I Quit Medicine...& I'm So Glad | Leaving Medicine For Another Career

I did something that most doctors & medical students wouldn't usually do...

I left medicine back in 2012, straight after graduation and I moved to Berlin, Germany to start a new career in tech startups. As if that wasn't exciting and (quite frankly nerve-wracking enough) I then went on to become a social entrepreneur.

Leaving medicine was such a difficult decision for me to make, but I am SO glad that I listened to my instinct and chose a different path, that has led me so much closer to finding fulfilment and true purpose.

I hope you enjoy watching this video and as always if you have any questions about my journey, comment them below! 😁

#leavingmyjob #careerchange #changingmylife #jobchange #quittingmyjob #quittingmedicine #entrepreneurship #socialentrepreneurship #socialentrepreneur

---

📌 Doctors exploring alternative careers → join my new online community & resource centre:

---

UPCOMING E-BOOK: 100 Alternative Careers For Doctors:

FREE NEWSLETTER:

---

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:27 My Dream of Becoming A Doctor
01:46 Going To Medical School
02:35 When Things Started To Get Difficult
04:40 My Mental Health Started To Dip
05:20 Deciding If I Want To Continue Medical School
05:57 What I Did Differently To Others
06:49 Trying To Find Help
08:00 Creating My Own Opportunity
08:26 Starting A New Career
09:27 Considering Going Back To Medicine
10:38 Becoming An Entrepreneur

---

My Equipment:

Catch me on social here:

---

DISCLAIMER:

The information provided in this video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It should not be considered as professional advice or guidance on changing careers. Viewers are encouraged to do their own research and seek the advice of professionals before making any decisions. The creator of this video is not responsible for any consequences that may arise from following the information presented.

AFFILIATE LINKS:
Just a heads up! Some of the links I've added above are affiliate links. As part of the Amazon Associates Program this means if you buy something using one of my links, I may earn a small commission. But don't worry - there's no extra cost to you - you'll always pay the same price for the item with or without using my link.

[MizVoodooDoll]

Yes the toxicity and bullying is rampant, 10years into medicine it never ends. Glad you made it out early!

[jonathanlemagicien]

I am a french doctor and this video resonate so hard. For my residency I tried a new experience and chose to do psychiatry in switzerland. It is not better and after 10 months I hate it, feel anxiety most of time, and just spend my days dreaming the day I Will end. At least until last week, when i had a bike accident, almost dying, woking up in intensive cares, with a tube in my mouth. The first thought I had when I woke up was « why am I not dead, it would be over ». The second thought was, despite broken teeths and unbelievable pain « thank god i dont need to go to work for few weeks ». The third was « I have to stop ».
They said I had an epilepsy crisis on my bike after a night at hospital, the reason according to them is « lack of sleep ».
Deep down, i just now I am exhausted, tired, stressed, and miserable.
Today I chose to quit for good and i found your video. It resonate so hard it is almost suspicious to me 😅
I just dont know what the hell I am gonna do, and how i Will announce it to my familiy.
I feel scared, I know I dont want to quit medicine without a solid plan.
But I also know that if I continue I Will Die, for good this time.
Thank you so much for your video, you gave me hope.
Jonathan

[karlaplascencia]

It’s an absolute travesty that a person’s career becomes their identity. Thank you for posting about your choice. This must not have been easy. I applaud you.

[sebisonline]

I did the exact same thing ! Totally agree on the thinking of "just another year..." of just delaying happiness but with no guarantee that anything will come of it. Not worth it!

[smithhbea]

I feel this 100%. Even I am not friends with anyone in my medical school. Medical school literally attracts the worst people ever.

[DocWanderer]

Doctor From India.

I was bullied and harassed. I quit obgyn residency..and I reflected.

I reflected that we have the power to build the life we want. So for starter, build your boundary! Shift off is shift off. No compromise. Just like other hospital workers do.

No bowing under fear. No enduring unjust treatment for the sake of hierarchy. Be the black sheep. And have the spine straight.

This place will be toxic. But I love medicine. I cannot imagine not being a doctor. Not serving. So, I have decided not to let bullies win..not to succumb and to have the spine straight af! No buckling under pressure. We can always quit. Am a doctor! I'll get employment anywhere. But we will fight this culture.. this toxicity. And pledge to be better seniors, and THIS CYCLE ENDS WITH US!

And what I regret? Not replying. Not giving those bullies a piece of my mind. So I swear. I'll never be silent. I'll always take action against them. I'll see the end of it. Am not letting egoistic, mean folks win this. Karma is a bitch and I pray all our bullies will meet it!

And yes, WE END THE CYCLE.

[DoctorShane]

Loved it. I'm an anesthesiology resident going through the same stuff. I can't stand the fact that I have to endure this bullying and toxic culture for my whole life. I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing 36-hour-long duties and night shifts instead of spending my prime time with my family. I hope I find a way to exit this profession.

[Spikeswift]

You should be so proud of yourself. My daughter will be starting her medicine journey in September and I know that if she is ever in this position I will be telling her her health and happiness are whey more important than becoming a doctor. Congratulations for finding happiness and contentment

[rodneyfarmer]

I've yet to see an article or video that informs everyone about the alternative career paths outside of anything related to medicine. It's always the same...consulting, management, insurance, research, etc., etc. I'd love to see a series interviewing physicians who left that path and became elementary school teachers, construction workers, coaches, film, the arts, and so on. Physicians have unfortunately been programmed to believe the options are very limited, and that one cannot live comfortably and be happy outside of medicine, when in fact, it's nothing more than gaslighting by the industry as a whole.

