Opportunities through IR

Over the past little bit, I have been contemplating my next professional move and going over opportunities that have been presented in addition to my primary job. I've no idea where these options will lead, or the time frame surrounding them. I'm not even certain if I'll accept any of the options being presented because, frankly, I've enjoyed scaling back a little. However, simply going through the process has made me look back on some of the professional opportunities that have been presented over the years, not just for me but for my friends, partners, and colleagues in the field. As usual, when I think of the good fortune that I've received since graduating from fellowship, I remain “humbled and honored” (hate that LinkedIn term, but I mean it).

I give a lecture to trainees about options for career development outside of just doing clinical medicine. The bottom line is that there are too-numerous-to-count opportunities available for IR-trained physicians outside of clinical medicine. Industry relations, or even primary employment opportunities through industry? Check. Leadership positions in hospital systems or institutions of higher education? Yep, and increasingly so. Editorial positions or other options in the publishing space? Too many positions for people. Medical staff … group leadership … speakers bureaus … legal consulting … group development … research groups or review panels? Check, check, and check again. And I haven't even mentioned the society, college, and board opportunities that exist. Frankly, this embarrassment of riches is in many ways too much to even fathom, much less try to tackle.

I understand that in the current environment, most IRs can barely keep up with the clinical load, much less try to do anything extra. That's particularly true right now with increasing clinical demands, not enough workforce, decreasing compensation, and further schisms developing within DR/IR groups. Some of these issues will be self-limiting, and some will be with us for the long term. At the end of the day, those opportunities are there for the taking, and when some of these other pressures we all currently feel start to ease, it may be these other extracurricular duties that become even more satisfying than our primary paying jobs.

Several years ago, I was lamenting to a friend outside of medicine that I had to go someplace to give a lecture and then head right back home. I don't remember where the conference was being held, but I remember it being overseas; let's say it was London. I mentioned (whined) about the fact that I had to fly all night, go straight to the hotel, check into the conference, give a lecture, try to get some sleep, give another lecture, go out for dinner with whomever, wake up, and come home. My friend mentioned that he'd never been to London. Clearly, he wasn't hearing my trials and tribulations, so I mentioned to him again that I wasn't going to see anything but the inside of a hotel and conference center except for one nice dinner out, during which I was going to have to be “on.” He mentioned again to me—more slowly so this time I'd get it—that he'd never been to London and that he certainly had never been taken to a nice dinner in London. Seeing that I was getting nowhere, and embarrassed that I'd even brought it up, I redirected the conversation to something a little less awkward, like my hemorrhoidal pain.

Probably the part of this conversation that most bothered me was the fact that I'd had it in one form or another with many others over the years. Sometimes I was the whiner, sometimes I was the whin-ee. Regardless of my position in the conversation, it was embarrassing to have had this thought that my life really was that difficult because I had to fly halfway around the world (on the department's dime) to meet up with friends and exchange ideas on how to make the world a better place through what we do. Shortly after this conversation with my friend, I bought a wall map and put a dot on the places I've been able to go because of my job—our job, yours and mine. And when I feel like whining again, I put on my big boy pants, wipe away the tears, look at the map, and thank heavens that I have the job, career, colleagues, and health to be able to pursue some of these opportunities that have been given to someone like me.

I'll reiterate for the trainees out there, as well as those looking for a change in direction, all one has to do in our field is open one's eyes to the opportunities that exist and, with a little effort, pursue whatever it is that makes you passionate. And be grateful for these opportunities that are, truly, endless. If that fails, send me your address—I'll send you a map.

Publication History

Article published online:
07 May 2025