The Doctor's Crossing Carpe Diem Podcast

Have you ever heard of a matchmaker for physicians? And no, I don't mean a romantic matchmaker - I mean a professional matchmaker who helps you find a clinical role that's a great fit! My guest today, family medicine physician Dr. Lara Hochman, runs a business that does exactly this. She's here to discuss how to understand your priorities and assess whether a job is right for you. Dr. Hochman will...

A common fear that can hold physicians back from making a career change is the fear of making the wrong choice. But what if I were to tell you there is no "wrong" choice? Today's guest, Dr. Kimberly Hartzfeld, is a former OB-GYN who is here to discuss how she reinvented herself as a functional medicine physician. She'll share how she knew she was ready for a change, the details of her journey, and...

When considering a career change, many physicians don't want to leave clinical practice, they just want to change the way they practice. And while you may have some preconceived notions about what it means to have a concierge practice, today's guest, Dr. Jim Lindberg, is here to help us separate fact from fiction on this growing practice model. Dr. Linberg is an internist and pediatrician who tran...

Have you ever heard of a medical review officer, also known as an MRO? Chances are this may be new to you! This little-known nonclinical role could be a good fit if you're looking for flexible work with a great work-life balance, and like detective work.  My guest today, Dr. Erin Blackburn, is a pediatrician who now works as a medical review officer evaluating employee drug tests and processes. Sh...

If you've heard about nonclinical physician roles in the life insurance industry, was your first thought "I don't want to sell insurance"? This is one of the many misconceptions about the field that today's returning guest, Dr. Megan Leivant, an internal medicine physician who transitioned to a role in life insurance medicine, is here to discuss. Dr. Leivant will also catch us up on her career pat...

When transitioning out of clinical practice, many physicians are seeking more flexibility and also want to continue contributing to progressing health and science. My guest today, Dr. Jill Miracle, found a role that checks both of these boxes: working as a principal investigator for a contract research organization (CRO). Dr. Miracle will discuss why she was experiencing burnout in her role as an...

You've decided you need a change. You may even know what that change should be. But too often doctors fall into a trap that keeps them from making a needed change: the fear of uncertainty. Today's guest, Dr. Navin Goyal, is here to help you reframe and conquer this common fear. Dr. Goyal is an anesthesiologist who stepped off the well-trodden path of full-time clinical practice to become an author...

While most physicians are familiar with the broad category of medical writing as a nonclinical career, many wonder what types of roles are available in this field. Spoiler alert: there are lots! My guest today, cardiologist and medical writer Dr. Yasmine Ali, is here to walk us through the many facets of medical writing and demystify this popular nonclinical career. She'll discuss how she made thi...

Consulting is a great nonclinical opportunity, but the term "consulting" can seem vague, leading physicians to wonder exactly what this work entails, especially at a consulting firm. Today's guest, Dr. Ron Jimenez, is a pediatrician, CEO of his own start-up, and he works for one of the big consulting firms. Dr. Jimenez is here to discuss his day-to-day work, why he likes consulting, what types of...

Are you intrigued by the idea of being an expert witness but concerned about the potential need to appear in court? Enter a deposition-free alternative: the medical-legal case consultant. My guest today, Dr. Armin Feldman, is a psychiatrist with a fascinating story about how he developed a career in this field after working clinically with patients who sustained head injuries. Dr. Feldman has an o...

By the time many physicians transition to a nonclinical career, they admit to having a long-time gut feeling that practicing medicine wasn't for them - they just didn't listen. While the reasons for not listening differ, coming to terms with these conflicting feelings is necessary to move forward. Today's guest, 4th year pathology resident Dr. Alec Jacobson, is here to share the story of his diffi...

While most physicians are aware that there are nonclinical opportunities available in the pharmaceutical industry, many are unclear about the specifics of different roles. My guest today, oncologist Dr. Mary Pinder-Schenck, is here to clear up this confusion by discussing her job in Medical Affairs. Dr. Pinder-Schenck will share why she decided to move to industry, how she made the leap, her day-t...

