SEAK Non-Clinical Careers Conference

Last month I was in Chicago at the SEAK Non-Clinical Careers Conference. This is one of my favorite conferences and I love volunteering there as a mentor every year. I sat in a humongous room in the Crown Plaza Hotel at a tiny table where I met with a different physician attendee every 15 minutes for 2 days.

In mini-mentoring sessions that felt like a cross between the old game show, “Beat the Clock “ and a live version of, “What Color is My Parachute?” I talked with doctors about their particular career situations.

There were close to 400 physicians at the conference, some coming from as far away as Saudia Arabia and the Caymen Islands. There were diverse specialists, from pathologists to surgeons, and many primary care physicians. I met with a medical student, a resident, a septuagenarian, and many docs in their 30’s – 50’s.

Does everyone want to leave medicine? No, not at all. Many still like caring for patients, but need something to change. At issue are the common problems affecting doctors nationwide – burnout, lack of control, frustration with the EMR, long hours, little time for family or self, and feeling stagnant. Then there are the positive drivers – the desire to make a difference in a bigger way, entrepreneurial ideas, an interest in focusing on wellness, not illness, and just plain curiosity.

When they weren’t meeting with mentors or recruiters, the attendees listened to speakers who had transitioned into areas such as:

Pharma and medical devices
Consulting
Informatics
Insurance (life, disability, and health)
Non-profit sector
Government
Administration
Entrepreneurial endeavors
Medical writing
Financial planning

Whenever I’m at SEAK and meeting with doctors, there are always some tears shed, some giddy laughter, and a lot of getting to the heart of the matter. With such a short time to talk (15 min), I want to know what is really important to this individual sitting in front of me, and start sketching out a path of possibility.

I always end up with these thoughts every year after this conference:

Doctors are pretty amazing people. They are incredibly hard working, persistent, responsible and care deeply about making a difference in the world. It saddens me to see so many feeling trapped. But I also have faith in their ability to find what is right for them. This is truly a challenging time for healthcare, and challenging times bring out innovation and can be a catalyst for positive change.

In the “good old days,” few doctors knew about non-clinical careers and no one talked about having a portfolio career. Perhaps a silver lining to these troubled times is that doctors are gaining a broader perspective on career possibilities and can plan, even from medical school, for a more diverse and sustainable professional path. Fulltime clinical practice until retirement has been the norm, where the doctor “dies with his boots on.” However, just as stock portfolios benefit from diversity, so too can a doctor’s career be strengthened by combining patient care with non-clinical pursuits, or having different career stages that allow for continued growth, learning and engagement.

Since I first attended SEAK in 2010, the number of attendees has grown over 40%. The popularity of this conference is evidence that the traditional practice of medicine is not satisfying to many physicians. Let us not judge doctors for looking into options, but try to understand what is at the root of the searching and look for win-win solutions.

Disclaimer: I have no financial association with SEAK.

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Posted in career change, career enhancement, Nonclinical Jobs

Heather Fork

2 Comments

Dr Parul Salunke on November 5, 2015 at 8:29 am

Dear Ms Fork,

It was wonderful reading about the availability of non-clinical careers for doctors who feel trapped in their current role. Let me explain my situation…I am a clinical microbiologist, working as a consultant at a private lab. I am unhappy with my current role because I have a lot of free time which I am unable to utilize..I don’t get to interact with other physicians much, so there is limited growth..Attending a conference means missing three days of work (and pay). And, above all, I am not being paid much.

The positives…I am responsible for the day-to-day fuctioning of the “Microbiology dept.” of the lab. I take the final technical decisions. This requires that I read continually so that I am academically abreast.

But again, I feel I should be better paid and get more exposure through interaction with other microbiologists and clinicians.

I also like documenting rare/important findings in medical journals. I write well and enjoy writing. I have a sound knowledge of most medical specialities. I don’t want to transition into being a medical writer, but…

What have you for me?

Regards and Thanks,
Dr Parul Salunke.

Reply
- Heather Fork on November 5, 2015 at 7:43 pm
  
  Thank you very much for reading and your positive remarks. I appreciate the challenges you are experiencing in your current position as a consultant in a private lab. I have sent you an email to further discuss.
  
  Reply

"Heather’s approach was great! She would listen to me and helped me appreciate who I am."

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Family Medicine

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Family Medicine

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Anesthesiologist

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Papillion, NE

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Orthopedic Surgeon

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Pathologist

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Colorectal Surgeon

“I gained the confidence in myself to develop an action plan that blended the best parts of my experiences and interests into a cohesive career."

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- Liz McMurtry, DO

Emergency Medicine Physician

“The simple truth is - Heather Fork totally helped me change my life."

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When I first started working with Heather, I was downtrodden...I’d been practicing medicine for 20+ years and yet had never quite found my place. During the first year I worked with Heather, I left the practice I’d been working at, and recreated an entirely new professional purpose.

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Family Physician

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Endocrinologist and Life Coach

"Heather was my source of hope during a time when I felt stuck and confused. She gave me the permission and confidence to reach higher than I believed I could."

