Hello you incredible career changer..!

I recently read about Carmen Smith - a 27 year old girl who is shortly to become the youngest peer of the House of Lords in the UK representing Wales.

(For those of you who don’t know - the House of Lords is a notoriously outdated institution where you generally get in by being best mates with the Prime Minister or someone else in power. It’s known for scandal, yet is still a HUGELY influential body that has a substantial say when it comes to legislation.)

Her take on it?

 “I don’t believe in the House of Lords,” she said. “It’s an unelected chamber and it’s not a diverse space. But I believe that we should have Welsh voices anywhere where legislation is made that affects people in Wales.

This takes me to a conversation I had with one of my neighbours over an awesome Thai dinner last night,

“Generative AI will soon take over white collar jobs like mine. I’ve got to make a plan..

Soo..what do these 2 stories have to do with doctors?

Having worked as a doctor for nearly 2 decades, I’ve seen 2 things happening which is progressively getting worse for us:

• Less influence as doctors

• Eroded value as doctors

Symptoms of this amongst us as doctors?

• We’re striking over pay with the government not budging (much)

• Increasing prevalence of Burnout and stress amongst us

• We have increasing responsibility but no or very little autonomy in our work

• The interest in alternative careers for doctors as skyrocketed over the last few years

• Our jobs are gradually being covered by other allied healthcare professionals

• AI will likely replace much of our inherent value as clinicians

So..what does this mean for us?

We have to REDEFINE ourselves and ESTABLISH a high degree of value beyond clinical practice to survive. In doing so we need to move into true positions of influence. 

Not just Heads of Departments or Clinical Leads, I’m talking Heads of Hospitals, Companies, Political Leaders, being on Boards and more… and don’t wait until you’re ‘old enough’ or ‘qualified enough’, ‘when I finish my exams’ or ‘when I retire’. NOW is the right time. It always is.

In the last 10 years of Medic Footprints, we’ve mainly focused on the ‘What’ is out there.

Moving forward we’ll be focusing on the ‘How’ and your ‘Why’.

This is even more important than ever now.

Reply to this email.. I want to hear from you!

Otherwise..

Here’s 2 upcoming member-only events to support your mighty mission, boost your value and future-proof your career as a doctor:

Board Roles for Doctors: How to Get On - Weds 21st Feb at 7pm GMT.

We hear from doctors on the journeys they’ve taken to Boards, and the powerful scope of their influence beyond this. More info here»

Tackling Burnout in Career Change - Monday 26th Feb at 7:30pm GMT

(Great Leaders & influencers pro-actively learn how to tackle and mitigate burnout - it’s an essential skill to have in this journey..!)

Members will be sent a link for both events just before. Not a member yet?

Sign up here for the MF Community Membership at £39 pm anytime cancellation and get a link to these upcoming events.

Others Member-Only events upcoming TBC

• Developing a Lifestyle-First Career with Lifestyle Medicine

• Consulting in Health Tech - Getting Started

Doctors in Industry Fellowship

Further to my thoughts above, this program is purposefully designed to give doctors a clear roadmap to building a rewarding career with personal influence, full autonomy and value beyond being a clinical doctor.

We’ve already opened up Cohort 3 applications to the waitlist (now closed) and will open up to the community list in the next week or so depending on spaces left.

New Fellows in Cohort 3 will get the opportunity to attend our exciting exclusive upcoming event.. recognise anyone..?

🗓️ Podcasts

I’m still getting over my non-COVID chest infection so I haven’t been recording due to my intractable cough… 😷

So here’s another favourite oldie to keep you warm until we release our new batch of podcast episodes:

How to Turn your Health Tech Idea into Reality - with Dr. Mike Watts

Memorable because: Despite being an illustrious tech whizz, he struggled to turn off his computer notification sounds during the podcast! Hence, do enjoy the incidental background music alongside his powerful insights on getting started with your health tech idea.

📋 MF Doctors Census 2024

We have been spending time on analysing the census data, we’re reading all your comments and contributions and taking them into account as we chart our course in how we can help you have the career and life you aspire to and deserve.

Thank you for all outpour of love in supporting us and our mission, and for taking the time to complete the census. We’ll be sharing the outcome report with you very soon.

Missed out and still want to have your say?

Complete the BIG ALTERNATIVE CAREERS SURVEY here

✈️ Travel Doctorpreneurs (TD) 🇲🇹🇲🇹🇲🇹

We’ve been planning for our team trip to Malta this week and we’re so excited about it!

We are hosting a business retreat and team luxury experience at St. Julian’s bay, Malta 4th-7th of April.

A big group of us are going, some on their own and some bringing their families to soak up the sun and have fun too.

Travel Doctorpreneurs isn’t just about setting up a business and earning an extra income, it’s also about building a network and community of like minded people who share your journey and are with you in the good days and the hard times.

If you like to travel and want to be surrounded by a community of travel enthusiasts. Click below to apply to join us and be part of the fun!

Find out more and join

Career Coaches & Mentors

If you need some career guidance moving forward, please check out our amazing team of career coaches who have a wealth of experience working with doctors across the world on all things alternative careers.

Not sure what coaching involves? Check this article out.

Welcome to our New Members!! 🎉🎉🎉

We’re wildly celebrating doctors who are taking bold and courageous ACTION in becoming an MF Community or Premium Member. In doing so their contribution ensures we remain independent, inclusive and doctor-led!

Mairin, Sanjeeva, Frances, Krishan, Thom, Charles, Christian, Amanda, Afua, Lochan, Adedotun, Jennifer

Reason why one of them joined?

Thank you all for joining and see you at our upcoming events!

💁🏾 What we need help on

❓ Newsletter and Podcast Episode Sponsors 

❓ SHARE this newsletter to help us achieve our mission. We are in the process of setting up a rewards system. Start early to get brownie points!

Your Mental Health

We want to remind you that you can access a wealth of resources for burnout and mental health. A good start for those in the UK is Practitioner Health.

Don’t forget our upcoming member-only event Tackling Burnout in Career Change - Monday 26th Feb at 7:30pm GMT. 

Join as a member to access this essential workshop and discussion - led by Occupational Health Physician and Doctors Burnout Specialist - Dr. Amy-Jo Farrow.

Until next week.. Warm wishes

Abeyna, Ola and the MF Team