When I first set up Medical Forum - I was focused more on career change away from medicine because the people I was hearing from were experiencing major health or career obstructions.

The emphasis has changed and the challenge is now more about assisting doctors to remain being doctors or to use their medical and health care knowledge and skills in more creative and effective ways. There is still an element or "career change" but somehow more organic.

I still say to people "its not about changing career - its about finding out what you want more of in life and then getting a plan for achieving that". Of course at times this incorporates change. But at the end of the day - most doctors did medicine because........ they want to work as doctors. Not rocket science you may say. The trouble is that so much of how people are expected to choose careers and then work in them is not addressed in the career guidance or recruitment process.

But I could write about this until the cows come home. In summary - career change doesn't always mean radical change but it does always mean changing "something" - from location to attitude, from colleagues to work content. from workstyle to hours worked. Radical change has its place but is not something anyone should leap into  - so career planning "prior to any resignation" is always my preferred way forwards if only because at times the resignation is not timely or not even needed.

 
The first thing to say is that you are not alone if you feel in distress regarding your career. You are not the first and you won't be the last.

The second is that if you feel things are in an unsustainable situation or that your health is deteriorating you must seek help. YES - seek help.

But where?

A trusted colleague is often the best but if that feels as if you are letting the side down or risking anything - then the following could be considered.

Visit to GP
Visit to Occupational Health
Start taking care of yourself better ( fit in a weekly yoga class if you can or an art class or similar)
Obtain our eworkbook "easy career change good career choice"

It is far better to take these steps than
go off sick ( though that may sometimes be needed - though its best taken under the umbrella of a supportive clinical consultation as you may not take long enough to recover otherwise)
to resign prematurely or out of desperation ( there is a place for resignation but it is so much better done under controlled conditions rather than knee jerk)

At Medical Forum we have an occupational health consultant who works for us and who can provide a half hour phone consultation in complete privacy and confidentiality.  So if there is no OH where you work or you don't feel comfortable going to see your GP/local OH you can still access some OH support.

​Kledfogg


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