Hello. I just graduated from residency and followed my husband to Key West per military orders. I have a 6 month old and want to work part time. There are no opportunities for a pediatrician in this town, full or part time. Does anyone have any ideas of what to do from home? If I stay at home, what certifications if any should I keep up with?

I guess it would be a bit far to drive to the mainland and work there. Could you live on the mainland with the baby and work there and see your husband on weekends? Are there other medically-related opportunities in the keys, such as urgent cares or free clinics? Keeping active in medicine, even on a very part-time basis, will be better professionally than dropping out altogether, although sometimes that can't be helped.

You should definitely keep your state license and your DEA license, if you have one. I don't know how the peds boards work, but could you study for them and take them if you are not working as a physician? If so, that might be a good thing to do with your time at home. And even if you are not studying for your boards, you can always do CME at home. There is a ton of CME available online. I found that it was pretty easy to read while my baby nursed. There are also nonclinical things you can do (there are some threads on it here, if you do "forum search"), if you are interested. Or you could just use this time to strengthen your bond with your baby.

Whatever you decide to do, congratulations on completing your residency, and enjoy your new baby!

I have a professor who is a FP/sports med physician. He took a break with his wife and he is staying at his vacation home. However, he applied for a position to teach nurse practitioners online. So now he can work part time and enjoy time off. Try doing searches on such positions.

Look for free clinics to volunteer, you may connect w/someone who knows about a part time position. While you are doing this study for the boards, I believe they are in October, correct? Also with a 6 month old you don't have much time --try to study during naps if possible.
I friend of mine ended up working for a dermatologist while waiting for a permanent pediatric position, but not in florida.
good luck.

Be sure there are really "NO" positions... sometimes in small towns it's who you know... maybe you can do vacation fill-in for someone and prove how fabulous you are for them, or urgent care as above, or maybe the military clinic has openings for a civilian? What about serving cruise ships that stop there? Good luck to you in your search, that's a tough situation. Maybe someone else with military wife experience can chime in.

There are actually a few online services that utilize physicians for triage and provision of medical guidance. I know there was one in Seattle when I left. I think you can work from anywhere. online pharmacies utilize physicians as well. Industry would provide a third, intermittent part-time job as well.

If you do consider online work, make sure that it is not in violation of your state's laws. I know that it is definitely illegal in my state because there is no way of doing a good faith exam.

You could also consider medical writing online while maintaining your licenses, CMEs and certifications. That's what I have done for 2 years. I am returning to practice next month.

devi
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