[amberj]

I’m a PA in the US, it’s the same with us in terms of those who teach us. During our clinical year you see so many people being rude to one another, not making anything a safe learning environment. I now work for a doctor in the US and it’s the same thing. Always hard on you. Always making you feel like you aren’t good enough. Medicine is the more corrupt field. If you are just a good person who wants to help people it is VERY hard to stay nice and feel happy. I have stayed nice but many nights I’ve went home in tears over the way an attending or lead doctor spoke to me. The culture is wrong. Thank you for speaking truthfully. This whole arena needs to change. It’s not right.

[Booklover-coffeelover]

I'm leaving too. Going to become a certified nurse assistant. Less money, and status, more happiness and mental stability. Simple things in life are the best.

[NrityaK]

I regret doing mbbs in India being an American citizen of Indian origin. I listened to my parents when they painted a picture saying how i could go to med school directly after high school by studying abroad. It was the most toxic work environment ever in India. The profs/ consultants always bullying, yelling at the medical students, residents, nurses, hospital staff, etc. Threatening to fail med students and ruin someone's career even before it started. It was a pure mental torture doing mbbs in India. I finished it for the sake of getting a degree since i was already half way through that horrible ordeal. After coming back home to the U.S, i no longer had the interest or hope of being a doctor that I once dreamed of eince childhood in spite of having a medical degree. Did not pursue USMLE for residency. I applied for a competitive job at a well known medical device company and went through series of interviews, did well and got hired. I probably don't make as much, if i had worked as a doctor. But i still make a good six figure salary and good work life balance. Looking back i wish i had known about other career paths like Anesthesia assistant or something who make money as much as doctors.

I also don't talk to any of my "friends" from med school!

[shahid]

I am sorry you had the experience you did in the medical field. As I read in the comments I feel like you are not alone. Me however had an exactly opposite experience. I did my MBBS from India went thru foundation training in the UK and moved to the US and did my Internal medicine residency. I practiced for 12 years in Acute Care while teaching medical students and residents. I had some wonderful mentors throughout my way. There some very kind teachers and students from whom I learnt a lot from. After 12 years of teaching/practicing I was motivated to train further and currently I am Pershing a fellowship in critical care medicine. I am looking forward yet another fulfilling chapter in my professional life as I am finishing my fellowship. I did have tough times, but most I remember in the last 20 years since I finished med school are some wonderful people and how I went from strength to strength. And with this experience I have so many options ahead not just for me to grow but to give back to the society. I am truly grateful to all my mentors and teachers from India to UK to USA.

[Sun-sfsf]

An eye-opening video that nobody wants to talk about but everyone kind of knows about. I hope your experience and advice dispel the glorification of medical school and the profession in general. Bullying and toxic environments breed poor healthcare, which worries me if I ever get sick. The medical field is as age old as how antiquated the education system is. Breed mental health issues for so many. Thanks for your video!

[TheSarahlikesmusic]

I am so deeply thankful that you got the courage to speak up about this. I've started struggling with mental health issues as well during med school mostly due to the toxic work environment and culture around making mistakes, and I've felt so alone in my experience for a long time. It is so difficult to admit to yourself that you're struggling, let alone speak up about it to colleagues. I've had senior doctors, nurses and even fellow med students tell me I should quit medicine just for mentioning that I wanted to achieve some kind of work life balance later on. I've had people tell me to not talk back to the nurses when they were actively bullying me because I "wasn't doing myself any favors" and it would be best to keep quiet and to just suck it up like everyone else does. Healthcare somehow leaves little air to breathe and be yourself because of the intense stress and responsibility, and I do believe that this leads to a natural selection of less sensitive people and people who sacrifice parts of themselves, therefore perpetuating the cycle. I don't know much about the UK (I study in Germany) but I reckon it's similar from what I've heard.

[marhabamughal]

Thank goodness someone shed a light on the toxic training culture and the constant bullying. I myself have left residency in ENT and I aM thinking to pursue a career in medical teaching

[shahdo]

Omg thank you so much, you don’t understand how much I needed this video in my current state, I am a third year med student and I suffer from anxiety due to med school and I have been thinking about dropping out a lot however I keep on telling myself just wait until you graduate and so finding someone to relate to was exactly what I needed, I hope I am brave enough in the future to actually graduate and leave med school to study music which is the carrier path and the dream I have always wanted to achieve

[maryopop]

Dear Hana! Thank you so much for this video! I'm a veterinary doctor with 12 years of experience and I'm so (like you said) so miserable right now. I have been feeling pretty low these past 2 years and have been trying to figure out what to do next. It's not easy to untie this feeling of identity with a career that became your everything. I thought of myself to be a veterinarian before anything else, and this liberation feels like a very bad divorce. Thank you so much for sharing!!! See you on the other side!

[erickolb]

It's 1.07 am now in Malaysia, and i am crying tears of relief after hearing your story. I have this immense sense of relief because i resonated deeply with every word u said. 6 days ago, i officially took the long overdue decision to quit clinical medicine entirely after only been in housemanship for 2 weeks. Never a day i dont feel dreadful and anxious about going to work. it's literally the worst depression and anxiety i have in life. youre very right about not being able to fathom the thought of just another year and another year for basically the rest of my life. Thank you so much for appearing on my recommendation. u have no idea the confidence i have in my decision now :))))

[lilylife]

Hana, you're amazing for sharing this. I also felt like it wasn't for me during the training. I am working in medicine, dreaming of the day when I can start my own non-healthcare related business. You are not alone. You were brave to do what you did!!! Your story is giving me courage. Tank you!