TRANSITIONS IN PRACTICE
TRANSITIONS IN PRACTICE AUTHOR Larry Griffin , MD
Where do we start ? Undergraduate school , and the competition to get accepted to medical school , followed by medical school itself is a huge transition in culture and expectations . The hours of study and work to maintain a high enough grade point average to be considered for medical school pale in comparison to that required to succeed in medical school .
Next comes the competition for a coveted residency program , and then the residency itself , requiring another great leap in dedication and effort . The work hours exceeded few other occupations and roles , as did the studying needed to master the specialty one has chosen .
Then the transition to practice : seeking a position which is satisfying professionally , personally and with the potential for professional growth . I needed the ability to comfortably support a family , and the satisfaction of contributing to my community and profession in multiple ways . At that point , it would seem the major transitions in my professional life would be behind me .
However , we as a group are constantly challenging ourselves to expand our horizons , increase our contributions to our profession and our community and continue to grow . This takes many shapes : leadership roles in hospital staff organizations , medical societies , specialty society organizations , community health activities , teaching , clinical research and others . Each of these requires somewhat of a transition from solely providing clinical care to committing time and energy to these other activities .
But occasionally , a more dramatic transition is desired . Often it is simply changing practice locations , leaving private practice , changing the practice in which you work , leaving the civilian world for government roles or the military , leaving full-time private practice for a full-time teaching appointment or directing a residency program . We might fill a role in administration , either in a clinical capacity , such as a hospital , or in a specialty society . We might choose a role in other organizations such as insurance companies , pharmaceutical companies , medical device manufacturers or as a medical director for a business or company which has absolutely nothing to do with the business itself , except for the welfare of its employees .
Each of those requires specialized skills and interests , and each has its own sets of rewards and challenges . But change is stressful , not only for the physician , but the physician ’ s family . Job change in
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