If you're thinking about leaving the world of clinical medicine, consider the following:
- Once you leave, it may be virtually impossible to go back (this ultimately depends on your specialty and your willingness to go through a formal re-entry program).
- In general, there is more stability in clinical jobs compared to non-clinical jobs (especially during a recession).
- Health care may go through a major reform, but reform could also dramatically impact the pharmaceutical and device industry.
- You may have to accept a reduction in salary to switch from a clinical career to a non-clinical career (at least initially).
- It may take over 12 months before you successfully transition to a non-clinical job.
- You're probably going to be expected to generate many electronic documents (deliverables) in a non-clinical job. How strong are your computer skills?
- You may be required to travel if you accept a non-clinical job. Are you willing and able to travel frequently for business trips?
- Will you miss clinical medicine?
- Are you willing to report to someone who has less training/education? Will you have any objections if your boss is younger? What if your boss is a nurse or a pharmacist? (I'm not trying to generalize, but some men do have trouble following instructions from a woman. Plus in certain cultures, it can be very difficult for an older person to take orders from a younger boss).
- Are you 100% certain that you'll be happier working in a non-clinical setting?
- Will you have any type of regrets if you leave clinical medicine?
Please also realize that you will lose much of your autonomy. You will often need to get approval to do things. Business decisions are typically made with the consensus of a group of more senior leaders.
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