Non-clinical jobs with a medicine degree in Ireland?

PutureFrospect · 15-03-2013 07:32PM #1

I'm only in third year of medicine, but lately I've just been wondering what other paths are there down the road if I don't want to work in the 'battlefield' as it were? With all the commotion stirring up over junior doctors being treated unfairly etc. is really making me question whether I want to go down that path.

If I were to deviate from the norm and go down a different route, would I be viewed highly upon seeing as I'd have what is seen as a somewhat "prestigious" degree?

This is only food for thought ATM so if you intend on losing the rag, then just don't bother. :pac:

Cheers

RobFowl · 15-03-2013 11:06PM

From my class some ended up as pilots, property developers, software writers, research and one went into a religious vocation.

Others I've seen went into banking, finance, sport, and retail.

As with any degree the world is your oyster.

Dingle_berry · 15-03-2013 11:45PM

There are varying degrees of "the battlefield" that you can get involved with. Med students get work experience of general practise, OB/GYN, surgery, etc, etc. but unless you seek it out you won't get experience of the likes of Public Health, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Immunology, Haematology or pathology. The pathologists I know are very open to showing med students what their job is like though. There's much more to it than what you get from the textbooks. They rarely deal directly with (living) patients but their job contributes enormously to their care and health.

In terms of jobs outside clinical practise that use a medical doctorate you'd be looking at stuff like pharmaceutical regulation, scientific research and/or teaching.

EDIT: in terms of having a "prestigious degree" pharmaceutical companies will look for your medical license to sign off on their clinical trials etc. research groups will be interested in your broad base in biochem, micro, pathology, physiology, etc. But in the end whether you stick with medicine or follow a different path how well your qualifications are received depends on how well you sell yourself!

steddyeddy · 17-03-2013 09:47PM

You would find it very hard to become a Microbiologist, Biochemist, Immunologist, Haematologst or pathologist with out doing at least a masters. I know someone who did a masters in microbiology after medicine and he loves it.

Dingle_berry · 17-03-2013 10:02PM

To become a pathologisticrobiologist/etc you do the intern year after graduate and then apply for the relevant NCHD programme. Pathology, for example, is about two years as an SHO, if you pass exams, then 4/5 years as an SpReg. People do research in with all this but passing the exams is the main aim

drzhivago · 29-03-2013 11:44PM

PutureFrospect wrote: »

I'm only in third year of medicine, but lately I've just been wondering what other paths are there down the road if I don't want to work in the 'battlefield' as it were? With all the commotion stirring up over junior doctors being treated unfairly etc. is really making me question whether I want to go down that path.

If I were to deviate from the norm and go down a different route, would I be viewed highly upon seeing as I'd have what is seen as a somewhat "prestigious" degree?

This is only food for thought ATM so if you intend on losing the rag, then just don't bother. :pac:

Cheers

There are two or more aspects to this
Using your degree

Public health (do internship then apply for public health training)
Radiology (see above)
Microbiology
Pathology
Forensic medicine
Lecturer in Medical Sciences (anatomy phys etc)
Sports medicine
Occupational medicine
Pharmaceutical Medicine (though they like people to have more clinical experience than internship)
Ships Doctor on Cruise (again like to have more experience than internship and Life support training
Military Medicine (become an Army Medical Officer)
Medical researcher - not easy in ireland but is a career abroad
Medical Management - not as much available in Ireland but is a career path in Australia with an Spr program in Hospital Management for Medics
Medical Advisor to Insurance Company (usually people who have specialised in some aspect of medicine)
Medico Legal expert in Court (again usually specialised in some aspect of medicine)
Medical Advisor to Clinical Information system Software Developers
Develop Medical Apps
Write Textbooks

Not using your degree
Some mentioned above which value critical thinking

Pilot
Business consulting
Set up own Medical Business
Medical Advisor to sports body
Medical advisor to ministers
Find a very rich person and be their personal doctor to refer them to the most qualified person in that country while they are travelling

steddyeddy · 30-03-2013 12:02PM

drzhivago wrote: »

There are two or more aspects to this
Using your degree
Public health (do internship then apply for public health training)

Radiology (see above)

Microbiology

Pathology

Forensic medicine

Lecturer in Medical Sciences (anatomy phys etc)

