If you don't want to be a doctor who treats patients, options range from research and writing to consulting and counseling.
Doctors in the pharmaceutical research field may work for pharmaceutical companies, research organizations or regulatory agencies in medicine discovery, development and licensing.
Upon earning a medical degree, most individuals proceed to complete a comprehensive three-year residency program. Although it's plausible for medical school graduates to obtain a general medical license following a single postgraduate year and passing all three segments of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, the clinical prospects are severely restricted for those who bypass residency and fail to obtain board certification.
The majority of doctors opt for traditional clinical roles, engaging in the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of patients.
For those inclined towards patient care, the extensive array of medical and surgical specialties encompasses pediatrics, internal medicine, radiology, psychiatry, oncology, emergency medicine, anesthesiology, general surgery, plastic and maxillofacial surgery, ophthalmology, and orthopedics.
Given the substantial financial and personal investment associated with a medical degree, and the rigorous training regimen extending beyond medical school, most physicians anticipate committing decades to clinical practice. However, while nearly two-thirds of doctors affirm they would reselect the profession if given the chance, according to a 2023 survey conducted by The Physicians Foundation, the clinical realm may not suit everyone's preferences.
Dr. Steve Liggett, serving as the vice dean for research at the Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida and as the associate vice president for research at USF Health, exemplifies a doctor diverging from clinical practice. As a professor of internal medicine and molecular pharmacology and physiology, his focus lies in research, spearheading the USF Health Office of Research.
“To excel in nonclinical domains, additional training is imperative,” he emphasizes. “For instance, being a molecular biologist – my area of expertise – without undergoing molecular biology training is scarcely viable.”
Below are some career avenues accessible to doctors, encompassing roles that may not necessitate residency completion or further training.
Pharmaceutical Research
Liggett notes that he observes physicians who have concluded their clinical training transitioning, after just a few years of practice, to roles in early clinical trials and pharmaceutical drug development.
“They find immense satisfaction in it. While they may encounter fewer patients, they're deeply engaged at the forefront of what could potentially become the next wave of drugs, often within their specialized field,” he remarks, “and thus, this represents one of the more prevalent trajectories I've witnessed.”
Professionals in this sphere may be employed by pharmaceutical firms, research institutions, or regulatory bodies, contributing to medicine discovery, development, and licensing. Possible positions encompass medical consultant or medical science liaison, medical assessor, clinical research physician, pharmacovigilance (drug safety) specialist, and medical affairs coordinator.
Consulting
Dr. Daniel Clinchot, serving as the vice dean for education at the Ohio State University College of Medicine and a professor at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, asserts that healthcare consulting emerges as a prevalent avenue for medical school graduates transitioning into nonclinical vocations.
According to him, they may offer consultancy services to corporations or insurance firms, leveraging their clinical expertise to aid physicians and healthcare facilities in enhancing their business and management strategies.
Other consulting opportunities encompass serving as an advisor to a medical startup, collaborating with a market research enterprise, educating physicians on equipment or technology advancements, or providing insights into the operations of hospitals or healthcare systems.
Teaching and Clinical Education
Medical institutions depend on physicians capable of instructing during clinical rotations, where third- and fourth-year students undergo experiential learning under preceptors – a need that experts assert is increasingly challenging to fulfill across the United States. Clinchot emphasizes that most medical schools prioritize hiring educators with clinical exposure alongside their medical qualifications.
According to Liggett, physicians opting for teaching roles typically engage in didactic teaching for first- and second-year medical students or provide bedside instruction in small group settings.
"Medical schools are approaching this matter with great earnestness, seeking full-time faculty," Liggett asserts, "and an individual with an M.D. certainly fits the bill for that."
Public Health
Public health encompasses addressing health issues at the population level, encompassing the identification of causes, prevention strategies, and intervention measures.
“Some individuals pursue a master's degree in public health" subsequent to completing medical school, Liggett remarks, "enabling them to delve into epidemiology and scrutinize nationwide trends, analyzing data spanning states or zip codes to elucidate the environmental underpinnings of diseases or the transmission dynamics of communicable diseases, for instance.”
However, public health offers diverse roles for physicians beyond epidemiology. According to PublicHealth.org, doctors transitioning to public health endeavors "may continue to deliver individualized clinical care, but they also dedicate a significant portion of their time to formulating public health programs and initiatives. Their medical qualifications uniquely position them to provide counsel on and spearhead public health campaigns and offer community-wide medical guidance and education."
Medical Writing
Medical writers play a crucial role in conveying intricate scientific and clinical information to varied audiences. The domain encompasses scientific communicators, technical authors, regulatory writers, promotional content creators, healthcare marketers, and healthcare journalists, as outlined by the American Medical Writers Association.
According to AMWA, there is a burgeoning need for medical writers to generate a wide array of materials, including continuing medical education resources, healthcare policy papers, articles for scientific and medical journals, abstracts for medical conferences, pieces for magazines and newspapers, medical literature, promotional materials, regulatory documentation such as submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, white papers, and patient decision aids.
Other Careers for Doctors
* Clinical informatics specialist
* Pharmacist
* Genetic counselor
* Forensic specialist
* Policy adviser
* Grant writer
* Health care benefits adviser
Choosing a Path
Despite the plethora of alternative career options available to doctors seeking to transition away from clinical practice, Clinchot underscores that medical schools prioritize admitting students committed to practicing medicine – partly due to the pressing doctor shortage in the U.S., projected to exacerbate as medical students and physicians grapple with overwhelming stress, burnout, and disruptive shifts in healthcare delivery.
The Association of American Medical Colleges forecasts a potential deficit of up to 86,000 physicians by 2036. According to a June 2023 survey conducted by Merritt Hawkins for The Physicians Foundation, 28% of surveyed doctors expressed a desire to retire within the ensuing year – marking an increase from 21% in 2022.
“Our entire curriculum and career advisory services are tailored towards clinical vocations, with no provision for nonclinical paths within the M.D. program,” Clinchot emphasizes. “We offer various tracks, including one for clinician scientists engaging in both clinical practice and research. However, there isn't a track dedicated solely to students pursuing nonclinical roles.”
Clinchot notes that the majority of students, even those opting not to complete a three-year residency, continue their education beyond earning their medical degree.
“Most proceed to pursue at least one additional year," he explains, "as this extra year of training post-M.D. equips them with the necessary licensure to practice medicine.”
Clinchot underscores the value of this additional year for most students, considering the significant investment of time already dedicated to medical school.
