Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

Doctors who have changed careers?

Just out of interest, i just wanted to hear from doctors who have switched to other careers (aside from medicine) to share their views so we can all learn from it. Anyone with a medical degree but not working as a Doctor?

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 1

Huw Davies

Useful BMJ Careers article here with some perspectives from people who've gone into various fields:

http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20000189

Reply 2

Ledarifique

Useful BMJ Careers article here with some perspectives from people who've gone into various fields:

http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advic...ml?id=20000189

Thanks that was a very interesting read. I repped you btw xD

Reply 3

pappymajek

Thanks for posting the link, a truly inspiring piece.

Reply 4

digitalis

Original post by pappymajek

Thanks for posting the link, a truly inspiring piece.

The banks are a popular option, as are the legal careers. Also hospital consultancy, pharmaceutical trade or something completely random and unrelated!

Reply 5

Retrospect

We have a family friend who trained as a psychiatrist, only to drop out once qualified. He's now doing a Masters in Computer Science.

Reply 6

pappymajek

Psychiatrist turned computer scientist-no relation there at all. Psychiatrists are usually very extroverted talkative and people loving. Computer scientist/programmers probably have to spend most of their time alone. I can see why the person didnt enjoy psychiatry at all.

I think personally that there is very little support out there for Doctors who are seeking other careers outside medicine. The medical curriculum is designed in such a way that if you study medicine you have to practise as a doctor other wise you'll always have something to lose unless you're very lucky to get a good job outside medicine-eg banking. Most medical students would have accumulated a lot of debt on qualifying and hence the need to get working and the easiest way is to just remain in medicine.

Also, medicine easily provides a good steady income, again making leaving medicine a more difficult decision. Its also worth saying that only a few proportion of doctors decide to leave the profession for another career.

Either way, would love to hear your views regarding this.