While expert witness work is a popular physician side gig, lots of folks have preconceived notions about this role that might not be accurate and may keep them from exploring something that's a good fit. My guest today, Dr. Gretchen Green, is a radiologist and experienced expert witness who offers an online course about this lucrative side hustle. We'll discuss how Dr. Green got into this line of...

One of the most common questions I get asked about nonclinical careers is, "What are my options if I didn't complete residency?" Luckily, the answer is, "There are lots of options!" Today's guest, Dr. Lauren Weinand, is here to share how and why she chose not to pursue residency and instead took a role that combined her love for both writing and science by working for a medical communications comp...

Not everyone who attends medical school goes on to do a residency. And for different reasons, not all physicians finish a residency. What kind of opportunities are available if this happens to be you? The short answer is, there are an infinite number of options. Today, we're revisiting a popular past episode where Dr. John Jurica, host of the Physicians Nonclinical Careers Podcast, discussed the w...

Do you remember that day when you were granted your license to practice medicine? Whoohoo! It's a big deal to have an active medical license. And once it's been retired or inactive for a period of time, it can be rather arduous, depending on the state, to get it back.  Today we're revisiting my second podcast episode with Arnold Lorenzo, a medical licensing expert, to talk about how to keep your l...

It's common for physicians embarking on a career change to wonder if another degree is necessary to make this transition. And many physicians do obtain an additional degree, with an MBA being one of the most popular. If you're questioning whether this is the right move for you, I have the perfect guest today to answer your burning questions. Dr. Kate Atchley is the executive director of the health...

The path to a career change - whether clinical or nonclinical - is not a linear one. There are twists and turns in the road, and getting hung up on certain elements of the process too early can unintentionally derail your plans. In today's solo episode I'm discussing why asking "How?" too early in your career change journey has the potential to shut things down before they really get started. I'll...

Having multiple state licenses can be useful when you're working clinically doing telemedicine and locums tenens. For certain nonclinical careers, having a specific state license or multiple licenses can be a critical factor in getting hired. For example, if you're looking to work in utilization management (UM), an ideal background may not be enough to land a job. The state you are licensed in may...

Many physicians transitioning to nonclinical careers are aware of available roles in the pharmaceutical industry, but may be less familiar with career options in the medical device industry. Today's guest, Dr. Christine Mauro, is here to discuss how and why she transitioned into the medical device field after training as a general surgeon. She'll explain the similarities and differences between th...

Have you heard about physician advisor opportunities but wondered what's REALLY involved in the daily work? Is there conflict with insurance companies? Push back from physician colleagues? Today's returning guest, family medicine physician Dr. Timothy Owolabi, is here to discuss these issues and more about the role of physician advisor. He will share what brought him back to this career path after...

Most physicians are familiar with the more well-known side gigs - utilization review, expert witness, and (of course) those extra clinical shifts. But another lesser-known side hustle that can be both rewarding and lucrative is public speaking. My guest today, Dr. Jordan Grumet, is an internal medicine and hospice physician, writer, podcast host, and passionate public speaker. He's here to discuss...

Physicians often leave clinical medicine not because they don't want to see patients anymore, but because they are burned out from the charting, long hours, and lack of flexibility that come with the role. But what if I told you that a clinical option exists that allows you to keep caring for patients without these common headaches? This is what today's guest, Dr. Heather Awad, a family medicine p...

Physicians pursue side gigs for a variety of reasons, such as earning extra money, adding variety to their practice, or testing the waters in a new field. Today's returning guest, Dr. Helen Rhodes, is here to discuss a little known side gig that covers all three of these bases- being a medical director at a plasma center. Dr. Rhodes will share how she found this hidden gem of a role, what the resp...

Have you considered applying to roles in the pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical device industries, but are struggling to figure out which positions fit your skill set? This is a common source of confusion for physicians transitioning to these industries, which is why our returning guest today, Dr. Laura McKain, is here to demystify this lingo for us. Dr. McKain worked in the pharmaceutical indust...