Non-Clinical Careers Conference – Review

SEAKOver 400 physicians met in Chicago for the Non-Clinical Careers for Physicians Conference this weekend. We learned about dozens of jobs outside clinical care.

Many of you asked for more details. So I pulled most of the following information from the organizers.

I enjoyed it and would try to attend the pre-conference symposia next time.

Jobs at this conference included:

  • Large International Pharmaceutical Company – Associate Medical Directors working in Pharmacology, Clinical Development, Medical Affairs, and Drug Safety (3 Full Time Positions)
  • National Health Insurer– (16 Full time positions available including one work from home position)
  • Niche Consulting Firm– Physician engineers (10 Full Time positions)
  • Top National Insurance Company(1 Full time position)
  • Top Research Based Biopharmaceutical Company( 1 Full time Position related to drug safety)
  • National Medical Necessity Company(3 Full time positions)
  • National Consulting Company(Many contractors needed to perform IMEs and Fitness for Duty Exams)
  • National Peer Review Company(Looking to add 150-200 independent contract physicians to its roster each month)
  • Physician Disability Consultants(Home based independent contractors)
  • Workers’ Compensation Utilization Review Company(Up to 100 remote independent contractors wanted)

Non-Clinical Careers Conference

After cornerstone lectures with the whole group on the first morning, 35-40 recruiters, mentors and coaches each introduced themselves from a packed podium. We stampeded after them to book appointments over the next two days.

Then we picked lectures that ran concurrently over the remaining day and a half. Check out the main link for the schedule.

We learned about many of the following jobs, including training, time required, pros, cons and remuneration:

  1. Academia/Teaching
  2. Administration
  3. Author
  4. Blogger
  5. Business Owner
  6. Clinical Research/Development
  7. Coaching
  8. Communications Specialist
  9. Compliance
  10. Consulting Firms
  11. Contract Research Organizations (CROs)
  12. Disability Consultant
  13. Drug Safety/Pharmacovigilance
  14. Education
  15. Entrepreneur/Business owner
  16. Expert Witness/Litigation Support
  17. Federal Government
  18. Financial Planner
  19. Healthcare Advocate
  20. Health Guidance Organization Medical Director
  21. Health Insurance
  22. Hospice Medical Director
  23. Grant Reviewer
  24. Informatics/Heath Care Information Technology
  25. Insurance Free Medical Practice
  26. Journalist/TV Reporter
  27. Leadership Development
  28. Life Insurance
  29. Market Medical Director
  30. Medical Communications
  31. Marketing Consultant
  32. Medical Device Company Medical Director/Consultant
  33. Medical Director
  34. Medical Ethics
  35. Medical Marketing
  36. Medical Science Liaison
  37. Non-Profits
  38. Peer Reviewer
  39. Pharma (Industry)
  40. Physician Advisor
  41. Physician Executive
  42. Physician Training
  43. Portfolio Career
  44. Provider Network Medical Director
  45. Public Health
  46. Regulatory Affairs (Pharma)
  47. Software Developer
  48. Solo Consulting
  49. Speaking
  50. Staff Physician
  51. Utilization Reviewer
  52. Wellness
  53. Writing (Freelance)

Lectures on career cycles and change resonated with the audience (MD career cycles). But as mentioned above, >75% of the conference focused on physicians in different industries.

Some participants complained. They seemed to expect a job fair. But most people said they never expected so many doctors and so many jobs. I got what a hoped for, a scan of non-clinical careers.

Let’s hope government pays attention before too many doctors discover opportunities outside Medicare.

2 thoughts on “Non-Clinical Careers Conference – Review”

  1. Of course I selfishly hope not too many Ontario doctors find they must go the non-clinical route. But if that is where the opportunities are then who can blame them. It is beyond unfortunate that the Ontario gov’t has no clue the damage they are doing not only to the health care system, but to people, namely doctors. We know patients will be affected but it is clear from the many recent posts by doctors that they are becoming very demoralized by the lack of respect from government. All I can say is I believe most patients do have a lot of respect for their doctors and truly value them. That is the message I am getting from the people who follow me on Twitter and Facebook. And more and more are getting “on board” and engaging all the time. I’m glad you enjoyed the conference and were able to bring back some information for your colleagues.

    1. Thanks again for reading and commenting, Valerie.

      I went to see what’s out there. It’s not worth sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves. Docs need to keep fighting for a better system for patients. But we also need to support our families. If doctors get slammed for working the hours of 2 1/2 jobs, then maybe they should look for a different job that demands what everyone else imagines when you talk about a ‘job’.

      There are plenty of jobs where doctors can serve patients, be up to date on clinical medicine but not see patients for things that OHIP considers ‘medically necessary’. If Ontario does not want doctors to practice medicine, there’s plenty of other ways to help out patients.

      I sure appreciate your understanding and support of this issues, Valerie. I hope the rest of Ontario wakes up to it soon.

      Kind regards,

      Shawn

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