Here are some of the most common reasons why physicians (and other healthcare professionals) choose to pursue various types of non-clinical jobs and opportunities:
- Scheduling flexibility. You'd be surprised to know how many people work from home and maintain very flexible schedules.
- No malpractice headaches. Enough said.
- Family obligations. The world of clinical medicine can put a severe strain on families and relationships. I know - my wife is a physician.
- Obstacles with licensure. This is particularly true for foreign medical graduates who are unable to obtain a U.S. license. Also, licensed U.S. healthcare professionals have various reasons why they may face obstacles with their professional licenses.
- Pressured into medicine. I know many medical students who were pressured into medical school. They don't enjoy clinical medicine but many of them feel "stuck."
- Burnout. Physicians may experience severe burnout and they may need a break (sometimes a permanent break) from clinical medicine.
- $. It's true, many choose the non-clinical route because there are more lucrative opportunities.
- To expand their creativity. Some people simply want to have a career in music, art, teaching, or something that is totally different from the clinical world. That's their passion, so consider the transition a second career.
- Less stress. For some, a non-clinical career is less stress compared to the clinical setting. For others, it may be more stress. In any case, it's certainly a totally different type of stress.
- Personal development. Many seasoned clinicians may pursue opportunities in healthcare administration so that they can make an impact on a larger scale.
- To improve public health. Instead of making a small difference on an individual level, they recognize the greater potential of making differences on a population health level.
- To escape boredom. Yes, clinical medicine can become very boring and mundane. Maybe you chose the wrong specialty.
- To find a better fit. Many physicians find that clinical medicine simply isn't the "right fit" for their personality, skills, family life, etc. It could be a combination of several of the reasons listed above. For them, the transition into the non-clinical world is a logical step towards finding something that is a better fit.
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