Career ideas medical degree

[PotentialplanB]

Hi all,

I'm training to be a doctor as a mature student but have come across a rather serious medical issue. I'm hoping it is surmountable but in case I struggle more than expected, I'd be grateful for any advice.

I'm in my penultimate year of a medical degree. All has gone well so far. I am interested in a couple of medical specialisms, not surgical and nothing super high pressure such as emergency medicine.

If I can finish the degree but decide that continuing training is too much, are there any ideas for careers please? I used to work in policy.

I don't know how exactly this health problem will pan out, it's quite serious 'on paper' but the full details won't be clear until after investigations.

I am interested in public health and have a master's in it but if I'm honest would like to make good money after doing 3 degrees and years of work at quite a senior level prior to retraining if I had to give up medicine (don't get me wrong, I'm not driven by money generally).

Don't wish to teach or research as a full career (aspects of this are fine).

I love writing, politics, and am creative and people focussed rather than being strictly scientific.

Thanks for any thoughts. Hopefully I will get to complete my training and be a doctor but thinking of alternative paths on case this is not possible may help put my mind at rest at a tough time xx

How about working for a medical charity in science comms and writing? I know a few people with MD’s who do this and love it.

Thanks that's a great idea, might have to do some training in scientific rather than policy writing but must be really interesting

Do a public health or health promotion MSc move into policy, and. commissioning.

Thanks for your reply, already have an MPH and that's my old area of work. Could do that as my specialty training.

Would prefer something else though to be completely honest but appreciate the input.

DC1 is about to finish his MD here in Italy and is looking into spending the following year as a junior (assistant) doctor on a cruise ship. We live in a cruise port and a lot of the local economy works with the lines.

This can be done while DC is waiting for a very niche specialization to hold entrance tests.

Travel the world free of charge, use your qualification and have another doctor at your side. Sounds good after years of dedication to studying.

Pharma? Depends how bad the illness is. If you can get through f1/2 and into public health training that’s a reasonable line of work to earn a consultant salary, which I think is hard to do with as much flexibility otherwise.

Ok, you have an MPH already. What about Charities and NGO, write training programmes, expert speaker etc?Fortunately you will have options with your background. Good luck whatever you chose

OP I'm a university careers consultant. I'd strongly advise going to your university careers service. It is confidential. They'll be able to give you ongoing support and help you hear yourself think, help you consider other options with your condition and will also have good ideas of what others who have had to step away from medicine have gone on to, and contacts with them and other employers. Good luck.

Thank you, careers advisor is an excellent call.

The extent of the condition is a bit unknown at the minute unfortunately. I'm hoping it'll be a tough period now then not come back or have lasting effects but I have to be realistic and accept that may not be the case. I'm hoping at the very least I'll be able to finish my course after putting so much in and will be able to work after that.

@PotentialplanB completely get your uncertainty about the condition - so many conditions are fluctuating. And this is often the kind of thing careers consultants support students with, - it isn't that you need to know things in a clearcut way before you can have the conversation, but having a sense of the range of your options - and also the possibility for reasonable adjustments and what might make a difference for you, can help.

If its money you're after pharma or clinical research.

I see a lot of people who were doctors in the admin side of research in various roles. Paid reasonably well with some perks.

Medical communications might be an option. Peter Llewellyn at Medcommsnetworking.com is a good person to contact if you are interested. There are also a couple of companies that offer work experience to see if you have a flair for it/enjoy it. Look up Aspire Scientific (Aspirations programme) and Word Monster.

Thanks both