Being married to a physician

I'm married to a practicing family physician. Given that I have a non-clinical career, my life is quite different compared to her life. I don't see patients. I don't write prescriptions. I don't answer phone calls in the middle of the night. I don't make home visits. I don't need to round in the hospital. I don't worry about malpractice. I don't deal with insurance companies. I don't need to tell anyone they have cancer. I don't need to worry about misdiagnosis. I don't need to think about drug-drug interactions. I don't need to perform bedside procedures. I don't need to solve medical mysteries. I don't need to worry about how the new health care reform bill will impact my practice. I don't need to think about cash or concierge practice models. I don't need to select an electronic health record. I don't need to worry about "meaningful use" and the HITECH Act.

However, since she gets to do all those things, I get to still be a part of that side of clinical medicine. In some ways, it almost feels like I never left the patient's bedside. That's life when you're married to a physician.

More People Getting Interested in Non-Clinical Opportunities

I seem to be meeting more and more people who have questions about non-clinical opportunities in medicine. I'm not talking about specialties that involve the least amount of patient interactions like pathology. I mean that people want to leave the clinical setting and enter the world of business. Or, they want to work for themselves and do some medical writing. For those of you who have an interest in non-clinical jobs and opportunities in medicine, I encourage you to subscribe to my updates on my blog that is dedicated to this topic: http://www.nonclinicaljobs.com

Join a FREE Social Network of Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals

We currently have 487 members on the free social network titled, "Non-Clinical Healthcare Professionals." My hope is that we'll reach over 500 members by the end of this month. There are many new and exciting things that I'm working on to help those of you who may be looking for non-clinical job opportunities, supplemental income, and complete career changes into the non-clinical world. Right now, there are many jobs in Health IT (information technology), but you may not feel like you have the right skills and training for that industry. I may be able to help you with that. Join the FREE network and tell others about it so that we may collaborate and help each other find the right types of opportunities.

Making the Non-Clinical Transition

I often get asked, "how do you make the transition into the non-clinical world? Isn't it risky?" The answer is that change can be risky. But, you have to be certain of your talents and interests. If you find yourself very dissatisfied working in clinical medicine, then ask yourself why you're dissatisfied. I try to encourage people to look for another opportunity in clinical medicine where the work-life balance might be a better fit. Many physicians who wish to leave clinical medicine are simply burned out and they need a break. If that's you, then make sure you take a break and be comprehensive as you plan your future. It's important to remember that it can be very difficult to re-enter clinical medicine after you leave.

Many Questions Related to Residency and Non-Clinical Careers

I've received quite a few questions recently on the Student Doctor Network about residency, clinical medicine, and careers in non-clinical medicine. Here's the bottom line: you'll have many more career opportunities if you complete a residency and become board-certified in a medical or surgical specialty. Of course, if you're stuck in the middle of a very long residency and you really don't enjoy your work, then you may want to consider switching to a shorter one. You can still find opportunities if you don't complete a residency, but make sure to do your research so that you understand your options.

Also, you don't need an MPH or an MBA to succeed in the non-clinical world. Although these degrees help, they aren't necessary.

Why Do I Write About Non-Clinical Opportunities for Physicians?

Why do I write about non-clinical opportunities for physicians? After all, I may be helping others who will may be competing against me for certain job positions, right? If I help, educate, and train all these doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and nurses to fill non-clinical roles, then what will I do when it comes time for me to make a transition? What's the purpose of this site?

Well, I think one of the main reasons why I have this site is so that I can help those who feel lost during that time of transition. I've seen many people go through medical school, hate clinical medicine, and realize that they need other options. They feel lost and confused. They need someone to talk to, but they're unable to find the right person who can provide advice, guidance, and counseling. I hope to provide some of that help to individuals who seek information. I recognize that I can't answer all the questions that come my way, but I'm well connected with other physicians who may be able to help. I want to help. After all, isn't that what made us pursue medicine in the first place?

Should I do a Medical/Surgical Residency?

I often get asked this question by medical students: "Should I do a medical/surgical residency if I KNOW that I never want to practice medicine?"

I always try to encourage medical students to go through residency. There are many types of non-malignant programs out there. Plus, you may find that you actually enjoy certain things about clinical medicine. Some residency programs to consider include preventive medicine and PM&R. No matter which program you select, residency can feel brutal if you end up isolating yourself from family and friends. Plus, you may suffer serious emotional burnout and psychological distress if you're not truly prepared to be a physician.

