Life Without a Lab Coat Other Career Options in Medicine

While great doctors share a commitment and passion for the well-being of others, the work doesn’t always happen in a medical office or hospital. Many physicians are now skipping a traditional practice for a more out-of-the-box career option that is still within the medical field.

One of those paths involves working with humanitarian organizations addressing global health issues facing communities overseas. While doctors have always responded to the call for disaster relief, hazardous political conditions play a significant role their access and ability to help. Frequently, help doesn’t get where it’s needed in time.

Enter Doctors Without Borders  (alternatively known as Medecines Sans Frontieres), a humanitarian-aid based non-governmental organization and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. DWB was started in 1971 by a group of French doctors and journalists who believed that everyone – regardless of race, religion, creed or political affiliation – had a right to medical attention. DWB deliberately steers clear of any government affiliation and this neutrality is what grants them access. Every year, a field staff of around 3000 deliver assistance to people in more than 60 countries who would otherwise be denied access.  For their needs, DWB frequently recruits:

• Emergency physicians
• Pediatricians
• Specialists in Infectious Diseases
• Family physicians
• General practitioners
• Intensive care physicians
• Obstetricians/Gynecologists

Another organization similar to DWB doing remarkable humanitarian work overseas is the International Medical Corps. Founded in 1979 by UCLA ER physician Dr. Robert Simon, IMC focuses on proper training for medical personnel to rebuild medical infrastructure in nations afflicted by disease or recovering from disasters. IMC has the flexibility to rapidly respond to emergency situations to rehabilitate devastated health care systems and bring communities back to self-reliance. This organization works in more than 70 countries, including Rwanda, Bosnia, West Africa, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and the Philippines. The Red Cross and Peace Corps are also outstanding examples of physicians going to patients in need of aid.

Working for one of these humanitarian initiatives can be wildly rewarding, despite the obvious dangers. However there are plenty of other jobs right for doctors that don’t necessarily involve treating patients, rounds, or even medical facilities! In addition to a more traditional practice and humanitarian-based options, physicians can work:

• As professors (in medical school)
• In research and development
• In the military
• In police work (Medical Examiner, Coroner)
• As expert witnesses (for trials/in court)
• As entertainment consultants (for TV shows, movies)
• In specialty fields (like cruise ships, for aviation)

A group called the Physician Renaissance Network offers “the first comprehensive resource created for doctors with non-clinical careers and interests.” Award-winning author and personality Lissa Rankin has several popular sites devoted to other types of jobs for physicians as well.

Want to learn more about the path to becoming a doctor?

Envision currently offers the NYLF Medicine program, a nine-day summer program for high-school students interested in medicine. Participating students live on one of several college campuses across the US, explore medical careers and see first-hand exactly what the path towards becoming a physician entails. It’s a great behind-the-scenes way to get a taste for medical school, try out your future career and have an awesome time with other high-school students who share the same interests.

There’s no doubt that pursuing a career in medicine is one of the most rewarding decisions of anyone’s life. In today’s evolving career marketplace, the options and opportunities facing young physicians are numerous. With a little planning and research, you can become educated about what’s out there and nicely positioned to make informed choices about your medical future.