WHY I LEFT MEDICINE: the REAL reason for leaving Dermatology (plus career advice for doctors) 

Would be really interested to know about other doctors' experiences of trying to leave medicine (it can be a long and bumpy process, as it was for me), and the light bulb moments you had along the way.

I know that it sounds bad to say but I envy anyone who has found the courage to leave medicine. I have felt this way since second year of medical school and now 21 years into my career, I feel the same way.....but am scared because the exit options aren't that great living where I do in the world and my family obligations are huge.

I'm also a foreign medical student in the U.K.! I'm in year 3 and thinking to leave after this year . After the best high school student I became a depressed and anxious person with huge eating disorder. I m now applying to go to maths and economics something I always loved. Idk why but I almost cried looking at ur video. I google every day ' leaving medicine/ why I left medicine ' and cry so much

Thank you for sharing your journey. Two things stood out to me, one: yours is a life too and it needs saving. There is no point in trying to save lives of others at the cost of your own and your loved ones. Two: healthy people need help too! I'm grateful there are people who are truly passionate about medicine. But it's also okay to realize this is not your calling in life and choose something that fits you. It doesn't make you weak/ungrateful/etc. In fact it makes you brave for making a decision that's right for you inspite of social judgement.

Seeing this 2 years late, but great video. I’m an M.D. in the U.S. now 25 years out from graduating medical school. Went into OB/GYN (BIG mistake). I and a colleague of mine in residency used to say something very similar to you re: half wishing for a car accident or something so we could just rest and get out of the hamster wheel. I practiced 10 years after residency and it was miserable, but fortunately found a job in utilization review which I’ve been doing for another 10 years. I’m at the point where it’s time for another change and it’s scary every time but I’ve neglected my own happiness for long enough to know you can’t outrun it and it will wear you down over time so it’s much better to do what will make you happy even if that means less prestige or money. Very good video.

I’m pre med and it is discouraging with more and more of these videos being made but it’s also is insightful because there’s a side to the career that we don’t know about. we need more of these videos that show the truth!

12:15 + Agree!! In my case; The only motivation I had during medical school and housemanship was that I want to be a plastic surgeon - I was so in love with the department and what they did during my internship. I got a placement to be the youngest MO in the department. The whole system and the bosses seems to hate their life. They lived a life that I saw and I know this is not it. They are so toxic and miserable and theh let it all on me. From there on, I saw and I decided, I dont want this. I dont want to be like them. All those drove me to an undiagnosed depression even until today. Even if I adapt and I made it, I dont want to be another toxic senior which is miserable in their life!

Thank you for sharing this deeply personal career journey. You are courageous and inspiring.

Thank you for these insights. I see many parallels to my career. I was also in Dermatology and felt as I am constantly in the wrong place and it made me very unhappy. However, now I found my way into the medical device industry and I couldn’t be happier! Really enjoying it.

Great and good luck!!!

Grateful for this insight. I’m an FY2 considering my next steps in medicine and will definitely be taking your points into consideration

Hey, Evegenia, thank you so much for this post. I was encouraged to apply for medicine as an undergrad but never did, I always had a feeling that there was something not right with going into this career, it always seemed very "closed" profession, in terms of it not being transparent with what it really involves. Also, my tutor, who was a medical doctor, quit and became a neuroscientist. This wasn't a good sign. Just as with a person, if they are not being transparent with something, some thing is a amiss. There is no reason to hide things. But recently, I had a strong regret for not going to medical school. The thing is, I would love to be a medic and have been researching about it and particularly talking to people who quit. It's never a good sign - the high suicide rates, treating patients with no sleep. Not giving enough sleep to docs doesn't make sense to me. Also, in the current conditions and the way medicine is essentially done, and only being a doctor for the whole of my life, was a big no no. it would contradict too many of my values, even though the calling is very strong. It's a tougher for you as you have invested your life into the training. I think your totally brave and I don't think you will regret your decision looking at the direction of medicine for this crop of medics. Youu will it sounds like, get your life back from medicine. For me, I worked in evidence based medicine, neuropsychiatry research. I'm a psychologist now, doing my psychotherapy training, and training in nutritional medicine. I get to help people in exactly the way I want, applying interventions that I seem fit, and negotiate my own hours. I'm really happy. medicine isn't the only profession that helps people, like many believe. 1000% respect to you!

