Career path for unconventionally minded medical student

[muaythaiteddy]

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I'm a current medical student, doing pretty well in my class, and with competitive board scores for most specialties. I do however consider myself a bit non-traditional. I'm early 30's, already made it through a career prior to medicine which has left me in a solid financial position. As such I'll be graduating without student loans and am not really concerned with my salary (shocking for some to believe, I'm aware). I pursued medicine because I wanted the challenge and I admit, I like the warm fuzzy feeling that comes from helping people in need.

I am a non-conformist, and frankly, quite different from most in the field of medicine. I don't believe in killing oneself working brutal hours (residency notwithstanding as I don't have a choice in the matter). Travel is my passion, and after having spent years overseas, I've realized it's not something I am willing to give up....or box up into 2 weeks a year. Ideally, I'd love to buy a little land abroad, start a permaculture farm, run a little guest house, and open a free/very low cost community health clinic for those in need.

Has anyone met any American doctors who have done this sort of thing before? I've met plenty of people from all walks of life who have moved abroad and done X, Y, and Z, but never an American physician. Everyone in the field seems so buttoned up and conservative, when I broach this topic with my preceptors and/or advisors, they look at me like I'm this lunatic hippie who has somehow faked his way into the position I am in. Any advice and/or experiences would be tremendously appreciated. Thanks for your time.

 

[Catalystik]

Close. I met a US doc who volunteers abroad 3 months every year, as does every doc in her private practice, which sponsors the small clinic (and attached apartment) that is used to provide medical services to a desperately needy area.

 

[muaythaiteddy]

Close. I met a US doc who volunteers abroad 3 months every year, as does every doc in her private practice, which sponsors the small clinic (and attached apartment) that is used to provide medical services to a desperately needy area.

Thanks for the reply. That sounds a bit closer to the life I'd like to lead...


Perhaps I'm naive but is it easy for an American physician to work part-time (not in their own private practice) in the States (say ~4 months a year) then presumably spend the rest of their time setting up shop elsewhere?

 

[mimelim]

Thanks for the reply. That sounds a bit closer to the life I'd like to lead...


Perhaps I'm naive but is it easy for an American physician to work part-time (not in their own private practice) in the States (say ~4 months a year) then presumably spend the rest of their time setting up shop elsewhere?

Yes. Locum tenens.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locum

 

[Catalystik]

Unless you have partners on board with your plan (considering liability coverage is provided year-by-year and staff, rent, other overhead are constant), you'd be better off with temp work that will cover your US malpractice premiums, like a locum tenens company or federal employment which is self-insured (eg, I know that you can get temp work covering Indian Health Service employees, since my husband has done this multiple times).

 

[breakintheroof]

Close. I met a US doc who volunteers abroad 3 months every year, as does every doc in her private practice, which sponsors the small clinic (and attached apartment) that is used to provide medical services to a desperately needy area.

Here is an example of someone I once stumbled across who does this six months a year and I think does locum tenens work the other half.

 

[Mad Jack]

Thanks for the reply. That sounds a bit closer to the life I'd like to lead...


Perhaps I'm naive but is it easy for an American physician to work part-time (not in their own private practice) in the States (say ~4 months a year) then presumably spend the rest of their time setting up shop elsewhere?

I'd do FP or IM- you can work overseas in many countries with those qualifications (specialists are less likely to be able to practice), and getting locums positions in either for 3 month stretches with housing and expenses covered is extremely easy and very flexible. It sounds like a fine idea though.

I knew of a guy that was an anesthesiologist who worked one locums assignment during the winter every year for 3 months and spent the rest of the year surfing all around the world.

 

[muaythaiteddy]

Thanks to both of you for the bits of advice - I don't know how I've never heard of locum tenens. This sounds EXACTLY what I'd be looking for. Ideally, I'd like to spend a few months in the states making an income then bringing it back overseas to prop up the clinic.

Is locums work really that easy to obtain? This seems like the perfect solution...

 

[Mad Jack]

Thanks to both of you for the bits of advice - I don't know how I've never heard of locum tenens. This sounds EXACTLY what I'd be looking for. Ideally, I'd like to spend a few months in the states making an income then bringing it back overseas to prop up the clinic.

Is locums work really that easy to obtain? This seems like the perfect solution...

Yep, it's super easy. These are usually places that are severely understaffed or will have a doc going on vacation and need coverage. Some fields are easier to do locums in than others- FP, IM, anesthesia, and EM are probably some of the easier fields to do LT in. Most other fields don't have as much demand, so it might be difficult to find a LT that fits your preferences.

http://www.locumtenens.com (a site with a lot of listings, so you can get an idea of what they look for and where assignments are frequently located)

 

[muaythaiteddy]

Yep, it's super easy. These are usually places that are severely understaffed or will have a doc going on vacation and need coverage. Some fields are easier to do locums in than others- FP, IM, anesthesia, and EM are probably some of the easier fields to do LT in. Most other fields don't have as much demand, so it might be difficult to find a LT that fits your preferences.

http://www.locumtenens.com (a site with a lot of listings, so you can get an idea of what they look for and where assignments are frequently located)

Unbelievable. Thank you so much.

I was leaning towards EM/FP as it was. This really sounds like it could help launch what I'm looking to do.

 

[Catalystik]

Yep, it's super easy. These are usually places that are severely understaffed or will have a doc going on vacation and need coverage.

Or during periods of high utilization, like flu season, or when a prolonged leave is anticipated for maternity leave or post-op recovery. We use locums a fair amount and get the same folks back year after year (at our request) which is great because they already know our EHR and general policies and can hit the ground running. So you can be a locum, but (eventually) still have a medical home where you are welcomed for more than providing a warm body.

 

[muaythaiteddy]

Wonderful info - thank you everyone.

And I was led to believe I was absolutely nuts for wanting to pursue this option!

 

[Catalystik]

And I was led to believe I was absolutely nuts for wanting to pursue this option!

Years from now, I hope you'll come back and update this thread after you settle into the niche that makes you happy.