Feeling like a tremendous loser bc of my career path

[Anonymous]

Drop out of your current practice. Join Doctors without Borders and go to Africa or something for 2 years. Then come back and read your OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a primary care doctor and have been in an administrative role for a few years making quite a bit of money...I am looking at primary care roles again that pay what you earn, more or less. The grass isn't always greener - and the subspecialists are many in my administrative type of role and fled a lifestyle they disliked, for a pay cut. It's all relative. Find your hobbies and purpose outside of medicine, live for that and don't focus on past decisions or regrets. I have many and spent too long doing that.

This is excellent advice. OP do you have big debt or something? Your salary is fine. Talk to a wealth management person at Merrill Lynch or wherever to make sure you are maximizing your assets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any advantages to your job in terms of QOL? How intense is it compared to what your more successful peers do? Are you on call, covering emergencies, working long weird hours, night shifts? Do you have a lot of stress and high liability? Do you work for a hospital or a bigger office that exploits you and puts you on a treadmill, making you exhausted by the end of the day? Do you have any flexibility with your hours or ability to work part time in the future? All of these matter.

Yes I have amazing flexibility in my current role, very unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drop out of your current practice. Join Doctors without Borders and go to Africa or something for 2 years. Then come back and read your OP.

I can’t do that I have children. But also, you don’t need to go to Africa to see people in circumstances that make you feel lucky to have your own life and privileges. Everyone in clinical medicine has seen thousands of people in situations that make them grateful for their health and blessings.