Non Trad looking for some advice

[NontradFinance]

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Hello ladies and gentlemen, I've been a long time browser, and first time poster. Thank you all for making this place such a wonderful community for collaboration. Please pardon the long rant from a non-traditional potential applicant.

Background:

I am a 24 year old Finance graduate with 3 years of work experience in Finance and Health IT. In the last year, I have been been working with a number of hospitals with EHR implementation and end user training. Working alongside physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and other clinicians was incredibly rewarding. I found their work extremely meaningful, and it felt good to help them understand the use of health information technology in relation to patient care.

Previously, medicine was never even on my radar as a career objective, however, the more I work with clinicians, the more it made me question my current career choice. Over the last 3 months I began feeling terrible about my job, and could not find the meaning to why I was doing what I was doing.

I began reaching out to physicians/dentists trying to learn more about their careers, and I found dentistry generally more entrepreneurial and in line with my career goals. I took the next step looking into post-bacc pre-health programs, and it seems my situation is a good fit for these post-bacc programs.

At the end of the day, there are still a lot of considerations to be made. I still cant help but feel lost and confused about what I should do next, and the burden I will put on my friends and family by switching careers at this point in my life.

Thank you all for taking the time to listen to me,

Kind Regards

 

[doc toothache]

Previously, medicine was never even on my radar as a career objective, however, the more I work with clinicians, the more it made me question my current career choice. Over the last 3 months I began feeling terrible about my job, and could not find the meaning to why I was doing what I was doing.

Getting out of a bad marriage is not the best reason to switch careers.

 

[ToothbrushBuddy]

As long as your spouse supports your decision then I think it's never too late to follow your dreams. If you're not married, then just go for it!

 

[Soleus715]

if you really cant stand your job, I would switch if your family can handle it.

but seeing how you ended up disliking what you chose the first time, I would seriously devote a ton of time to figuring out if dentistry is really what you want. I think shadowing early would be a good option.

I think the big question is: Is it worth the investment of 5+ years of your life?



I would read this post for a financial side of things http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1033998

as well as http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=970137

 

[NontradFinance]

if you really cant stand your job, I would switch if your family can handle it.

but seeing how you ended up disliking what you chose the first time, I would seriously devote a ton of time to figuring out if dentistry is really what you want. I think shadowing early would be a good option.

I think the big question is: Is it worth the investment of 5+ years of your life?



I would read this post for a financial side of things http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=1033998

as well as http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=970137

Soleus715,

Thank you for advice. Working in the medical industry has given me a great opportunity to shadow dentists, physicians and a variety of clinicians. What I found most remarkable about dentists is that many of them are very entrepreneur and business savvy. They ran their own clinics and still found time for there family and friends. Perhaps my evaluation is slightly biased since the physicians I worked with were mostly inpatient, however, thank you for the feedback and it is greatly appreciated.

 

[NontradFinance]

As long as your spouse supports your decision then I think it's never too late to follow your dreams. If you're not married, then just go for it!

Haha my spouse is relocating to New York to work for an investment firm. Given my situation, I would like to be with her and enroll in a post-bacc pre health program in the area. Thanks for your reply!

 

[jkswimman]

Dear NontradFinance,

I can definitely relate to going from business to dentistry. I graduated from business school but found dentistry to be the most appealing field for me. While in college I debated going into business or medical school. I loved helping people but didn't see myself as a physician and I loved running a business but wanted to use my business skills to make a difference in my community. I was fortunate to find my calling in dentistry while still in college. It seems like the perfect hybrid and I get to work with my hands.

What ever reason dentistry appeals to you make sure that you are committed to it. It's a lifetime investment in terms of years, emotion, money, and more. Continue to shadow but a variety of dental practices. Seeing how other dentists run their practice will give great insight as to how you would like to run your own and sometimes more importantly how you would not like to run your own.

Pursuing dentistry is difficult and business majors make up less than 5% of AADSAS applicants. But if it does appeal to you, definitely give it a great amount of consideration. After business school I definitely know I am pursuing what I want. When I worried about the strain that it would place on my family and I or the years it would take someone gave me great advice. Money is replaceable. Time is not. Think of how you would like to spend the time you have. I would love nothing more than to spend four years educating myself about dentistry and then spend the rest of my life doing what I love.

If you are considering dentistry, look into it more and have multiple conversations with your family about your thoughts so that you are certain. If there is anymore insight I can provide please message me.