After graduating from residency and starting a family, I lost sight of why I became a physician. I struggled to convince myself to stay in a career that was clearly the wrong fit for me and my family. My anxiety about work was at an all-time high when I reached out to Heather. She provided something that my mentors, friends, and family could not – rather than just offering career advice, she changed the way I think about my life so that I could understand how my career would fit into it. I realized I wasn’t ready to give up on medicine and eventually found a job in academic medicine. I finally feel that excitement for medicine that I used to feel when I was in training. More importantly, I feel like I can be the role model to my young daughter who may one day also face similar challenges between career and family. Thank you, Heather, for all your kindness, support, and skillful coaching! The experience was life-changing!

- Yuri Shindo, MD

Internal Medicine Physician

"As a Physician, your personal and even professional needs are often overlooked. I learned how to prioritize my career goals by working with Dr. Heather Fork."

She taught me how to put into practice what I knew in theory, that taking care of myself was a priority. I learned to give myself permission to make the career choices that would give me the work-life balance I desperately craved and needed. The process of confronting fears and insecurities was a bit scary, but well worth it in the end. I am now a happier version of myself with a non-clinical job that I truly enjoy!

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Family Medicine

"After 10 years in outpatient family medicine I felt stuck and knew I needed a change but I didn’t know where to begin. Thankfully I found Heather and she guided me every step of the way."

She helped me carefully assess my interests, strengths and passions while also providing me with constructive changes to implement in my job search and resume. With Heather’s help, I just landed a fully remote UM position and I am also exploring coaching as well. Now I feel like the possibilities are endless and I’m excited for this next chapter in the nonclinical world! Thank you Heather for changing my life for the better.

- Ana Jacobellis, DO

"I'm truly thankful to have had the opportunity to be coached by Heather, she is not only a resourceful mentor but a wise and supportive friend. I'm honored to recommend Heather to all my friends and colleagues."

I had been a practicing Internist for 20 years when I reached a point when I needed to make a serious change in my career path. While I enjoyed seeing patients, I was not satisfied with my life-work balance. My job was taking me away from my family and left me little time and energy to do other things that are important and meaningful to me. I came across Dr. Fork's podcast; The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast, it is such an informative and enjoyable podcast for any physician who wants to do more with their career and life in general. Then I had the pleasure to get career coaching from Heather, it was truly an amazing experience. Heather has broad knowledge of all the different career paths that are available for physicians, she is so insightful and very easy to talk to. She helped me clarify my goals, examine my own mindset and definition of success. Together we developed a clear plan and actionable steps to reach these goals. I eventually made a career transition to a remote non-clinical position that allows me to do meaningful work which aligns with my personal and professional goals and priorities.

- Abbey Awad, MD

Internal Medicine

"There have been a handful of people who have come into my life and changed it, and Heather is one of those people."

From the very first interaction with Heather, it became abundantly clear that she possessed a systematic approach and a methodology firmly rooted in my focusing on my goals and aspirations. Heather's coaching sessions helped me dismantle limiting beliefs and unearth the capable woman, mother, and physician within me. Under Heather's guidance, I began to dream again. I rediscovered my passion for writing, found the courage to share my stories, and even launched my own coaching practice. Today, I specialize in helping others conquer imposter syndrome and overcome burnout, empowering them to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. Working with Heather fundamentally shifted my perspective and allowed me to show up authentically in every facet of my life, resulting in a profound sense of fulfillment.

I am deeply grateful that I can continue my work in the emergency department and serve my community as a physician as well as a coach. Working with Heather was a transformative gift that enabled me to rediscover my true self, find clarity in my life's purpose, and unlock my full potential. Through her guidance, I not only reignited the powerful, confident, and bold version of myself I had lost sight of but also realized the boundless possibilities that lay ahead.

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Emergency physician and coach

"I'm so glad that I worked with Heather last year."

Making a career shift can be a lonely time, and Heather was there every step of the way with encouraging words. She helped me gain a better understanding of the breadth of careers available to physicians, as well as giving me the tools to make that leap possible. My life is better than I ever thought possible. I'm happier, healthier and doing work that I love. My only regret is that I didn't do this sooner.

Caitlin M.

"Heather provided invaluable insight during our one-time consultation."

She quickly helped me recognize an area where I was limiting myself and encouraged me to explore new possibilities. Her sound and supportive guidance empowered me to take the next steps in launching my parent coaching services. I’m grateful for her support and highly recommend her expertise!

Reshma Shah MD, MPH

"Heather taught me that 'the truth will set you free'."

I sought Heather’s guidance after practicing outpatient internal medicine for many years, as it was getting difficult to balance my role as a clinician while meeting my needs and those of my family. After our first consultation, I felt like I was seen and heard for the first time in my career. Working with Heather helped me identify my strengths, weaknesses, fears, and goals, and ultimately guided me to a non-clinical role that better aligned with my needs and aspirations. I am deeply indebted to Heather for the impact she has had on my personal and professional development. She is one of the most influential people in my life and I continue to seek her guidance years after our initial encounter. She once said that “we are happiest and most successful when we are using our skills and abilities at their highest level.” Heather will help you discover your truth. Thank you for your incredible work and friendship!

Megan Leivant, MD

Internal Medicine