly cool dude, showed his clients and I a picture of his girlfriend- yup, a former stripper. Smokin' hot. Maybe I should just save ALL of my money, move to Vegas, and buy...err, marry...a "ballet" dancer.....lol

 

[PunkRockDoc]

Dazed, I'm right there with you. I just graduated in may, and started a residency in family med and I am miserable. Some people have been telling me that I may be depressed. I can't even tell anymore. In 11/05, I spent a lot of time lamenting over which specialty to go into. Basically, I came into medical school with the intention of going into pathology. But I felt a lot of pressure from friends and family to go into family med, and ended up withdrawing my path application. I let other people's opinions get the better of me. On match day, I was probably the only person who was unhappy to get their first choice on their rank list. I've been lamenting about not going into pathology for months now. It doesn't help that I'm hating the residency that I'm in. I'm hoping to reapply to path this year and switch, but I honestly don't want to finish out this first year. Plus, I'm scared to death about not matching into path. At any rate, I have been considering quitting, but have found very little info about what you can do with an MD but no internship/residency. Sorry about the rambling, but I wanted to let you know that you're not alone.

 

[DazedMD]

Some people have been telling me that I may be depressed. I can't even tell anymore.

Honestly I feel that the situation in general somewhat depressing. It's depressing because of the amount of debt, not figuring this out sooner, etc.
It is sad to once be so passionate about medicine and then realize that I have not been happy with it for years.

The institution tries to force us to keep going-whether miserable or not.

I am a whole lot happier though tutoring students in biology and chemistry and barely making ends meet than I would ever be in residency caring for patients. I don't feel trapped by the medical field anymore. If you are not happy with Family med, call the path department and see if by chance there is an open slot. Who knows there may be a miserable path resident wanting to switch you your program.

Plus, I'm scared to death about not matching into path.

If you want it bad enough, you'll match into path. It's not like derm or rad onc. You'll be fine

At any rate, I have been considering quitting, but have found very little info about what you can do with an MD but no internship/residency.

There are so many options depending on where you live or would be willing to move. I'm in a different situation because my husband would rather stay here and complete his residency.

If you are in/willing to move to Northeast or to California, I have seen tons of jobs. You could work for many different biopharma companies. You could work at the NIH doing a research fellowship that pays 45K a year plus benefits (I was really interested in a position there, but we can't move yet).
You can teach at Community colleges in biology (or chemistry if you have 18 graduate levels of chem.) You can do healthcare consuling.

Hope this helps. You can send me a private message if you want.

 

[LADoc00]

Plus, I'm scared to death about not matching into path.

Puleeeease. It aint that bad. No need to be scared.

 

[dreamweaver]

I am passionate about many things.

I have a strong passion for Education in General

I love being a student

I love teaching, especially chemistry but I don't want to subject myself to another 5 plus years of graduate school when I'm not sure exactly what I want to get a PhD in.

I love thinking through long difficult problems and coming up with new solutions

I love pharmaceuticals and the impact that a new drug can have on an individual

I am passionate about studying oncology and if I didn't have to go through IM first, I probably would enjoy Heme/Onc

I enjoy the science of medicine...I am passionate about studying physiology, pharmacology, micro, pathology, biochemistry.

I love the details but often could care less about the big picture

I love people even though I don't enjoy taking care of all patients (unless they have cancer or other serious condition that is not a direct effect of what they have brought on themselves...). The two don't always have to go hand in hand.

I am passionate about finding exactly what it is that motivates me the most

I am passionate about not settling for much

I am passionate about understanding and searching for what my true calling is.

I love spending time with people I care about

I enjoy standing up for for I believe in, even though its not always the most popular view...such as saying I am not passionate about medicine.

So, there are many things and more I could list.

In the future, don't be so quick to judge

you seem to have a good head on your shoulders.. its ok to feel what you do even if no one agrees.. you do have passion - so what if its not medicine the way we know it.. you dont seem depressed, you seem like you want to find opportunities and will do anything to find them.. good luck to you! its nice to see someone who is not happy with medicine stand up for what they feel instead of just taking it and finishing it when they are unhappy because they feel they have to - due to debt, longs yrs spent, no other background/degree etc.. but so what... bottom line: f you get into something you dont love.. that is your whole LIFE.. choose well, only you know what really makes you happy or not.. and figure out how to pay debts back etc also in your plan.. you will be fine! think it through carefully and let me know how it goes.. good luck!

