To be very determined is to be tenacious. We might argue that by nature and by nurture, doctors become doctors by sheer determination. Their training is not easy by any means, and they are required to have excellent grades to enter medical school. Their medical training and work require long hours that bring with it great pressure. We might conclude that doctors who have made it are indeed tenacious.
Yet, transitioning to other sectors after a medical degree, and this is quite a common practice worldwide, requires greater tenacity! The good news is, doctors’ education and experience are valuable across many industries be it pharmaceutical, insurance, medico-legal, ICT, hospital management, finance, medical devices, and so much more.
In transitioning to other industries, the ability to master the complexities of the industry is a crucial one. For example, a doctor who wants to become an application specialist in ICT must begin by learning the mechanisms of the system, its architecture, and the solution landscape. The early days will be a steep learning curve. This is true of finance, law, pharma, medical devices, and many other fields that doctors transition to.
The second is to have a strong mental state of mind. It is not easy to transition and learn new things in a new industry where the culture is sure to be different. The clinical culture is very different from say, the corporate culture and the fact is, every work environment has its idiosyncrasies. Workplace politics abound no matter where we are. A strong mental state of mind will help a doctor last longer as they pick up the necessary survival skills and potentially thrive in a new work environment.
The ability to adapt to change is also an important trait. Because of the specificity of medical training, transitioning to another industry implies that doctors must adapt quickly to the new environment. Doctors must accept the reality that they will likely not be receiving the red-carpet treatment and that not everyone will acknowledge their medical education. In fact, sales colleagues in a company may not regard a doctor’s expertise at all. This could result in some culture shock.
Doctors who have transitioned have acknowledged the “death of their careers as doctors” but feel the transition was well worth it. They say that in the industry, they are able to do greater good to patients and healthcare in general. In addition, some state that being recognized and well rewarded for their good performance is a much welcome and gratifying experience. The ability to be pliable and go with the flow of an industry is the best way forward for a transitioning doctor.
Having a strong support system is also key for transitioning. The presence of a mentor who has transitioned, strong spousal backing, and parental support is crucial to making a successful transition. Having someone to talk to when the transition is occurring is of outmost importance.
It is vital to state that running from a toxic work environment where a person is dehumanized and harassed is the wrong reason to make a career change. “Running” will often result in more “running” for doctors as workplace politics abound everywhere.
Hoping to lead a rosy life by transitioning to other industries will also lead to disappointment. Making a transition implies the need to learn new things often involving a steep learning curve as well as the ability to keep pushing through despite the many discouragements in a new field.
The quality of being tenacious will pay off wherever a doctor chooses to pivot to. With a strong mental state of mind, a willingness to learn new things, a strong support system, and the readiness to adapt to changes, doctors who make the transition often succeed and enjoy more fulfilling lives in the long run. This is the reason why many doctors do indeed transition to other careers.
And another thing – if patients’ wellbeing takes central place in the hearts of doctors making the career change, we can all nod in agreement that this will result in improved quality of healthcare and patient welfare.
