I Quit Medicine...& I'm So Glad | Leaving Medicine For Another Career

I probably shouldn’t be watching this as I’m preparing for usmle step 2 CK to match for residency in the US as an international medical graduate. I resonate with this completely. I recently got my license to practice medicine in my home country after a grueling year of internship at the hospital. And now I’m telling myself, okay now let me just get my ECFMG certification. And we’ll reevaluate after that. But I know I’m just going to keep telling myself, okay just get through the next step.
That’s how I know I’m not ready to quit this path just yet. Maybe I’m just a masochist. But for the sake of needing to see this through, to see if I am actually meant to be a doctor, I won’t quit. This video didn’t encourage me to quit, it just made me hopeful that when I do get the guts to walk away, I won’t regret any of the choices I made to get to that point. Thanks for sharing your story. I still feel like I’m stuck but I’m relieved to know that I’m not the only one.

Well I spent 12 years at the university, 10 for a PhD in engineering and 2 years for an MBA. AFTER ALL THIS I COMPLETELY CHANGED MY CAREER
Salam

OMG I also left medicine as well. I got my MD, completed my USMLE, and was applying for the US match. I ended up working for a medical startup that paid me around $200,000/year. After 2 years of work, I left and opened up multiple businesses, made over 7 figure. I felt the same way you did. The culture in medicine is toxic and grueling, yet the money didn't make any sense. When I switched out of medicine and into business, I witness excitement along with a lucrative salary. It often makes me wonder if the education and the cultural system of medicine needs to change or not. With that type of stress, shouldn't doctors be making 7 figures?? Why are they not hitting that mark with this stressful culture and work environment??

Me watching this after finished med school and realizing that I don't wanna do 24hour shifts for 300$ a month in a 3rd world country, xd.

This is really interesting, good for you. It's funny I've heard about the medical culture being hostile and there actually being like borderline bullying which is interesting. Good thing I was in the infantry...

Hana, your story is seriously so inspiring. I am in a similar situation, but this time, I’m a freshman in college (tertiary university) on the pre- med track, soon to enter my second year after the summer. I just recently had a deep longing and sense that I am meant to do just more than being a doctor or dentist or whatever. I feel like my role here on earth is so much more bigger than that. I am currently really stuck, debating if I should leave this field, and study something else. My whole life I have been taught, growing up in a brown family similar to you, I had been taught that medical school was the way, and that is what I have known since I was a child. I think that’s why it’s been so hard now, as all I’ve known my whole life is medical studies, and I feel like I don’t even know what I like anymore, almost like an identity crisis. My parents support me, but my dad has a little biasness. The thing is I know I’ll be successful and make just as much money as a doctor would, in fact more, in any field I pursue, simply because I have the passion and drive. I honestly just don’t know what to study though or what else I would like. If I did switch majors, it would be either psychology or an entrepreneurial major similar to what you are practicing now. I find myself liking science and what I’m studying, because it’s a challenge and very rewarding. But I honestly just don’t want to go to med school. My main goal is to help people, I just don’t know in what way, and where to start. Sorry for the long comment, but if you have any advice for me that would mean the world.

Well done! So proud of you. Great decision!! Medicine sucks

They bully because they are insecure.

The anxiety part is real i did I did my fy1 and just can't do it anymore, it is not rewarding in any sense the only thing it gave me is Anxiety and panic attacks but I have alot of peer pressure I don't know what to do although I have a started a pretty good realestate company but still my father is pushing me to get into a speciality and I know I can't do it for a single day.

A good chef would teach all mecial school learn how to behave honorably and have conscience of a person

To be fair? There are other jobs that attract a**holes & other awful people. Teaching & nursing, for eg. are two fields attracting disproportionate #’s of female a**holes – power-mongers who work mostly unsupervised w. vulnerable populations– kids, and the elderly & sick.

Female teachers are more blatant. There's a righteous, Karen-esque quality to them; these are the rainbow-flag-waving soldiers of Woke America, grooming kids into deceiving their parents, consorting w. teenage boys or pursuing second careers as Only Fans "models." And bc they’re female? They see their crimes as far less-serious, even harmless fun.

Nurses are smarter, darker, more imminently dangerous. And unlike teachers, who transgress individually? Nurses roam in packs, protected by powerful unions. They can make med school, residency, even nursing school, terrifying for young women, hence the ominous adage that, “nurses eat their young.” The guys were safe, but they'd gaslight the women & even bully them. A small cadre of RNs descended on a friend, asking her, "Why medicine? What's wrong with nursing? Or are you 'too good' for the dirty work?"

Of course there are exceptions - heroic teachers, compassionate RNs. Nonetheless? Certain personality traits tend to converge in certain jobs – ones which seem to both permit & perpetuate those traits to nefarious ends.

I recently started with my clinical years, currently in 3rd year now. I really can't keep up with the theory and clinicals, not to talk about the work environment. My grades are going down the hill and I'm really trying my best to keep a positive attitude but my mental health is also at its lowest. I've experienced the work environment and I've been questioning if I wanna live the rest of my life like that. I've been thinking of taking a different career path, but I'm really scared of starting over and also I'm scared of disappointing my family. I don't wanna regret in the future for staying in medicine, but at the same time I also feel like I'm making a mistake if I quit.

It really depends on your speciality.