 

[dulceleche]

Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

My question is....When is it time to leave medicine.. and what to do afterwards. I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD. No work experience basically. Just a huge amount of education which I am proud of and don't have regrets about the process of my degree....just questioning my success in the future in a career outside of medicine.

I loved the first two years of medical school, but when it came time for the clinical rotations I began to feel as though I was drowning in sorrow. I don't enjoy performing history and physical exams at all. It does not make me happy.

We only have one life to live. We have all seen the old bitter physicians who obviously hate their jobs but continue to practice. Why? Because of a feeling of responsibility? Security? Pride?:

When is enough, enough? I just want to know if any other MDs are out there who are looking for jobs outside of medicine. I just want to love what I do for a living. I want to enjoy my time here without constant care and worrying about strangers (patients) or the emotional drain of autopsy and gross dissection (pathology), but I don't know where to go from here...

Hi,

My friend started FP and then dropped out after 4 months because of personal issues. She is now teaching at Kaplan and loves it. She also teaches English as a second language. There are options out there besides medicine. You just have to find that you enjoy doing and go for it!

dulce

 

[LO281OK]

Here are some options:
1. Get a residency next year in primary care (can work 3 days a week in clinic); at least you'll have time for a great life outside of your career. Or if you're competative enough and can explain your year off, you could do something like pathology, where you can avoid the nastier aspects of medicine.
2. Ask the consulting job for your place back. How do you know it's shallow? It might be better than your other options.
3. Get a teaching certificate and teach high school
4. be a drug rep
5. Work at a coffee shop
6 (and I hope this isn't you) spend the next 10 years of your life living off your parents lamenting about your failed career in medicine.


4.

I crossed this off my list of possible occupations after doing it for one year! 👎

 

[prominence]

Hi,

My friend started FP and then dropped out after 4 months because of personal issues. She is now teaching at Kaplan and loves it. She also teaches English as a second language. There are options out there besides medicine. You just have to find that you enjoy doing and go for it!

dulce

does she make any money as a kaplan instructor?

 

[dulceleche]

does she make any money as a kaplan instructor?

She is a Kaplan instructor for the Step 2 CS course. She is making money and is doing a good job.

 

[factoid]

Two words: Radi Ology
😀

couldn't have said it better myself. may three words rad iol ogy

 

[E Z Daring]

Hi Everyone

I am a recent grad from a southern med school and will be taking a year (or possibly forever) off from medicine.

I had a job with a consulting firm that I started two days after graduation but quit before I officially signed the new hire papers because I thought the entire purpose of the job lacked meaning and depth.

My question is....When is it time to leave medicine.. and what to do afterwards. I have found myself feeling stranded out here in the job market with nothing to market except my MD. No work experience basically. Just a huge amount of education which I am proud of and don't have regrets about the process of my degree....just questioning my success in the future in a career outside of medicine.

I loved the first two years of medical school, but when it came time for the clinical rotations I began to feel as though I was drowning in sorrow. I don't enjoy performing history and physical exams at all. It does not make me happy.

We only have one life to live. We have all seen the old bitter physicians who obviously hate their jobs but continue to practice. Why? Because of a feeling of responsibility? Security? Pride?:

When is enough, enough? I just want to know if any other MDs are out there who are looking for jobs outside of medicine. I just want to love what I do for a living. I want to enjoy my time here without constant care and worrying about strangers (patients) or the emotional drain of autopsy and gross dissection (pathology), but I don't know where to go from here...

Hello DazedMD,

As soon as I saw your post, I immediately hit the reply button instead of reading through the replies. Why? I know how many inflated egos exist on this board who will be quick to pounce on feelings like this. I'm sure several of them have already replied with comments that are of little to no help for you.

