Hi
I hope someone can help me, or at least give a good direction to try....
I'm a US trained MD from a top 20 medical school. I gratuated in 2000.
However, beginning in my third year of medical school, I have had increasingly severe health problems including extreme fatigue, memory difficulties, joint and muscle pain, fever, etc. Though I have been to many many doctors, my diagnosis remains uncertain.
Since graduation, I have matched into two different residencies - pathology and family medicine - and found that I could not withstand the level of physical effort that either required. I ended up leaving both residencies just months into the training.
Herein lies the problem. I am a trained MD with years of education who cannot practice medicine, and, really, can't even hold down a full-time job. I am looking for some solution that will let me work part-time, or from home, that does not require a license and would still enable me to put my medical education to use. I am eager to work, but am having much difficuly knowing where to begin with my limitations, i.e. no medical licence, requiring flexible hours, etc.
I know I cannot be the first MD not to be able to complete a residency. I would like to know what others have done in my situation, or at least what my options are. I am discouraged, to say the least, and am concerned that all my work and hope for a career in medicine is in vain.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
dock

Unfortunately, I have not even entered medical school yet, so I can't help you on the logistics. However, I can tell you that if you haven't been to a rheumatologist, you should talk to one about fibromyalgia. This disease exhibits all of your symptoms.

I have a friend with fibro and she was helped greatly by the guaifenesin treatment (its an ingredient found in cough syrup that has no side effects and often helps fibro sufferers). Here's some info on it-- maybe this can help you.
http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/index.htm

You are in my thoughts. Best of luck to you.
Stac'

Hi Stacy!
Thanks for taking the time to reply.
Members of this forum have been just wonderful in their support and warmth (I've received a couple of private messges.) And thank you, too, for your kind thoughts.
I've been to so many different doctors...it's been difficult, to say the least. But I found a rheumotologist today who really seems like she wants to be a partner in helping me. How wonderful! (Kinda sad that I'm so happy about it - says something about how some docs treat their patients, hmmmmmm.....)
But I'm looking forward to finding out what this darn thing is, and maybe finding some treatment and getting my life back. :rotfl: Yeah!
Thanks for posting,
dock5

Doc,

You could see if the pharmaceutical industry is interested in your knowledge. Don't know about working from home, though. Also, you may find jobs with the state where you can use your knowledge but are not out there in the trenches of private practice. Money not as good but money isn't everthing. . .
Hope

Several months ago I think there was a lengthy discussion on this website about alternative careers for women in medicine. I don't remember the specifics,but it is definitely worth reading.

General ideas that come to my mind include writing about medical topics (newspaper, brochures, websites, etc) , primary/secondary education related, maybe part-time working as health educator in a clinic, online jobs (med consultant, health chats or Q&A columns, others), non-medical "stay-at-home-mom" jobs, etc....

If finances are not a big concern, there are also abudant volunteer opportunities...some ideas: visit hospitalized kids & help them cope, go to teen internet forums and reach out to girls who are suicidal/sex-questions/etc., volunteer in local poor clinic doing BP/EKG/clerical/administrative/diet counseling, etc.