Some doctors are nice others are not..Just like every other profession.. . But it all boils down to your passion.. I personally would die of depression or worse if someone told I can't be a doctor.....
People following their passion is everything...
Wishing you all the best 🎉

Sry you were force to quit,, as a patent I've told off more surgeons for a god complex then I can count on one hand ,, it shouldn't be that way at all

Hi there! Thank you for your story. I’m an American. I trained in medicine both in the US and UK. I loved UK so much and really liked most of the doctors there, mostly the female doctors. They are so nice compared to US. And they are so elegant and beautiful! How are you feeling now?

This is so powerful and hits so close to home for most doctors.
I have just discovered your channel
Thank you for openly sharing your story

I'm in the last year of my surgery residency in india, And will end my medicine journey after this, I had the same instinct after my medical graduation but was too belittle to discontinue. Thank you.
"This people hate their own life" was the most apt line of the video. 😂

So beautiful and so humble

I’m a retired psychology professor from a teaching college with very heavy teaching loads and so proud for you and that you are sharing this. I can relate to what you went through especially on the emotional struggles and decision-making conflicts. Now I’ve changed my career to researcher with a University, which is where my passion has always been and I wished I would have done this sooner.

waiitt are you the actress from the medical series the Resident 🤩🤩🤩 You are amazing! Your story was incredible as well

I'm doing something similar but in a different field 🥲. I'm in my Honours for Psychology in South Africa and want to move overseas to the UK as the situation here is getting quite bad (crime, poverty, corruption, loadshedding etc). Clinical psychology is so expensive, competitive and hard that about only 2% of the top applicants get accepted for the needed doctorate level there. I have the marks but the financial and personal burden its going to cost me for, quite simply, a job is just not worth it. You have to be in the top 1% in undergrad to get into Honours here and as a result from the stress, I don't have many positive memories from the whole of last year. It seems ridiculous to change after getting so far but we have one life ❤.

In a situation where lawsuits are in the millions, life and death are present, the environment is intense and the stress is high, its not for everybody, you have to be a special type of human to exceed in such a realm

Yall are discouraging me from following mh dreams

You are really brave for making such a decision so early in your life. I am still struggling to make the decision of quitting the medical career

Your situation is a copy of mine,I’m 4th year medical student,I love medicine but I hate it as a job,but I’m scared to quit it,should I continue and follow my passion after graduation.

You also get so much abuse from patients and family too 😮

You have to be extremely strong and ignore Belittling people to keep going

Amazing to see ur courage in this matter. I had the same thoughts. I recently became a doctor ( internship for 1 year still to do). Focusing on a new path . Glad to hear someone felt the same as i had. It makes me feel understandable to feel courageous to change

Loved it. I'm an anesthesiology resident going through the same stuff. I can't stand the fact that I have to endure this bullying and toxic culture for my whole life. I don't want to spend the rest of my life doing 36-hour-long duties and night shifts instead of spending my prime time with my family. I hope I find a way to exit this profession.

I'll soon be out. My one shot at this life has been all but depressing.

As many doctors have quit videos I've seen this one wins the cake. These are flaky individuals the old doctor could be saw in the shows back in '80s '90s '70s is dead these people are going to care for you and I'm glad this one quit thank you lady.
Go drink your double espresso at your local Starbucks you were not cut out to do this this doesn't mean you're not smart that basically means caring for sick injured wounded it's not your cup of tea and it shows in every angle of your face face says a lot about people I've seen a lot of doctors this one wasn't cut out to be one

Doctors are not smarter. They just sit in a classroom for longer time….

I graduated recently along with doing the foundation training and started a specialization in ortho and trauma… this video just hit home . The toxic environment is INSANE, you get worked to the grave whilst taking constant banter from nurses, superiors, senior doctors … it just never STOPS. Hell, i thought i’d have some sort of work life balance at this point but this is ridiculous. Shit pay, with over 200 hours a month and the mere mention of balance is followed by something along the lines of lmao what were you thinking XD Im also an anatomy assistant and i do find joy in that quite a bit and i keep telling my students to quit unless they want to spend every ounce of their soul into the job. Cuz if not thats not for you. I was a way more joyful and happy before i graduated. I had a girlfriend for 7 years and i could go out 2 times a week or have shits n giggles with my friends. Now im miserable, alone and i have to schedule my friends 2 weeks in advance to even see them for 30 minutes. I barely sleep and gained weight even while keeping my calories low. And for what ? I get to tell people im a doctor… whooptiedoo. This profession can go f itself if you ask me… if i had the wisdom i have right now 6 years ago, id go and become a programmer and be done with this shit. Thanks for the good video tho, feels nice in a way to relate to someone.

Wow ur story sounds so much like me

Omg are you Iraqi?

Best decision for u❤ i too feel stuck but dont know how to start anything fresh as i am from a financially moderate background and afraid of risks :(

How did you get the job in Berlin? I graduated from Hungary, as a doctor

Love this eye opening video Hana!

Everytime i hear a British accident i change the video lol i know how bad it is in the UK. I’m interested in the us only.

Thank you for taking the time to make this, you should be so proud of how far you have come and the decisions you’ve made so early in your career.

It’s taken me far longer to reach the point where I feel almost ready to leaving medicine. At 40 I still feel infantilised, tired and demoralised. I’m about 80% there but still feel a lot of guilt about leaving a stretched NHS.

Who the heck gives up medicine, it's one of the best fields and you can help so many people