Listen, I understand your plight. Medicine is a path many of us choose from a young age. We change, our perspective changes, life changes. We discover what we like and what we - to but it bluntly - cannot stand! Medicine is an intense lifestyle, no question. It's a rigorous education, exhausting physically and emotionally, expensive financially and in terms of time-investment, and can feel unrelenting! It's not at all unusual to say to yourself "is there something other than this?" Because it's natural. There is a whole universe out there! There are infinite possibilities, opportunities out there. Why limit yourself to just one pursuit? And of all things, just medicine??? Western Medicine is a construct by human beings. Often flawed, often misguided, often based on “this is the way it’s always been done, so do it” instead of science. You want evidence-based published data that shows being up for 30+ hours straight every four days is beneficial for your education or for patients? Good luck! You’ll find overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Want to know why the system is setup the way it is? Looking at medical training from a more anthropological study of human culture than of one of pure science, reveals many interesting and flawed attributes. The system isn’t perfect, and it isn’t for everyone. And not everyone can know that before they actually walk down this path.

I’ve spoken with many MDs who have changed their pursuits later on in life. I’ve read about many more. And I’m talking about major changes. Going into law, into politics, into fashion (yes, a fashion designer!). Why'd they do it? Because they can and they wanted to. And they found happiness. Which is important to most people, you would think.

I’ve actually recommended to people who came into this field simply to help others and who later found out that medicine wasn’t what they expected it to be, to look at public health. A field that in many countries is one-and-the-same with standard medicine, but that somehow got separated from medicine in the U.S. Maybe you might want to look at MPH programs. Start thinking of all the new paths you could look at – work at the CDC, EIC, etc… Very different from the things you are dreading at the moment. You can look at populations as clinicians look at patients. Look at numbers instead of autopsies. Find something that you excel at and that you truly like! Something that can use your intelligence and passion to help others in need! You are not limited to the life you've been exposed to so far!

On my last day of medical school, very last lecture, our professor (a Psychiatrist) offered this - "Remember, you don't have to do this forever." He went on to mention that some of his classmates over the years had actually committed suicide, rather than leave medicine behind. His words were simple but bring the message home "If you don't like something, than don't do it! Find what you like and go for it." I wish I could write it here as eloquently as he stated it, but it’s not one of my talents. I loved it, and it was great to hear from someone who is so deeply involved with the study of the human plight!

I know how many people associate their whole identity with the “MD.” Letting go of that means letting go of so much more than a basic career. To them - it is letting go of themselves. It’s unfortunate. And it has led to many unfortunate outcomes. Some major, and others, just endless dysthymia...

Do something that you enjoy. Don’t let anyone tell you what you should or should not do. You have the right to do whatever you want with your life. If you made it through the rigors of medical school then you have a good head on your shoulders. You will be successful in whatever you pursue, if you made it this far. I believe it.

Feel free to PM me. I went into this field to help people, not shoot them down. If they are a patient and/or a friend. If they are an MD or a migrant farm worker. It doesn’t matter. We are all human beings and we are all trying to find our paths in this life. Not all our paths are a straight line. It’s okay to have twists and curves. If you are ever interested in reading about how failure after failure after failure lead to something truly great and substantial - read about Abraham Lincoln’s life.

Much love,
-ez MD MPH

 

[McDoctor]

On my last day of medical school, very last lecture, our professor (a Psychiatrist) offered this - "Remember, you don't have to do this forever." He went on to mention that some of his classmates over the years had actually committed suicide, rather than leave medicine behind.

Sounds like one hell of a motivational speaker.

 

[drusso]

My suggestion would be to hack your way through an internship (PGY-1) which is all that is required to maintain active medical licensure in any state and then look at consulting gigs with pharma, HMO's, public health, etc. An MD or DO degree in and of itself is really just an academic degree, but an active medical license (regardles of specialty and all that is require in most states for active medical license is just one year of post-graduate residency) will open many, many doors to you. Good luck.

 

[prominence]

An MD or DO degree in and of itself is really just an academic degree, but an active medical license (regardles of specialty and all that is require in most states for active medical license is just one year of post-graduate residency) will open many, many doors to you. Good luck.

1 year is usually enough, assuming you are an american grad.