“So, what are we doing for your plan when you graduate?”
I sat in a meeting with one of my mentors this past week, focusing on next steps after residency.
“I have no idea. I feel like I could see myself doing a lot of things — fellowship, academics, community — but I don’t know how to make that choice.”
For me, becoming a physician was a natural choice that I’ve been working toward as long as I can remember. Becoming an emergency physician was somehow an even easier choice. I was a tech in the emergency department for 8 years before residency, and I know I’ll love the ED for the rest of my life. How can figuring out my career pathway be such a difficult choice?
At this time of my second year of residency, it feels like everyone but me has a plan. I know that’s simply not the case, and I’m sure many other residents are feeling the same way, but that’s what it feels like. Some people are sure they’ll go into academics and become a clinician-educator. Some people are totally focused on patient care and know they want to work in the community. We’ve spent so much time in school and training, knowing exactly what our next step in life will be — and now we are finally at a point where we get to make a choice. We are finally in uncharted waters. It is scary and exciting.
One of the best things about emergency medicine is the abundance of post-residency career options. There are many different pathways we can take because of the breadth of our specialty, so considering values is important.
As Gregory L. Henry, MD, FACEP, past president of ACEP, said, “Know thyself and plan accordingly.”
There is much more at hand in this discussion than simply applying for jobs. Some aspects of a career that are important to look into are wellness, geography, family, kind of practice, finances, and opportunities for education and advancement. We have to be willing to look at our personal and professional missions and ask the important questions when looking into accepting a position.
One of the reasons it’s difficult to choose your first job is because it’s difficult to look into the future. Most emergency physicians change jobs within their first 3 years post-training. It’s impossible to know what our lives will look like years into the future. This is where mentorship comes in. It’s imperative to draw on the wisdom of those who have been through the process and those who know you best.
All in all, it’s not an easy choice. And it shouldn’t be. We all want to build a fulfilling career that lasts. When I look back at each step I’ve taken to get to this point in my career and what my past self would think about where I am today, I almost laugh at this stressor in my life. We’ve accomplished so much to get to where we are in this step of our training. I think the best plan for after graduating is to simply enjoy our careers. Every one of us has the best job in the world: emergency physician.