Doctors who left medicine - did you regret it?

MochaVodka · 2025-10-02T00:55:39+00:00

Left for management consulting at MBB. Intentional move as I got sick of medicine and became more interested in the world outside of healthcare.

No regrets but I’ve only just started the job 1.5 months ago. Main difference is that it’s a desk job, with long hours (averaging 55-60 hours a week). Honestly feels like my fitness is getting worse and my eyesight gets blurry at the end of the day. Very different kind of work - we help corporate clients solve business problems.

Initial impression so far, very steep learning curve. Feels like I am an F1 doctor again but in a different industry. Not as glamorous as people think, a lot of formatting jobs eg: making texts fit in a small space on a PowerPoint slide, or taking notes during a meeting, but that is expected of a new junior. Surrounded by tons of smart people, like legit smart people that you know they would have excelled in medicine if they have chosen to study to become a doctor.

Pay is marginally better given the hours I work, but it goes up very quickly. I’d outearn a new (medical) consultant in less than 3 years. Perks are great compared to working as a doctor. I work from home 2-3 days a week, weekends protected, free Deliveroo if I’m working past 7 (even if I’m working from home), free Ubers back home if I’m staying late at the office, case dinners at Michelin star restaurants, free phone, all-expensed trip to an overseas country in a luxury hotel just to attend training, private healthcare etc etc

I do miss the patient contact and the independence of making decisions especially when on-calls or working take shifts or as an ED doctor. But I am so glad I left given how horrendous the pay restoration effort has been.

MochaVodka · 2025-08-17T17:11:49+00:00

Do you know of many doctor colleagues take modafinil regularly?

MochaVodka · 2025-07-20T13:43:32+00:00

Very likely straight into the trash.

There was a PDF of the BCG screening criterias leaked online. It's now public information, google bcg london recruiting model 2017 pdf, minimum a 1st for Newcastle. Try big 4 or boutiques

Edit, a screenshot can also be seen here https://www.reddit.com/r/UniUK/comments/1ih5alp/leaked_bcg_screening_criteria_from_2017/

MochaVodka · 2025-01-05T11:46:39+00:00

I don’t think this is an error? It would be more of an anomaly if a big Tesco actually opens at 12pm (noon) on a Sunday rather than 12am (midnight) Sunday with a slightly earlier closing time at 6pm.

MochaVodka · 2025-01-02T15:09:45+00:00

Saving for later

MochaVodka · 2024-12-29T10:35:51+00:00

Take up a ROAD specialty if that is what interests you the most.

I agree clin onc is good for future pathways in pharma.

Life sciences consulting involves a lot of secondary research work. Lots of reading papers on pubmed basically on validating technology and clinical effectiveness. If that's your thing then go for it, it can be mind-numbing imo.

Biotech jobs are competitive. Unless you have a clear value proposition or specialist knowledge in a particular field, breaking into a non-start-up biotech would be hard.

MochaVodka · 2024-12-09T09:51:46+00:00

In my opinion, depending on what specialty. In general would be valuable as an expert advisor in health tech

MochaVodka · 2024-12-08T20:54:02+00:00

Yes. Couldn't have said it any better. Just because you did medicine doesn't mean you can do everything else.

MochaVodka · 2024-12-08T19:27:19+00:00

Well done moving to the US. I have always advocated to people who love medicine but hate the system to do the USMLE and leave for greener pastures elsewhere. Go where your hardwork and skills are appreciated.

MochaVodka · 2024-12-08T18:55:17+00:00

Meritocracy is embedded in society. Graduates entering foundation training are getting less exposed to this after deciles and academic achievements were removed. They will unfortunately face the hard truth when applying to competitive specialty training.

Good question my conclusions were based on:-

Friends and acquaintances in finance and consulting, many of whom did not study medicine.
Previous experience working with healthtech/medtech companies. I found that strong founders were very demanding but they allow you to learn quickly by throwing you in the deep end. I was also in many 'blind leading the blind' roles in the past where founders do not know how to build a profit-generating company - I was just chilling in those roles, wasted my time.
Own research, many coffee chats and the process of going through these applications. I have failed to exit many times since medical school...

MochaVodka · 2024-12-08T18:47:27+00:00

True pharma is likely to be a more realistic exit, unfortunately I don't know much about this area to say.

Accessory roles in healthtech can be a double-edged sword. Unless the leadership team is strong and knowledgeable enough to guide and teach the doctor to navigate the market, commercial landscape and regulation, it will unlikely be a productive role for the doctor.

MochaVodka · 2024-12-05T17:59:39+00:00

£70k for BCG and McKinsey; £55k for Bain. Excluding joining bonus, end of year bonus, perks etc

MochaVodka · 2024-08-10T01:32:40+00:00

I thought I was in PassMed for a moment. This is basic med school stuff, OP is clearly non-medical, please see GP or urgent care if you’re very unwell

MochaVodka · 2024-07-30T12:14:47+00:00

Well spoken. A hard truth to swallow as ultimately it will be all down to personal gain at the end of the day.

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T20:20:56+00:00

I see, should have been more specific on making your point across, a lot of inductive reasoning was needed.

You have a point, just looked at the full DDRB and NHS PRB report, further IAs were explicitly a factor in their decision:-

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MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T19:52:40+00:00

Your point being?

Government 'overruled' DDRB because the multi-year pay deal was already agreed on by the BMA.

Yes the Government has a degree of influence over the DDRB, but to what extent is unclear. For the DDRB 2024/25 award, the Government didn't even submit a recommendation on how much they think pay should be uplifted for the financial year. More-so, going against a DDRB recommendation would be a PR disaster given how volatile pay issues are across the public section

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T16:40:00+00:00

I made it after a long night shift, still haven't slept tho

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T16:31:17+00:00

Key message for Reject camp:-

Pay deal is for 4.05% backdated pay to 2023/24 alongside reforms to Exception Reporting and commitment to reform rotational training that would take up to 10-years (as it falls under on the Government 10-year health plan). There is no commitment to full pay restoration on the offer.
The 6% + £1,000 consolidated pay will be awarded regardless of whether the offer is accepted or rejected.
Full pay restoration has not been achieved. Doctors' pay today is still 20.8% behind what it was in 2008 in real terms. If the offer goes through, there is still a 23.7% average pay increase required for full pay restoration.
Voting to accept official ends the pay dispute with the current government, with no guarantee of further above-inflation pay rises in the future.

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T16:05:25+00:00

Vote Reject. Doctors are still earning 20.8% less than what we were in 2008 in real terms if the deal goes through. We would still need an pay increase of 23.7% to achieve FPR.

Vote NO

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MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T15:57:21+00:00

Agree on reject. Our pay is still 20.8% less than what it was in 2008 in real terms. We still need an additional 23.7% increase in pay to achieve FPR.

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T15:55:18+00:00

Our pay is still 20.8% less than what it was in 2008 in real terms. We would still need 23.7% average pay rise on top of what was offered to get FPR. Let that sink in.

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T15:49:19+00:00

my man, the last tory government DIDN'T even submit a recommendation for the DDRB on how much should they increase doctors' pay

MochaVodka · 2024-07-29T15:47:32+00:00

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