Your experience shared is really valuable to me. Thank you x

I can empathise. I am. GP Fellow with 10 years experience. Have been a solo GP most of my career. I dream every day about leaving medicine, even though I am very good at my job and love medicine itself.

Congrats! Thank you for sharing!

Thanks for sharing this. I knew some of your story but not all of this! I think a lot of aspiring medics and medics need to see this video! So glad you decided to share! I'm also glad you decided to change careers and are in a better place!

Hey doctor, I don't know how to thank you for giving these advices. I know it can be very challenging to actually find time to shoot such videos but I really wanted to say that you are making a big influence and you are enlightening me personally a lot. Please keep doing these kind of inspirational and enlightening videos because there are people like me out there who are very lost and you are like a life vest waving! Thank you again and wish you all the best. :)

Thank you very much for sharing your opinion. I am exactly in the same boat

Love this!! Wonderfully expressed! You go girl!! Single momma, power woman. Thanks for sharing!! I left clinical medicine and am happy to hear the stories of others who followed their truth as well! I'm in the field of Spiritual Life Coaching now, as I discovered that is the level of healing I am better at sharing with others!! 💖💖💖

love the channel! keep going!!!

Thanks alot for sharing this. I found myself in this same dilemma after graduation in 2019. I was top of my class and it only made sense that I continued. Housemanship scarred me and I realized I didn’t like the lives of those ahead of me. After housemanship I started looking for alternatives and I even took a business class. At the end I decided to choose a speciality that will give me a good work life balance. I am currently about to write USMLE Step 2 and I am not at all enthusiastic towards getting matched. I have avoided clinical work since graduation and even took one 3 months ago just to support myself but I just signed off a few weeks ago. On one hand I have my family encouraging me that I have come too far to quit, on the other hand I hate how I feel when I am at work. I feel miserable.

I am so grateful, I found your channel ❤️

I'm so happy for you. As someone who also left medicine to pursue a new life, I can relate a lot. Thank you for sharing :)

Hi i really like your videos, it's super encouraging to see this talked about.

I like the personal feel of this video. You seem like a nice person. I’m glad you are further along your desired path. I am a medical student interested in dermatology but I will be sure to come back to you when I realize it sucks. Jokes haha. Cheers

I needed this video. Thank you Dr

I like your street’s video!!

Hello ! I came across this video by accident, I'm not involved in the healthcare industry in anyway, just a random encounter. I think you did a really good job sharing your thoughts, past experience and also charm during the video, I feel it's compelling and relatable because it felt like a sincere conversation. Anyway, I think you did a great job, it's a great start, keep up building your channel. I'm glad to come across it

Hi Dr Galinskaya! If you'd ever be up for a half-hour Zoom chat to talk about this we've got an audience of about 6,000 med students/aspiring medical applicants who I'm sure would get a lot of benefit from hearing your story - would be a great chance to collaborate!

That's are just my reasons and what I once told my husband: wanting to help healthy people and not wanting the life of my senior colleagues. At this time (while still in clinical medicine - neurology), I'm a blogger, running a few social media accounts and writing a popular science book about the brain. I'm really not enjoying the social media part of it and it seems it's a must in today's world.

Thanks a tonne for sharing your journey. As much as I enjoy medicine, I'm always wondering if I'm normal? Everyone seems like they couldn't do anything else and say as much. Makes me feel alone, so hearing this has been very cathartic.

We need more videos like this . 🙏🙏🙏🙏

This sounds like me. I am not a dr but in medical. I didn't know there was a real career for career coaching. I thought it was a side work thing. Is hard to leave when money is a little better than other jobs I have looked into. But yeah have no idea how to take the first step. Your onto something thx for the video

Hi, thank you so much for this video, it's incredibly inspiring especially for young doctors out there who aren't necessarily determined to get out of clinical medicine, but just feel like the daily patient care & interaction (dealing with a lot of sick patients, physical and often ensuing mental conditions) can be very taxing on the mental wellness of the doctor as well. While the thought of practising medicine is alluring initially, the "dark side" isn't discussed often enough and often has to be realized by the practitioner herself while on the job, which many a times is already quite far down the career line (trying to refrain from using the word too late here - nothing is too late!) However I was wondering how you dealt with the financial constraints of changing to a new career? The compensation of a doctor is often quite high and many of us are stuck in these golden handcuffs and end up never pursuing our other interests / passions.

