The author of a recent article claimed that “we all lose” when an experienced physician prematurely leaves clinical medicine. Of course, it is inevitable that a clinical career will end, but whether patients and society suffer depends on what that retiring doctor does next. Increasingly, it seems, they pursue other ways to help patients and add value to the system by pursuing non-clinical careers. That’s a good thing, because:
- There are simply more options
- We can use their clinical expertise in non-clinical roles
- We need as few grumpy doctors taking care of patients as possible
- The system gets what it is designed to produce, and happy doctors is not one of the endpoints
- Times of momentous change will result in a predictable percentage of turnover
- People are living longer to pursue other opportunities, doctors included
- The system does not value judgment and people go where they are treated best
- The next generation will have a shorter clinical half-life and expect to move on
- It removes the stigma of non-clinical doctors as being “not real doctors”
- The world of work is changing and becoming more accommodating, even though many employers are not
Leaving clinical practice is not a terrible thing, and, in many instances, we all gain when it happens. There is no obligation to practice, and we should make it as easy as possible for those leaving clinical practice to help patients in many other ways.
There are several ways we can help students, residents, and practicing clinicians make the inevitable career transitions during their working lives:
- Include the business of medicine, innovation and entrepreneurship education, training, and development in the medical school and residency curriculum
- Offer exit ramps
- Help them navigate the 5 career crossroads
- Introduce them to the 6Rs of career transitioning
- Give them the right tools
- Integrate them into local regional innovation ecosystems
- Offer peer-to-peer support and mentoring
- Stop perpetuating the myths about physician entrepreneurs
- Undergraduates, medical students, residents, and fellows need career counseling
- Teach personal financial planning
None of us have a duty to practice. Ask these doctors.
Arlen Meyers is a physician executive.
