Considering a Nonclinical Career?

The Challenge: Have you ever considered leaving your physician job to pursue a nonclinical career?

If so, you are not alone. According to the Medscape Physician Nonclinical Careers Report 2021, many physicians are burned out, want to work fewer hours, realize that being a physician is not what they expected, or believe they will earn more in a nonclinical career — all reasons to move on to a new career.

If any of these thoughts have crossed your mind, you are probably trying to figure out the next steps. According to Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH, the author of 50 Nonclinical Careers for Physicians, there are certain steps you can take to guide you.

Key Takeaways

Recognize your passion, skills, and values. Often, finding a nonclinical career can address some factors that lead to a lack of fulfillment in your current clinical job. Addressing these factors requires you to find the “sweet spot” where your skills, values, and passions overlap. Try taking some time to reflect on the following questions to help you identify your passion:

• What makes your heart sing?

• What piques your curiosity?

• What activity makes you lose track of time?

Dispel common myths about physicians and nonclinical careers. You may hold misconceptions about what it means to have a nonclinical job. Some common misconceptions about nonclinical work include:

• Many years of clinical experience are needed to transition to a nonclinical career.

• Taking a nonclinical job is “selling out.”

• Nonclinical work is for physicians who are burned out.

• Physicians owe it to society to care for patients.

• A nonclinical career is a waste of a physician’s medical training.

Translate your skills into a new career. Physicians use their medical training and skills to varying degrees in a nonclinical career. Think about the skills you already have and how they can translate to a nonclinical career. Many nonclinical job opportunities require communication, interpersonal, management, analytics, and leadership skills that most physicians have already mastered. You probably have technical skills such as industry knowledge, research, teaching, and enterprise experience you can leverage in a nonclinical role.

Try reverse engineering a nonclinical job description you are interested in by highlighting the knowledge and skills listed and noting the relevant experience that demonstrates your mastery of that skill.

Use an action plan to find and get a nonclinical position. Reflect on these questions to create an action plan and take your first step toward a nonclinical career.

• What action am I going to take?

• Why am I taking this action?

• What is the process for this action?

• What is the estimated timeframe for this action?

• What other resources might I need to complete this action?

The Bottom Line: There is nothing wrong with exploring the options of a potential new role you may be more passionate about, or even exploring nonclinical work opportunities on the side while maintaining your clinical practice.

Join Sylvie Stacy at the Fall Institute for a course that dives deeper into this transition, or read her book, 50 Nonclinical Careers for Physicians: Fulfilling, Meaningful, and Lucrative Alternatives to Direct Patient Care.

Find more information about our educational offerings at physicianleaders.org/education.