I worked as a Derm nurse in the U.S. People don't understand that you are required to work at an EXTREMELY fast pace. We roomed a patient every 7.5 minutes. It was an exhausting treadmill! Also, most patients are seen for STDs, warts, psoriasis, rashes and acne. The difficult diagnoses are few and far between. Many Dermatologists here do simple mole removals, but send patients to surgeons for skin surgeries. Some do cosmetics and some don't. "Wanting to give our patients more time" is the main reason health care workers are leaving in the U.S.

Very inspirational story. I worked as caregiver in the Uk England. Since the coronavirus 19, become pandemic in the Uk. İ resigned my fulltime job. The reason I need to protect my grand father. He had multiple disease condition. Still now I worked as as pulse staff caregiver. I booked shift if I feel I like to work in the hospital. To make i have extra money. But i realize i have only one life to look after and to enjoy. The coronavirus 19 it give me a hard time in my life. Now I go to the gym for my spare hour to exercise it help me alot. I feel happy now. But i don't know if I still like to go back as full-time workers as caregiver now. Maybe I will try to work in starbucks.

So sad, I am really really so sorry to hear your story, same of us which to be medical doctor.

I realised i could have severe hypochondria linked to an underlying possible mental condition. I am finishing my 3rd year and my family hate the idea that i don t want to be a doctor. I thought i got this u til i started to go in a hospital and i had to touch people. Even if i had gloves on...I run away in the middle of one hour with 20 people looking at me. I have to finish medschool because i have this responssability towars my parents, but at least i know i will not be forced to be a doctor. I didn t know i have other options. Thank you!

Hello Doctor. I am glad to see you found your passion and that you are helping us find ours by sharing your experience. You are a brave, smart and strong woman. I know you will do great in life and on RU-vid too. 😊

Omg I get jealous of the people that work at the cafeteria. I’m a doctor .. it’s been a year now since I started. I wish I was as brave as you.

Thank you for sharing your story! As an international medical graduate, it took me 3 years to get into the NHS, giving different exams. Only to realize I don't enjoy it at all. How and where can I contact you to book a career coaching? I am feeling incredibly miserable and stuck.

I am a med grad wanted to do masters in public health. could you make a video about jobs after mph in uk ? Thanks

Dr. Eugenia, can you please give me some guidance. I was almost about to finish pediatrics residency and was 3 months there to finishing. I was significantly burned out, started to get anxiety and a lot of depression, crying uncontrollably, blanking in my mind, not able to sleep, all that. So I failed my ED rotation and I was not able to graduate.

I’ve always doubted my desire to leave medicine I’m a medical student in my clinical years sometimes I’m sure I want to leave but on other times I just want to get the degree at least then leave … a lot of confusion don’t know what’s the right thing to do, the thought of running away because I’m afraid of hard work makes me feel like maybe I want to do medicine

love the accent

Great but what are your future plans?

Please can I connect with you on a personal basis , i am in the same boat and cannot find any solution . I am very depressed and been crying continuously since last 2 months. Please help

I am a first year medical student in the US and I also wanted something to happen to me like a car accident so I can just stop living.

I’m a IMG in Australia. I am on Temporary Visa. I want to change my job. Please advice

Hi mam I am alternative medicine practioner ...I really wish to change my career ...can you give me some suggestions

Too many young people are attracted to medicine for the following reasons..the media romanticism of the career, the family expectations, the prestige and of course, the big money which is a fallacy. Most of these students would have been better off starting their own businesses and put all their energy into it..have you noticed that those practicing mds over the age of 35 do not make up this group of disenchanted mds on you tube.. too much time invested and too late for a career change..what a waste...

Actually, these times are turbulent. Sometimes back, many news have emerged that many many doctors are relinquishing their Medical professional jobs & are running for computers jobs. And, now similar complaints have risen that people are requiring less & less medicines. As a result of this, prizes are immensely falling down. Pharmacy are getting less prizes as many people need less medicines . In other words, “whisper of immortality” seems to be spreading. So, what is right or plausible, again people have to make out? You don’t have to think collectively. Think individually what is right or wrong? However, some strange news are emerging as some people feel some supernatural powers are involved.

