What to do After Medical School

[aricena318]

As a third year medical student, I'm conflicted on what I should do in the future. I was a premed but didn't want to continue to medical school, but my parents felt that I had already invested so much time and effort that I should continue. I don't inherently hate medicine, I just lost any passion/interest as I went through undergrad, and the amount of work and sacrifice just isn't worth it to me. To be honest, I've been OK with being in outpatient rotations because they were so chill, but I know my PCP preceptors are way busier than I am as a medical student, and that residency is mostly inpatient anyway. I have hated inpatient rotations with a passion and have had exhaustion and mental breakdowns during them. At the end of my first year of medical school, I went to a really loud party and developed hyperacusis, tinnitus, and facial nerve spasms as well, and had to take a year off because I couldn't study well to pass Step 1. I continue to suffer from it, and public settings like hospitals/clinics bother my hearing, so I have to wear earplugs. As I continue, I dread residency as I've seen a slice of it through third year rotations. I'm far more interested in public health (I have an MPH and have a couple published papers as well as a couple of posters) and I am interested in doing the CDC EIS, which would require me to go through residency to get my medical license (all the federal budget cuts to the CDC will make this highly competitive program even more difficult to get into though). I've also seen a couple of similar programs offered by states like California and Florida, which appear more geared towards MPH grads straight out of school. The reality of public health is that it does not pay well, so I was considering dropping that as well. I was considering Preventive Medicine/Occupational Medicine residency, but since I already have an MPH that seems kind of redundant as you get an MPH in this residency. Preventive Medicine is also a competitive residency, and I'm not a great medical student (barely passed most of my blocks/rotations). I've also heard people talk about pathology, or even going into consulting (although that is super taxing and time-consuming as well). I just don't know if there are good options after medical school if I don't do residency. I'm curious if anyone has thoughts about my situation.

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[operaman]

If you can get trained and board certified in anything, you will have infinitely more options than if you don’t. Would try and find something you can tolerate - path, rads, family med, etc. Those would minimize your hospital inpatient time substantially.

Making a move into non-clinical work is much easier once you’re board certified and especially after some experience. It’s that perspective and experience that makes you valuable, not the MD degree. At this point you’re only a little over a year to the finish line, so might as well graduate. Would focus more on getting that board cert - much easier to get another degree in a few years than to go back and get a residency slot.

 

[ACSurgeon]

As a third year medical student, I'm conflicted on what I should do in the future. I was a premed but didn't want to continue to medical school, but my parents felt that I had already invested so much time and effort that I should continue. I don't inherently hate medicine, I just lost any passion/interest as I went through undergrad, and the amount of work and sacrifice just isn't worth it to me. To be honest, I've been OK with being in outpatient rotations because they were so chill, but I know my PCP preceptors are way busier than I am as a medical student, and that residency is mostly inpatient anyway. I have hated inpatient rotations with a passion and have had exhaustion and mental breakdowns during them. At the end of my first year of medical school, I went to a really loud party and developed hyperacusis, tinnitus, and facial nerve spasms as well, and had to take a year off because I couldn't study well to pass Step 1. I continue to suffer from it, and public settings like hospitals/clinics bother my hearing, so I have to wear earplugs. As I continue, I dread residency as I've seen a slice of it through third year rotations. I'm far more interested in public health (I have an MPH and have a couple published papers as well as a couple of posters) and I am interested in doing the CDC EIS, which would require me to go through residency to get my medical license (all the federal budget cuts to the CDC will make this highly competitive program even more difficult to get into though). I've also seen a couple of similar programs offered by states like California and Florida, which appear more geared towards MPH grads straight out of school. The reality of public health is that it does not pay well, so I was considering dropping that as well. I was considering Preventive Medicine/Occupational Medicine residency, but since I already have an MPH that seems kind of redundant as you get an MPH in this residency. Preventive Medicine is also a competitive residency, and I'm not a great medical student (barely passed most of my blocks/rotations). I've also heard people talk about pathology, or even going into consulting (although that is super taxing and time-consuming as well). I just don't know if there are good options after medical school if I don't do residency. I'm curious if anyone has thoughts about my situation.

The time required to learn a new career and build your way towards a decent income would be significantly more than finishing the path your on and becoming a board certified physician.

