Why Doctors Drift in Their Careers – Lessons That Were Not Taught In Medicine | Dr Sidhya Choudhary

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Episode’s Description

Medicine teaches doctors how to care for patients.

But there are also lessons about the profession that are never formally taught.

In this episode of Postcall: Stories Beyond the White Coat, Dr Selina speaks with physician, academic, and ScrubsBuddy writer Dr Sidhya Choudhary about the parts of medicine that doctors are rarely taught during medical school.

Dr Sidhya shares her journey into medicine – how she grew up, what inspired her to become a doctor, and the expectations she had before entering the profession. She reflects on her experiences in medical school, the advice about medicine that turned out not to be true, and what it was really like when she began working as a doctor.

The conversation also explores the unwritten rules of medicine, often referred to as the hidden curriculum — the lessons doctors learn only after entering the profession. Dr Sidhya explains why many doctors drift through their careers without understanding how the system works and why it is important for doctors to intentionally design their medical careers.

Dr Sidhya also discusses the patients who left a lasting mark on her, the story behind her newsletter ScrubsBuddy, and why writing and reflection can help doctors become better clinicians.

In this episode we discuss

  • why doctors drift in their medical careers
  • the hidden curriculum of medicine
  • expectations versus reality in medical training
  • patient experiences that shape a doctor’s career
  • how doctors can design their careers intentionally
  • the role of writing and reflection in medicine

Postcall features doctors who are expanding the role of medicine and impacting healthcare differently.

To catch up on our previous discussion, check out our last podcast episode, where we covered ‘“Who Are You Without the White Coat?” | Dr Anu on Expanding Medicine Beyond the Hospital’. Also, don’t miss our episode on: ‘This is Why Doctors are Quitting’ here.

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