What happens to Doctors who don't..

[Anonymous]

go on to complete their residencies? Do they get college teaching jobs or does it need a phD? Do they end up working in research? Other areas?

[Anonymous]

I know at least some of them go into consulting (I met two when interviewing for consulting jobs senior year of college). They were making serious money, seemed like not a terrible payoff on the years of schooling.

[Anonymous]

I had several law school classmates who were MDs and had not completed -- or in some cases, even started -- residency training.

[Anonymous]

I would assume most people who don't do residencies don't do them for a reason. There are so many more residency slots than MDs graduating each year, it's unlikely that someone who actually graduated med-school wouldn't get a residency position somehwere.

So what they do is based on why they didn't do a residency. Seems like much of it comes down to career changes. It would depend on the position whether they could teach, but I'm doubtful that someone with no clinical or research experience would be seen as a desirable teacher at a college. I bet some become medical reporters, go to medical device companies, become writers, become SAHPs...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would assume most people who don't do residencies don't do them for a reason. There are so many more residency slots than MDs graduating each year, it's unlikely that someone who actually graduated med-school wouldn't get a residency position somehwere.

So what they do is based on why they didn't do a residency. Seems like much of it comes down to career changes. It would depend on the position whether they could teach, but I'm doubtful that someone with no clinical or research experience would be seen as a desirable teacher at a college. I bet some become medical reporters, go to medical device companies, become writers, become SAHPs...

This number of residency slots per graduate is forecasted to diminish to less than 1,000 by 2020. I can't remember which source this came from but, it was solid. If I find it, I'll post it here.

[Anonymous]

Family member graduated from a top 10 medical school. Turns out, did not want to be a doctor...earned MSW afterwards and runs own counseling practice. Very happy with career choice.

[Anonymous]

^ I meant there will be less than 1,000 residency slots available beyond the current number of students currently in medical school. The number of unfilled residencies is expected to diminish.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who works for investment firms to research pharmaceutical-related equities

[Anonymous]

Don't understand why someone would do this (go through med school) instead of say, just do a Masters or MBA after undergrad and go down a similar path - consulting; research analyst, etc. Other that 4 years worth of loans, what do they gain if they don't go on to become physicians? Are they allowed to call themselves an MD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't understand why someone would do this (go through med school) instead of say, just do a Masters or MBA after undergrad and go down a similar path - consulting; research analyst, etc. Other that 4 years worth of loans, what do they gain if they don't go on to become physicians? Are they allowed to call themselves an MD?

Physician of many years here. I know several people who finished and received a degree medical school (so, yes they are MDs) who decide to not do a residency but do a myriad of other things, including being a lawyer, medical educators, several health care executives, and a owner of a biotech venture capital firm (makes over $20million per year.)

[Anonymous]

If they graduate from medical school, they have an MD. Many people go to med school and realize they would not be happy as practicing doctors. Some parents push their kids hard to pursue an MD, and there is no consideration on whether it's a good fit for the kid.

I'm an MD, and when I was a resident, each year there was at least 1 person in our program who went into a disabling depression. The hours and stress are tremendous. Residency and clinical practice are definitely not for everyone.

[Anonymous]

They become veterinarians or dentists.

[Anonymous]

Americans who graduate from medicals schools outside the US have trouble getting residencies in this country. These are frequently the folks who didn't quite make it into US medical schools. Some do get residencies and go on to be successful doctors but the odds aren't great. Those who don't manage to get residencies usually go into related fields teaching courses, pharmaceutical jobs, etc. I'd think the income probably doesn't rise like that of a practicing doctor and they still have the school loans to pay off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They become veterinarians or dentists.

Not unless they want to attend another 4 years of school and pay for it all over again. An MD does not qualify a person for either one of those jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They become veterinarians or dentists.

What is your IQ?