There are many non-clinical opportunities for medical school graduates who never go through a residency. The transition from the clinical world to the non-clinical world can be slow and arduous, but many have traveled this road with great success.

NonClinicalJobs.com

Please visit this new URL for my dedicated blog about non-clinical jobs, opportunities, and careers for physicians and other healthcare professionals:
http://www.nonclinicaljobs.com/

I hope you'll find some of the information useful.

Non-Clinical Medical Opportunities for Physicians and Other Clinicians

updated again on 9/15/2011

For more info, please visit (and bookmark) my other website that is devoted to non-clinical opportunities: 

http://www.NonClinicalJobs.com


If you're a physician and you're considering a non-clinical career, you may be wondering about all the opportunities out there. I get asked about this all the time. Over the years, I've had a chance to meet different physicians working in various companies and industries.

The following may apply even if you're not a physician. If you're a clinician (nurse, nurse practitioner or advanced practice nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant, medical assistant, medical researcher, podiatrist, physical therapist, psychologist, counselor, etc.), many of these opportunities may still be appropriate for you.

First, ask yourself what you enjoy. After all, if you don't enjoy clinical medicine, you don't want to end up doing something else you're not going to enjoy. Then, start networking like crazy. Leverage all the online social networking sites (like LinkedIn, Facebook, Plaxo, etc.) and get reconnected with old colleagues, classmates, and friends. Find out what people are doing. They may help you get connected to some key people. You may find some of the best opportunities this way. If you're a woman, you may want to check out MomMD (www.mommd.com) and join a community of women who are seeking non-clinical opportunities ranging from part-time to full-time work.

The following list of opportunities is clearly non-exhaustive and many of these areas have significant overlap. This list is based on my personal interactions with people in these roles and as I meet more people, this list grows.

Here is my growing list of non-clinical opportunities for physicians (not in any particular order).

1. Healthcare administration, medical management, hospital administration, managed care - Are you a seasoned healthcare executive? Do you enjoy making administrative decisions? Then join the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE) and run a hospital or a managed care organization. If you have a strong interest in managed care, then check out the NAMCP (National Association of Managed Care Physicians). You may want to get an MBA or an MMM (masters in medical management) if you don't already have one. An active US medical license is required for most (if not all) of these positions.

2. VC (venture capital), finance, Wall Street, market research, etc. - Got an MBA? If not, are you thinking of getting one? Some will argue that once you have an "M.D." after your name, it may not matter as much where you get your MBA. However, I would argue that your MBA is your path to networking opportunities, so where you get your MBA is critical if you want to have a solid network. Once you get your MBA, you can work for venture capital (VC) firms, dig into market research companies, or work for Wall Street. Heard of the Gerson Lehrman Group (www.glgroup.com)? No clinical experience necessary for many of these opportunities, but it's always helpful so that you can effectively communicate with KOLs (key opinion leaders) in the field. Many joint MD/MBA students have ventured directly into very successful careers this way. Also, an MBA is not necessary if you have some good business skills and understand the healthcare industry. You will need strong people skills and a willingness to work long hours.

3. Writing and medical communications (includes promotional education, certified CME/CE, consumer health education, and much more) - Do you enjoy writing? Many physicians and non-physicians have very successful careers as medical writers. The field is open to people who enjoy fiction writing, publications, research, or other types of writing. You can get involved working on journal publications, developing promotional content for marketing campaigns, or developing CME programs. Join the AMWA (American Medical Writers Association) and look for opportunities. You can work from home as a freelance writer and have a very flexible schedule. Or, you can work for a publisher or another type of healthcare communications company. You can find a list of some companies by looking at the North American Association of Medical Education and Communication Companies, Inc., (NAAMECC) website. No clinical experience necessary.

4. Technology and Informatics (health information technology, healthcare informatics, EHR/EMR, PHR) - Want to develop or improve an electronic health record (EHR) system? Do you love informatics? Then join the CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology), the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association), and the AHIMA (American Health Information Management Association). Clinicians use EHRs and patients (or consumers) use PHRs (Personal Health Records). There are many companies attempting to integrate the data between PHRs and EHRs. There is a national initiative to improve and standardize public health informatics, so now is a great time to enter this industry. No clinical experience necessary, but you should be familiar with ICD, CPT, and other billing codes used in this industry.