Residency can suck at times, but most non-surgical residents have an ok work life balance most of the time. Sure, they can be tired on call or have a difficult rotation or a toxic attending here and there, but by and large it’s a job that opens a lot of doors for you.

If you tried to switching to something tech or finance or a non-clinical job that wants an MD etc you’d start at the bottom and need to hustle for years and work very hard without knowing for sure if you’ll make it to a physician salary.

 

[m1redsox]

There are definitely some family med residencies out there (usually less academic programs) that have a way more reasonable inpatient/outpatient ratio (some much closer to 25/75). And family med is in such high demand that you could probably work 3.5 days/week if you wanted. Of course, you wouldn’t make as much, but depending on the area, I would guess still $150k+. And like others have mentioned, path and rads are also nice quiet specialties. Of course, you’ll have to do well on boards for rads, but I do think it’s worth just riding it out at this point.

 

[Splenda88]

There is no good option if you don't do a residency. As others above have said, you should finish and get yourself into a pathology or non academic FM residency.

A medical degree will not take you far in the job market if you don't have a medical license. I can tell you that from 'personal' experience. One of my good friends went from working as a PCA for a few years making $14-15 with a medical degree to making 200k+/yr as a general practitioner (only 1-yr internship) working for Indian Health Service (IHS). Good luck.

 

[OEM doc]

Based on what you stated in your initial post, that you essentially can't stand inpatient medicine and are looking for a good work-life balance, and that you are interested in public health, then it doesn't make sense to me why you aren't taking a closer look at Prev Med or Occupational and Environmental Medicine (OEM) residency. I understand you have an MPH already, but residency would not be redundant at all. PM/OEM residency gives you training in a medical specialty, puts you on the pathway to board certification, and gives you a lot of medical knowledge and experience that you can leverage into future job opportunities. The MPH is only one part of those residencies, but not the most important part. I got my MPH during OEM residency but I know others that got their MPH before residency, and that opened up additional opportunities for them, such as extra rotations or unique academic opportunities. I think you would need to talk to the program directors at programs you would be interested in to get their thoughts on what doors that might open for you. You wouldn't be forced to repeat an MPH curriculum that you have already done before.

I would add that I'm not sure it is accurate that PM/OEM residency programs are all that competitive. I believe both had unfilled positions after the most recent main match. Both medical specialties will pay substantially more than general public health jobs. OEM does tend to get paid more, but PM is probably the best specialty for somebody who isn't into patient care/clinical medicine. More good information on OEM available at The OEM Info Page.

I don't think there are any reliable job options for physicians that don't complete any residency. Maybe you could get lucky, but the odds seem stacked against you. Highly recommend to find a specialty and program that is a good fit for you.

 

[mistafab]

Giving advice here opposing above posts, though in many ways I agree with them.

If you already didn't want medicine to begin with - it is three years in and the answer is the same... Perhaps we are in the realm of a sunk cost. Another 2 years of med school and a 3 year residency may not change your answer. Perhaps it would help if you did an Occ/prev med rotation as an elective MS4 just to make sure it is the holy grail you think it is. May be worth sticking it out to at least that point and deciding if you want to move forward or not.

It is true that trudging onward you will get a better work-life balance eventually. It is true that an MD and no residency is pretty useless. But if you can barely reason with yourself to pursue Occ/prev med, and all other specialties are a heavy residency grind - may consider just jumping ship now. In the end this is just a job, and if you hate it every day you are going to hate your life.

One question is... is there really anything that will make you love work? May consider a perception change. May not be a factor for your specific goals/dreams, but some folks notice when they go somewhere new that 'you go with you'... that is to say, nothing has really changed except the scenery of your life, grass isn't always greener. If that's playing a role here then make sure you get help to address that before deciding on a giant trajectory change like leaving medicine.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Many schools will let you push a clerkship to the 4th year to do some elective in the 3rd year. if so, do an Occ Med / Prev Med elective now / ASAP if possible

 

[BreadXray]

I was considering Preventive Medicine/Occupational Medicine residency, but since I already have an MPH that seems kind of redundant as you get an MPH in this residency.

You sound like the perfect applicant for Prev Med. It would not be redundant at all. Yes, you get an MPH during residency, but it's not the only thing you do. Since you're coming in with an MPH, you'll get extra time during residency to do MPH electives, public health rotations, or focus on research. Once you graduate, you'll be board eligible and have a stronger CV to apply to EIS if you so choose.