How To Find Your Passion In Medicine
A few months ago, I was talking to a physician who now does full-time research. Her description of her journey went something like this: “As I progressed through my training, I discovered I really enjoyed having time to investigate different questions and go more in-depth with clinical topics.” I love this explanation because it focuses on how she figured out what she loved rather than what she didn’t like. Your journey in medicine will almost certainly involve both things you like and things you’d rather avoid at all costs, and it’s up to you how you frame this exploration when discussing your career with others.
While I don’t have any idea what her experience in clinical medicine was like, this physician could have said, “As I progressed through my training, I discovered I really disliked clinic and needed something that feels less hectic.” By focusing on her strengths instead, she highlights her curiosity and flexibility in developing her career, and she takes an empowered stance. Changing pace, scope, and settings within your career is a healthy and normal part of career progression, and in this article I’ll share some ways you can find or reconnect with your passion if you’re feeling stagnant or burned out.
Emphasize The Positive
Let’s start with what we learned from our researcher colleague - what are the things I enjoy doing the most? Often during burnout it becomes easiest to focus on what we’re “done” doing: I’m done taking call, I’m done doing clinic five days per week, I’m done working with this particular chief complaint or population. But what are the times when you feel like you’re doing what you were meant to do? What are the situations where you feel completely engaged in what you’re doing, to the point that you lose track of time? If you’re in the midst of burnout, you may need to travel farther back to access these memories, and that’s ok. Write down two or three stories that you consider to be the highlights of your experiences in medicine and search for common threads within these stories. What were you doing? Who were you working with, and in what setting?
Sometimes you may truly love what you’re already doing, and there just needs to be a reduction in volume in order to make it enjoyable and sustainable again. This is often the most logical and least disruptive first step. However, if your work still feels unsustainable after cutting back your hours, it’s a good idea to explore ways that you can pivot to other practice settings or areas of focus. I know an OB-GYN who runs her own integrative medicine practice, and a general surgeon who focuses on women at high risk for breast cancer. What’s a niche you’ve always been passionate about? Be willing to think outside the box, and you’ll likely find there are more opportunities than you imagined.
Talk To Others
If you want to make a change in what your practice looks like, I highly recommend tapping into your professional network. This isn’t just for networking purposes to see what other positions might be available, although that may be an important part of it. The more crucial opportunity in these conversations is to ask your colleagues if they’ll invite you into their journeys so that you can learn about yourself in the process. “How did you know you wanted to work in health policy?” “What’s your favorite thing about palliative care?” “What would you recommend to someone who’s considering opening their own practice?” When I was planning my career pivot, I relied heavily on these meetings, but don’t be discouraged if the first few don’t produce the kind of “aha” moment you’re looking for. I had met with probably a dozen colleagues before I had the two meetings that provided my big breakthroughs.
Try Different Things
I’ll just speak for myself here - it’s uncomfortable for me to give the impression that I don’t have my life figured out. It makes me sweat to give any indication that my career is anything other than a perfectly linear progression set in motion by my omniscient intentions from an age before I could legally drive. The problem with this frame of mind is that it makes it very difficult to explore something new. A few years ago, I gave myself permission to try things without feeling that I have to commit to them forever, and this has revolutionized my ability to expand my career. I’ve also embraced the ethos that most decisions are reversible. A dear mentor advised me not to limit my scope by practicing in senior care for three years right after residency, but I’m now back to seeing all ages. A colleague of mine switched specialties in residency and later returned to his original program without significant difficulty. Fear of opportunity loss should motivate you to keep doors open rather than shutting them, but it shouldn’t keep you from moving forward.
What one step do you want to take today to find or reconnect with your passion in medicine? Whether it’s shifting your practice to embrace the moments you feel most fulfilled, exploring opportunities by asking colleagues about their experiences, or allowing yourself to try out something new, there are numerous ways you can break through inertia and reignite the spark you felt when you first chose to devote your life to helping others. At EmpoweredMD, we provide one-on-one support as you sort through your options and design a course of action to create the career of your dreams. Please click below for a free coaching consultation or subscribe to stay in touch about future opportunities.