The decision to leave clinical medicine is an enormous one – probably one of the biggest decisions that you may face in your life.

If you are desperately unhappy and feeling that you are not coping with your current job, then it is vitally important that you go and talk to your educational supervisor or training programme director. They will be able to help you assess the situation and direct you to appropriate sources of support.

But perhaps there are other reasons why you are considering alternative careers. In this situation you might find it helpful to work your way through the career planning exercises contained in ‘ROADS’.  All London foundation trainees should receive a copy of ROADS from your Education Centre. Other copies are available in the PGMC library. ROADS may be enough on its own to help you make up your mind – or alternatively it can form a useful starting point for a discussion with a specialist careers adviser.

The deanery Careers Unit provides 1:1 support to trainees who are considering careers beyond medicine. All sessions with staff from the Careers Unit are confidential. If (for whatever reason) you do not want to discuss your career dilemma with your educational supervisor or Medical Education Manager, then email us direct and we may still be able to offer you a 1:1 session.

The national medical careers website also has information on a range of different careers open to graduates with a medical degree.

The Beyond Clinical Practice website has been designed for doctors, or recent graduates of medicine, who are considering a non clinical career. This website can help you to research new career paths and explore how medical training can be advantageous.