Sports medicine

Occupational medicine

Pharmaceutical Medicine (though they like people to have more clinical experience than internship)

Ships Doctor on Cruise (again like to have more experience than internship and Life support training

Military Medicine (become an Army Medical Officer)

Medical researcher - not easy in ireland but is a career abroad

Medical Management - not as much available in Ireland but is a career path in Australia with an Spr program in Hospital Management for Medics

Medical Advisor to Insurance Company (usually people who have specialised in some aspect of medicine)

Medico Legal expert in Court (again usually specialised in some aspect of medicine)

Medical Advisor to Clinical Information system Software Developers

Develop Medical Apps

Write Textbooks

Not using your degree
Some mentioned above which value critical thinking
Pilot

Business consulting

Set up own Medical Business

Medical Advisor to sports body

Medical advisor to ministers

Find a very rich person and be their personal doctor to refer them to the most qualified person in that country while they are travelling

Woah I know you mean well but mictobiology would be hard to get with just a doctorate in medicine. Micro involves a lot more bio chemically than medicine provides.

Dingle_berry · 30-03-2013 01:15PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Woah I know you mean well but mictobiology would be hard to get with just a doctorate in medicine. Micro involves a lot more bio chemically than medicine provides.

AFAIK it's a training programme like any other consultants position.

dissed doc · 30-03-2013 04:40PM

The realistic options more limited than that list, I think. The basic medical degree is effectively a Leaving Certificate equivalent qualification that simply is a door you can open, but useless in itself.

1. Going into research very early (as in, after graduation from university) and moving towards working in the pharmaceutical world; there are a lot of opportunities (not in Ireland obviously), usually it means finishing medicine and doing then a full-time PHD and not doing any clinical training.

2. Apply for one of the programs for professional graduates at McKinsey & Co., or Boston Consulting and going to business/finance world.

You will not really be taking seriously as a legal, insurance, medical advisor, etc., if you are not a qualified specialist. You could make money but you will have no qualification to back you up. To work as a ship's doctor you would typically be expected to be the level of a qualified GP or general physician or emergency medicine specialist. Teaching? The closest will be a post-membership surgical trainee either doing anatomy demonstrating, or else someone at SpR level+ as a lecturer.

You should make a choice and a pretty clear one at that: become a specialist in a branch of clinical medicine, or else move into other things. All IMO of course. Career options in Ireland are very limited for doctors - both a specialist consultant level and in related fields like pharma or consulting.

http://www.theadventuremedic.com/??

drzhivago · 30-03-2013 10:47PM

steddyeddy wrote: »

Woah I know you mean well but mictobiology would be hard to get with just a doctorate in medicine. Micro involves a lot more bio chemically than medicine provides.

Hi if you read my list again is broken down to using degree and not using degree

The OP wanted to avoid typical hospital jobs because of hours etc

You can be a consultant microbiologist which means doing Internship, 2 year SHO training program in microbiology (no in hospital on call) followed by 4 years SPR program and 1-2 year fellowship in microbiology

At end you get a consultant job like cardiologist etc, as far as I know you cannot get these jobs with a science microbiology degree as there is a clinical element

drzhivago · 30-03-2013 10:53PM

dissed doc wrote: »

The realistic options more limited than that list, I think. The basic medical degree is effectively a Leaving Certificate equivalent qualification that simply is a door you can open, but useless in itself.

1. Going into research very early (as in, after graduation from university) and moving towards working in the pharmaceutical world; there are a lot of opportunities (not in Ireland obviously), usually it means finishing medicine and doing then a full-time PHD and not doing any clinical training.

2. Apply for one of the programs for professional graduates at McKinsey & Co., or Boston Consulting and going to business/finance world.

You will not really be taking seriously as a legal, insurance, medical advisor, etc., if you are not a qualified specialist. You could make money but you will have no qualification to back you up. To work as a ship's doctor you would typically be expected to be the level of a qualified GP or general physician or emergency medicine specialist. Teaching? The closest will be a post-membership surgical trainee either doing anatomy demonstrating, or else someone at SpR level+ as a lecturer.

You should make a choice and a pretty clear one at that: become a specialist in a branch of clinical medicine, or else move into other things. All IMO of course. Career options in Ireland are very limited for doctors - both a specialist consultant level and in related fields like pharma or consulting.

http://www.theadventuremedic.com/??

