Wondering about some alternative careers to medicine, but feeling uninspired by what you see online? Have you ever scrolled through a list of job descriptions and felt disheartened because there were no good options? Nothing really jumped out at you as a great fit. This podcast episode will show you how to stop waiting around for the perfect job to come to YOU and actually go out and create the perfect job for yourself.
Melissa La Pointe, the founder of the OTs Gone Rogue podcast and community, has been a trailblazer and serial entrepreneur from the start of her career as an occupational therapist. In this episode, you will learn
- How she successfully petitioned the government to create her OWN job position, when it initially didn’t exist.
- The many times she got it wrong on her own journey and how she manages to figure it out along the way.
- Why you MUST commit to failure if you want to succeed as an entrepreneur
I have such a deep admiration for Melissa’s rebellious spirit and how fully committed she is to carving out her own alternative career in medicine.
Use the audio player above to listen, or tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Journey to Discovering Alternative Careers to Medicine
Melissa started as a pediatric occupational therapist in a non-profit organization. Early on in her career, she put in a proposal with the government to create her own position to do more consulting work. She did a lot of work managing projects that connected physiotherapists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists in the region.
During her maternity leave, she went through training and certification associated with women’s health, specifically prenatal and postnatal health. After her maternity leave, she resigned from her previous company and took a personal sabbatical. During this time she created her own business called “Strong Beginnings Family Wellness and Consulting Services.”
Initially, she did some OT work for this business, but then she chose to let go of her OT License and focus solely on alternative careers to medicine. She started working exclusively consulting and mentoring other health professionals with her blend of coaching and consulting.
Getting Attached to Titles as Health Professionals
When she let go of her OT license and her title, she acknowledged that the letters that come after her name did not define her. The process involved a bit of an identity crisis in the beginning, but eventually, she was able to figure out who she was without this one particular title. It’s ok to try things out to see what resonates. Not all alternative careers to medicine will be a perfect fit and that’s ok. Health professionals put a lot of pressure on themselves to get it exactly right on the first try, but it doesn’t always work that way.
Thinking Outside the Box to Create Alternative Careers to Medicine
The training and curriculum for health professionals aren’t tolerant of failures and doesn’t set them up for entrepreneurship. We also have so much programming since childhood that says it’s not ok to mess up. When shifting to entrepreneurship, health professionals need to acknowledge the change, and learn how to become uncomfortable and self-aware. Entrepreneurship is “personal growth on steroids.” and is one of the best alternative careers to medicine.
Committing to Failure as an Entrepreneur
Melissa had many experiences of failed working relationships. Through this, she learned the value of carefully choosing the clients that she works with to avoid toxic relationships. Now she has learned how to screen clients and take on contracts that are the right fit with her vibe and not just clients that pay well.
She has learned how to make sound decisions which meant keeping her heart in check as she thought about her next moves and steps. The important lessons she had learned along the way were learned the hard way. In business there are clear differences between surviving, growth, scaling, and thriving. “There is nothing wrong with failure, provided that you’re also carving out the time to learn from your mistakes.”
Coaching And Consulting are Alternative Careers to Medicine
Coaching and consulting are two highly rewarding alternative careers to medicine. There are many similarities in how clinical practice and coaching require intrapersonal skills and dealing with people. The programming and training of clinicians make it a natural progression for clinicians to become coaches.
When becoming a coach, it is highly important to be clear on your messaging. Being able to niche down is also vital for coaches to attract clients who will be the perfect fit for what they have to offer.
Advice to Health Professionals Who Feel Burnt out and Unfulfilled
Health professionals need to understand that they don’t have to suffer alone. They must reach out and not try to always work things out on their own. “Let go of that idea that you’re broken and that you need to put yourself back together before you reach out and see what else is out there.”
