To ask what else I can do with a medical degree

[BelleMarionette]

I'm a doctor, and don't think I can afford to be anymore, with the abysmal pay, conditions, and antisocial hours.

I have been working just to pay childcare for the majority of my career.

I'm looking for something better paid (this should be easy as pay is pretty dire) with flexibility to ideally work from home for some of the week. The difficulty with medicine is that we become so institutionalised that it's hard to see what else there is out there.

Any suggestions for careers that would value my experience? (Registrar, so completed foundation training and several years of speciality training)

Medical charity? Health related public sector position?

Lots of us spend more almost as much on childcare as we earn, but in my case, I looked to the long term, when my salary would be higher, and childcare lower, and sucked it up.

If you're disillusioned with the job anyway though, there will be loads of things you can do. A degree is a degree, regardless of the subject, and opens the door to all kinds of jobs, as evidenced above.

Pharma, as others have said, or related industries (contract research organisations, healthcare consultancy, medcomms, medtech).

Rep for medical devices
Health informatics
External reviewer either accreditation service or with a company like PwC
Electronic medical record projects
Social media like Dr Glauconflecken or Dr Karan
Private practice
Regulatory compliance
Union organiser

I know a GP who has moved to working in a research lab at a university. I think he specialised in fractures before, and the lab is working on something similar.

Public health? Health protection?

I was going to suggest lecturing too.

You can freelance if you want to.

I was going to suggest this.

The public sector roles that are being proposed aren't going to pay much, if anything, more than the OP currently earns. A lot will actually pay less.

If the OP is looking for better pay, the private sector is the way to go.

could you go private instead of NHS? But agree with others to look at pharmacy type careers. Or tbh you could go really rogue and go into finance. I work in finance and most of my colleagues have science or maths degrees.

Med comms? PM if you want some pointers and job suggestions

Also not sure how close you are to qualifying as a consultant but if you’re really close it may be worth sticking it out and then going private as soon as you qualify.

I had to do seven years of study after my degree and there were times I wanted to stop but now I’m fully qualified and also found a new job in the same industry I’m so glad I stuck with it.

Medical publishing - editorial or pharma would suit well.

Academic/journal editing
Science communications

I'd suggest dipping your toe into other freelance ventures eg becoming an 'expert witness' for court cases, script advisor (eg for Casualty), if you have media 'prescence' start vlogging, making podcasts eg What happens to your body when you fast.....consider stuff your not necessarily an expert in eg Recreational Drugs and deliver on line training....you just need to know enough and your accreditation will go a long way eg Dr X says...
Alternatively how about medical repping?

Big pharma. Sales. You will make loads of money.

Or private GP? One is opening up near us, charging a fortune.

Have you thought about a shift to public health? You'd have to apply to the registrar training programme.

Sorry I see others already suggested public health. Happy to discuss if you want to message me about it though.

I'm sorry you are feeling this way

Hi OP if you’re still a registrar in training, do contact your deanery as they should be able to help you with some free careers coaching.
also, if you’re concerned about burn out please reach out sooner than later- eg practitioner health programme. Royal medical benevolent charity if you are in real financial difficulty at the moment.
PMGUK and alternative careers for doctors are two very good peer groups on Facebook which may help you out more specifically than on here!

Medcomms could be a good move, either within pharma or an independent agency - lots of WFH roles available and I'm pretty sure a doctor would be in demand! Starting salary might be a bit low initially if not much writing experience but could ramp up pretty quickly

I have been working just to pay childcare for the majority of my career.

That's what the majority of people with children do isn't it! Regardless of level of pay. How much longer do you need childcare for? If you are nearly at the end of it your 50k will seem so much more.

Management consultancy?

I'm thinking, completely off the wall here I might add, but surely there has to be an on set doctor for most movies or perhaps someone who can advise about the medical accuracy of scenes before they are filmed? Would this be something that might interest you?

I have zero knowledge of how you might get into that line of work but I'm sure there is a way in if you have the training and appetite for it.

There is a big calm for functional medicine these days and having a medical degree as well is highly beneficial.

otherwise - private work! I use private healthcare as and when I see fit.

depending on your speciality, what about sonography at private baby scan places?