# Alternative careers for someone w/a medical degree?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 19, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066 "2010-03-19T21:49:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066/21 "2010-03-21T05:50:23Z")

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Go to Mexico and work at a resort. $100+ if a tourist walks in the door with the trots. Heh.

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**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066/22 "2010-03-21T15:47:35Z")

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> [@choie](#):
>
> I like the cruise ship / prison idea particularly

Those are both clinical jobs that require licensure. At least the prison physicians require licensure in the state they’re practicing in. And in our state corrections system, we prefer actual board-certified licensed clinicians. We’ve no room for a doc who’s not a clinician. What would they do? I’ve got 8,000 new/returning inmates coming into our institution annually, and I need physicians who can examine them and order appropriate care plans.

God knows who’s regulating the cruise ship physician industry. Depends on nation of registry, I guess.

And many non-clinical jobs still require a medical license. So if someone with a medical degree lacks a license, they won’t be qualifed for many of those positions. Most expert witnesses need to be credentialed somewhere, or their testimony won’t be worth much.

Most universities/medical schools won’t be that happy having an unlicensed physician teaching on their faculty either. Though I know some community colleges will hire in those circumstances. But mostly as instructors, not as tenure-tracked staff, I believe.

QtM, prison doc and expert witness.

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**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066/23 "2010-03-21T16:55:45Z")

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> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#):
>
> How about becoming a comedian?
> 
> See Harry Hill. Graham Chapman, Graeme Garden, Phil Hammond etc.
> 
> NB only works in the UK

Not necessarily; [Ken Jeong](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0421822/) has been in quite a few movies lately.

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**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/alternative-careers-for-someone-w-a-medical-degree/533066/24 "2010-03-21T20:08:38Z")

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Thanks for the continued responses, everyone. Very useful food for thought.

> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#):
>
> Those are both clinical jobs that require licensure. At least the prison physicians require licensure in the state they’re practicing in. And in our state corrections system, we prefer actual board-certified licensed clinicians. We’ve no room for a doc who’s not a clinician. What would they do? I’ve got 8,000 new/returning inmates coming into our institution annually, and I need physicians who can examine them and order appropriate care plans.
> 
> God knows who’s regulating the cruise ship physician industry. Depends on nation of registry, I guess.
> 
> And many non-clinical jobs still require a medical license. So if someone with a medical degree lacks a license, they won’t be qualifed for many of those positions. Most expert witnesses need to be credentialed somewhere, or their testimony won’t be worth much.

Thanks! Just to clarify, though, in my OP I did specify that the doctor in question _hasn’t_ lost his license. I know you’re probably addressing the subsequent posts that mentioned people who’d lost theirs, but as far as my question goes, I’m definitely looking for options for a doc who’s still licensed.

To be more specific, the person in question was dismissed from his position at a hospital, but still able to practice if he so chooses. Going through a bit of an existential crisis right now, he doesn’t really wish to see patients, and definitely not likely to do so in a private practice. But needs must when the devil drives, and in a pinch he may be grateful for any opportunity that arises.

Anyway your posts are _extremely_ interesting (as always!). I would be very curious to know if there are any prisons – small town, less ‘public eye’ sorts of institutions – that wouldn’t require a highly reputable doctor.

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