In Fairness OP didnt say they wanted to stay in ireland just they wanted to avoid typical hospital career path

I was giving options using degree and not using medical degree

Granted medico legal requires more experience usually but in some countries there is a training program in this

TEACHING -- Anatomy demonstrators/Physiology/Biochem etc etc are post intern and offer career in education without having to go back for further medical training in hospital but does obviously involve other training in respective field

Depending on the cruise line some will "train you" experientially on board when I was an SHO one of my colleagues had just finished doing 4 years of it

Regarding medical advisor you may be incorrect there they are not necessarily always looking for fully trained specialist who may be immersed in a field, some of the web 2.0 and app developers are looking to take people on who are critical thinkers to help their companies develop

I agree that without a specialist qualification you have nothing to back yourself up but hey What about Michael Crichton, and the asian dude from The hangover

mystery1 · 01-05-2013 08:15PM

Pharmaceuticals for sure, in Ireland generally there is always a need for Medical Directors & Medical Advisors ... abroad there are many more positions in pharmaceuticals in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance, medical writers (clinical trial reports, publications) and medical-marketing type roles.

There are also many physicians working in the Irish Medicines Board as Medical Assessors, Pharmacovigilance etc.

All pay pretty well, Pharma you could possibly start on circa >€55K plus perks (car/pension/VHI/bonus) , in a regulatory role (like IMB) you could get >€90k but with less perks. Mostly 9-5 and weekends off for both, not a bad plan B!

vermilions · 10-04-2017 06:55PM

Sorry to dig up a 4 year old thread, but I was wondering if there are any jobs that hires medical graduates (from an Irish medical school) who has not completed their internship (therefore not registered with the medical council)? Thanks a lot in advance.

Arbie · 10-04-2017 10:14PM

vermilions wrote: »

Sorry to dig up a 4 year old thread, but I was wondering if there are any jobs that hires medical graduates (from an Irish medical school) who has not completed their internship (therefore not registered with the medical council)? Thanks a lot in advance.

I have classmates who went into management consulting, IT, research, and medical education, but all except 1 of them had done intern year. The 1 who didn't do intern year did a postgrad business degree.

What are you thinking of? Is it not possible for you to do intern year or are you not interested in it?

vermilions · 15-04-2017 01:39PM

Arbie wrote: »

I have classmates who went into management consulting, IT, research, and medical education, but all except 1 of them had done intern year. The 1 who didn't do intern year did a postgrad business degree.

What are you thinking of? Is it not possible for you to do intern year or are you not interested in it?

I'm very interested in practicing, but as a non-EEA/non-CAO entry student, I have almost nil chance in working in the HSE as an intern.... Thanks for answering btw.

Arbie · 15-04-2017 05:05PM

vermilions wrote: »

I'm very interested in practicing, but as a non-EEA/non-CAO entry student, I have almost nil chance in working in the HSE as an intern.... Thanks for answering btw.

I had heard it was getting tighter for non-EEA grads but I didn't realise it was so bad. It's a shame.

Have you considered the UK? Also a few grads from the year behind me went to Malta and enjoyed it.

dr.jhasan · 28-05-2017 11:18AM

what is the procedure to get into medical teaching career (physiology, anatomy etc) for doctor who is not registered with medical council and holds a medical degree from non EEA country.

Giveaway · 08-10-2018 08:07PM

any career suggestions for an exhausted almost 40 doctor? Have not burnt out yet

alchemist33 · 08-10-2018 08:29PM

It largely depends on your location, specialty and circumstances, but I know doctors who've set up locum agencies, set up nursing homes, become psychotherapists. You could just look at the job ads (or whatever the online equivalent is these days) with an open mind to see whose looking for people with medical/scientific backgrounds and lots of experience - maybe something like Pharmaceutical research?

Or maybe you just need a change of system and looking abroad for medical jobs is the thing to do. Its a long time since I looked but New Zealand were always keen for doctors and I know a few who've gone to Canada in recent years.

Giveaway · 08-10-2018 08:42PM

Thank you alchemist.
have deep roots locally. was just thinking out loud. will persevere a few years longer

Non-clinical jobs with a medicine degree in Ireland?

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