What are the non clinical options for an IMG (international medical graduate) doctor who pass PLAB in uk?

I did medicine only cause I was good in academics and got through exams and after 6 years of med scholl I feel trapped

I wish you can help me but I have so much debt.

It’s like I’m stucked. I completed my graduation,my post-graduation. But it’s not I want to continue Worse part is that I don’t know what to do?

This is pandemic of leaving / докторпвд now on NHS Евгения … staff , docs are walking out without plans B …

I would like like to talk to you in person Is it possible?

And I thought dermatology is the most relaxing among all speciality.

This is interesting that you gave up Derm but in the USA it's arguably "happiest " specialties

Whatever, right decision.

hi saw ur video by mistake, i used to be a be a really really brilliant kid, some of my friends used to know me as that one smart, shy introverted,quiet, straight A+ kid coming from highschool, i never really struggled academically! cuz i was really good at it, no one really guided me what to do as job when i go to university, so then my results came A+ in all subjects whatever i took like in maths chemistry physics biology etc... so since no one told me where i should go to next, my family i mean parents and elder sisters just told me to be a doctor,( i come from a family where many people are doctors actually). but they never really asked me what i want to do, i loved computers( im really good at computer stuffs since i was 9 years old)and maths and chemistry more than subjects we learn in med school. i still feel like now i cant go back to computers and feel stuck. ok so long story cut short i love computers more than science, i completed mbbs 2 years ago, completed intern, now im just waiting to write the licensing exam and get my practicing licence. to be honest i didnt really struggle throughout my journey in medicine, i did better than most of my fellow other friends who were also studying with me in med school, i also broke up,from my many long years of relationship with my gf who was from russia ( im not from russia though!)and i was thinking of getting engaged to but i felt she deserved better other than waiting for me, cuz i wanted to give all my attention, focus and dedicate my life to medicine.its not like i struggled throughout my rotations. i did good in my rotations especially in surgical postings like general surgery and othopedic surgery and obgyn. so right now since that im so close to my goal, i dont feel happy at all with myself, u know i feel like im like a trophy kid when my parents brag about me in front of their friends like ohh my kid is a doctor, when u have those family type dinners, anyways, i came at a stage in my life that i stopped giving a fuck about everything( sorry for expression), i mean so how the fuck can i help people when i literally hate what i do! sorry to vent it all here but i really wanted to express it! i know that shitty feeling when u feel unfulfilled, unhappy with myself, and i miss my gf so much, she was the love of my life, the perfect girl i met in my life, but i feel its too late now, but anyways i will still write my licensing exam and pass that thing cuz i dont want people to think im a failure and loser cuz i quit, when it mattered the most, i will write it and afterwards decide what to do! one thing i learnt in life and not med school is that everything comes down to those tiny decisions you take everyday, that make u happy and not other people, and stop giving a shit about others opinions and ur opinion is what matters cuz u should decide what u want in life, im not saying u should not listen to ur family or parents, u should listen to them but also dont be a fool like me to do the things ur parents want u to do when u grow up! pick up something u like to do and make that ur job! and thats how u excel, i felt that now i realised how many years i wasted in doing something which was not meant in the first place, anyways what is done is done i need to figure out what next step to be!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I have also tried other career after completing my M.D. It is not easy. Especially I am located in a third world country, not much career choice to choose. But eventually I found a job as medical writer. It really have a good work life balance compared to a doctor. Watching your video gave me the courage and so I wanna say thank you. Best wishes to you and me!

It is truly miserable being a doctor. But leaving the career is too hard with the massive amount of debt most of us have.

6:50 I feel the same way haha

Очень красивое видео! Мне понравились съемки на улице!

Medical secretary definitely seems like a nice number. Or phlebotomist. Nice & Easy. Manageable hours. No responsibility.

I want to go into derma because i like surgery but i want a well ballanced life. 🤣

you look like Avril Lavigne :-D

I can’t believe you are a dermatologist, a coveted field in medicine, and you left.

Dermatology has the best work life balance...