5. Disease management, Personal health record (PHR) - Managed care organizations (MCOs) are always looking for better disease management (DM) programs for their plans. Some MCOs develop their own DM plans and others outsource them to external companies. These companies create and deliver various services to managed care organizations, including DM, wellness programs, personal health record (PHR) services, etc. Do you ever get educational pamphlets from your own health plan? Who puts them together? Who designs and develops these wellness and preventive health programs? It's not always WebMD. There are other companies that provide similar services.

6. Pharmaceutical/Biotechnology/Medical Device - If you're a medical specialist, there are many opportunities to do research for these companies. If you don't enjoy research, then you can develop marketing strategies. Direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertisements have become very popular these days. See all those ads in the medical journals? Get ready for that "corporate America" lifestyle if you plan to venture into industry. You may be working even more hours and carrying a Blackberry instead of a pager, but if you climb that "corporate ladder" and play the corporate game, you may qualify for an early retirement. Young people who are fast learners may be very aggressive and advance rapidly. Be prepared to have a younger boss if you're a seasoned clinician.

7. Independent medical examiner (IME), Expert witnessing, and Legal medicine - Personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home care, etc. There are firms that specialize in specific areas (like nursing home cases). Want more information? Join the American College of Legal Medicine (ACLM). You can also become board certified by the American Board of Legal Medicine (ABLM).

8. Public health, population health, health policy, and government health - Get an MPH, join the APHA (American Public Health Association), and find a local health department. Or, join the CDC and travel the world. Develop strategies to improve population health. Some pharmaceutical companies also have public health sections and are very devoted to public health and international health (Pfizer in particular comes to mind). Bridge gaps in healthcare disparities. Work for the FDA or a state or local health agency.

9. Consulting - The world is open. Want to work for yourself or for a company? Many healthcare companies are looking for experts to help them develop, refine, and improve their products and services. It may be hard to get started unless you've already established connections. Once again, social networking becomes critical. Your initial success will depend more on who you know.

10. Research - Academia vs. private vs. industry vs. CRO. You don't have to go into industry to do research. Look for a Contract Research Organization (CRO) in your area. Join the ACRO (Association of Clinical Research Organizations). You may want to look at PPD (no, this is not the TB skin test). PPD is a large global CRO. Of course, there are also many other CROs.

11. Executive recruiting, search firm, headhunting, human resources - Physicians can work as an executive recruiter to hire and place other physicians. You can also work your way up and manage other recruiters who do the hiring. Remember, these 'head hunters' get paid a commission based on the salary of the person they place. The $ earning potential can be tremendous if you're successful.

12. Start a company - Have an innovative idea? Start a company! New companies seem to be sprouting all the time. Stay connected with people and keep your eyes open for new ideas. Get an MBA and meet people who can help you get a concept off the ground.

Not sure where to start? As I mentioned above, start building your social and professional network. Reconnect with people and ask many questions. Find people who are in various positions and ask them what they like/dislike.

Join some associations to build your network and to find companies. Note that some associations are specifically for physicians, but many are open to all types of healthcare professionals. Also, even those that are specifically for physicians (such as the ACPE) offer affiliate memberships for certain non-physicians.

ABLM: American Board of Legal Medicine
ACHE: American College of Healthcare Executives
ACLM: American College of Legal Medicine
ACPE: American College of Physician Executives
ACRO: Association of Clinical Research Organizations
AMDIS: Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems
AHIMA: American Health Information Management Association
AMIA: American Medical Informatics Association
AMWA: American Medical Writers Association
APHA: American Public Health Association
CCHIT: Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology
NAMCP: National Association of Managed Care Physicians
SoPE: Society of Physician Entrepreneurs

Thinking about getting an MBA? Read articles related to the MBA here.


I hope some of this is helpful. I'm always revising this as new information comes in, so check back to see what's new.

For more info, please visit (and bookmark) my other website that is devoted to non-clinical opportunities: 

http://www.NonClinicalJobs.com

Question re: opportunities if I don't finish my residency

I got another question today from a resident (a physician in training, not someone living in a skilled nursing facility). The question had to do with career opportunities for people who don't complete a medical or surgical residency. Since I get asked this quite often, I write about my response.

Here was my reply:

I hope I can provide some help since I know quite a few people who've been in similar situations. Let me start by saying that the types of non-clinical opportunities can vary depending on where you live. How open are you to relocating?

