Obtaining an unrestricted U.S. state medical license after passing USMLE Step 3 gives you many options for non-clinical opportunities. Additionally, if you are board-certified in your general field of practice, clinical opportunities like moonlighting and locums may be available for you. Doctoring Differently can show you how to start! A Little More Advice: Doing a(nother) fellowship will not make you happier. Do a fellowship because you are passionate about the subject. Do not do a fellowship because you believe that it will make you more valuable to an institution or because you imagine that life as a specialist will be better than that of a generalist.

Yes! You have many clinical and non-clinical options as a new residency graduate. We at Doctoring Differently believe that most new graduates should work clinically in some capacity—either on a part-time or per-diem basis. The Doctoring Differently course is an excellent resource to teach you about the many lucrative and flexible career options you were likely not taught in residency. A Little Advice: Whether you decide to sign a full-time clinical contract or not, please do not imagine your first job as your forever job. Your first full-time attending job should be a casual dating relationship, not a marriage. Pay attention to what you like and what you do not like, but do not fully commit yourself to that job long-term unless your employer has consistently proven that they value your time, effort, and labor. Show up, work hard, and in 2-3 years, reassess. At that point, it might be time to move on (and Doctoring Differently will be here to help you when you are ready).

Residency is hard. There is no sugarcoating it. Our residency system is long overdue for comprehensive reform that includes workplace protection, mental health support, and fair wages for all trainees. While we understand wanting (and needing) to earn more money to supplement your resident wages, those precious few hours that are not spent on-call, post-call, or fulfilling clinical duties, should be spent sleeping, eating, or doing something that makes your feel good about yourself. However, If you have passed the USMLE Step 3 exam, you are eligible to apply for a U.S. state medical license. That license gives you access to a number of clinical and non-clinical Physician opportunities that are discussed in detail within the Doctoring Differently course. You are welcome to join us!

The Doctoring Differently platform and curriculum was created exclusively for Physicians (MD, DO, MBBS, or equivalent). For other resources, consider exploring "The Bedside Rescuer."

The infuriating truth is that revenue motivated increases in medical school class sizes have not been matched by a proportionate increase in residency program sizes thus creating an epidemic of qualified, unmatched medical students. Many of the opportunities presented on the Doctoring Differently platform require an unrestricted U.S. state medical license which requires completion of an intern year and passage of USMLE Step 3 exam. If you are one of the thousands of qualified, unmatched medical students, you are welcome to take the Doctoring Differently course as much of the curriculum will help you think about your next steps once you are able to secure an unrestricted U.S. state medical license. For additional support, consider exploring https://allianceofmg.wordpress.com/

Medical school is one of the most difficult times in our lives, but it does not last forever. If you are having difficulty envisioning a life as a Physician, be transparent with your Dean and the administrators at your medical school and consider taking a semester or a year off. Speak to a therapist and take the time to think carefully about what you want in life. You deserve to follow your individual passions in this life—inside or outside of a career in medicine.