Many Physician Retraining & Reentry (PRR) participants had very clear, sometimes obvious, reasons why they wanted to transition from a specialized practice to a general practitioner. PRR has enrolled a surgeon who no longer had the eyesight needed for surgery and an OB/GYN who grew weary of middle-of-the-night calls to deliver babies. We’ve also had physician participants who were transitioning to, or back from, retirement and those who took leaves from their practice for any number of personal reasons. 

Sometimes, though, there can be less tangible reasons why a specialist would consider becoming a general practitioner. A couple of years ago, the health recruiting company Health eCareers wrote on its website about some of the reasons physicians change jobs for other areas of medicine. These included a desire for a better work environment, including tensions with colleagues; better working hours and a need to relocate. More recently, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency room physicians and others who provided care in hospital settings are feeling the emotional and risk impacts of treating COVID-19 patients, Healthday reported. As a result, those physicians are looking for alternative settings to practice. 

Physician burnout is an often-cited reason for career changes. Burnout comes in all shapes and sizes, from trying to meet appointment demands to navigating insurance company requirements to toxic relationships with colleagues. 

Whatever the reason for seeking a career change, it’s good to know there are ways to remain true to the medical field calling by becoming a general practitioner through retraining by PRR. Our online model lets participants work at their own pace and earn 180 AMA PRA Category 1 credits from the UC San Diego School of Medicine and a Certificate of Completion from PRR. 

Thinking of making a change?