The next issue is more of a practical one: do you have student loans? If not, then you have tremendous flexibility to explore and find the "perfect" job for you. However, if you're burdened by student loans, then you have to make some career decisions based on the practical reality of loan repayment (unless you have other sources of income such as family, spouse, etc.)

You're absolutely right in saying that you would have many more opportunities if you complete your residency and become board certified in a medical or surgical speciality. However, life in residency can be very miserable and it can also change people in different ways so you have to know yourself and the type of things you're able and willing to personally handle. People with unhealthy coping skills may find themselves addicted to drugs and alcohol and heading down a very dangerous one-way path. I'm not suggesting that's going to happen to you, but I always like to emphasize the importance of coping with the strenuous work hours, the tremendous pressures, and the emotional burdens that are commonly encountered in the clinical setting.

Also remember that residency dramatically changes after your internship year. Instead of being the scut monkey who has to run around everywhere, you have more responsibility in teaching and guiding your team. With that added responsibility comes different pressures. Will that be a relief or an added burden for you compared to internship? Many people report that their 2nd year of residency was so much better compared to the first. Also, are you in the "right program?" I'm sure you're aware of how certain programs have a reputation for being very malignant while others are very "cush." Have you beein in touch with your friends and colleagues from medical school? What is life like for them?

Medical communications is very broad. I write about some of the basics here in my blog:
http://mdjosephkim.blogspot.com/2009/02/world-of-medical-education.html

I've also written about CME here:
http://mdjosephkim.blogspot.com/search/label/cme

I've also written a little bit about opportunities for people with no residency experience:
http://mdjosephkim.blogspot.com/search/label/residency

I'd be happy to share more with you as you develop more specific questions about the world of medical communications.

As for working the working environment - this can be a tricky one. You have to assess the culture of each company. The corporate world can be harsh and people may easily work more than 80 hrs/week (you thought residency had long hours!). However, there are companies that are very family-friendly where people stay for many years (hence, they have a very low turnover rate). The most flexible path is to be a freelance medical writer or consultant. You don't need any residency experience to be an excellent medical writer. Some of the best writers are scientists, pharmacists, and nurses. You need strong writing skills and you have to be very motivated.

My final word of advice - discuss this matter with your program director sooner than later. He/she may provide you with some great advice and guidance. However, keep in mind that this individual may not be very knowledgeable about non-clinical opportunities.

Perhaps we can discuss this some more after you've had a chance to think about all these issues. I wish you the best and hope that you'll stay in touch.

Non-Clinical Healthcare Opportunities

According to some job sites, here are some of the common non-clinical healthcare opportunities that are out there:

- Medical Receptionists
- Medical Collection Specialists
- Medical Billers (Medicaid,Medicare)
- Medical Coders (Medicaid, Medicare)
- Insurance Verifiers
- Schedulers

Non-Clinical Medicine

To many people (including myself), the phrase "non-clinical medicine" sounds a bit odd. After all, the practice of medicine is clinical in nature.

Can you image the following conversation?

Q: "So what type of medicine do you practice?"
A: "I practice non-clinical medicine."
Q: "Oh, you mean like radiology or pathology?"

See, many people equate clinical medicine to seeing and treating patients. So if you're not actively engaged in direct patient contact and patient care, does that mean you're practicing non-clinical medicine? Not necessarily. The answer to the question above could also sound like this:

A: "No, I work behind in a company developing population-based disease management programs for managed care organizations."
or,
A: "No, I work in a medical education company developing continuing education programs for physicians, pharmacists, and nurses."
or,
A: "No, I now work in Wall Street"
or,
A: "No, I now work for the marketing division of a pharmaceutical company"
or,
A: "No, I work on developing market research surveys on different therapeutic topics."
or,
A: "No, I now work as a medical news reporter."

To some, the phrase "non-clinical medicine" means that you sit in an office and have full-time administrative duties. And yet to others, "non-clinical medicine" just means that you're no longer engaged in anything that directly relates with patient care.

Are public health physicians working in non-clinical medicine? Population health issues may conflict with direct patient care issues since population medicine needs to weigh decisions against the "greater good." Direct patient care is individualized medicine.

I've gone on quite a tangent, but the point I'd like to return to is this: non-clinical medicine is a very broad phrase that means different things to different people. So don't make any automatic assumptions about someone's career if they tell you that they are now engaged in pursuing a non-clinical career.