Doctoring Differently | Naomi Lawrence-Reid, M.D.

I rage-quit my academic pediatrician job in 2017 with lots of debt and no plan. Doctors don’t have to stay in jobs they hate. We can be successful everywhere.

@eeyanmiller Do it cuz you love it. The end.

I think this unfairly characterizes the decision to pursue fellowship as having “only” one good reason. In the OBGYN world of things, the reasons can be vast, varied, nuanced, and measured.

@JohnDoe1444279 @MacklinLoveland Still not worth it if you don’t love what you’re doing.

@DocDifferently @MacklinLoveland This doesn't hold true for a large share of the subspecialties under Internal Medicine and Radiology.

Don’t do a fellowship unless you are violently passionate about the specialty. That is the only good reason.

@MacklinLoveland Those are 2 fellowships. And I still know very well-paid, yet unhappy cardiologists who deeply regret making that career choice.

@DocDifferently Opportunity cost of time invested doing GI and cards fellowship can easily be made up after around 4-5 years, would not say the same for any of the others unfortunately

@MacklinLoveland Doing a fellowship does not guarantee a higher salary in the end, especially after accounting for attending years lost doing said fellowship

@DocDifferently Or you would like to be compensated to a higher degreee for your time ?

@QuantumQuesoDip Plenty of people do fellowships just because academia tells them they’re supposed to—that being a “generalist” isn’t good enough

@DocDifferently Why would anyone do otherwise?

@lalitpurian Depends on the fellowship

@DocDifferently Fellowship degree

@lalitpurian As much as what

@DocDifferently Um does a hospitalist job pay as much?

Doctors can make thoughtful, intentional career shifts at any stage. We deserve to be happy. Don’t wait.

Fear disguises itself as: “I’m not ready to take the leap” “Now’s not the right time” “I need to make [ ] professor first” “After I make full partner” “Maybe in 5 years”

The American Board of Pediatrics has approved a shift toward 2-year subspecialty fellowships instead of the usual 3 years. Peds hospitalist fellowships should still be zero years. Don’t do those.

5 Physician Career Pivots for Doctors of Any Specialty By DR. NAOMI LAWRENCE-REID FEATURING NAOMI LAWRENCE-REID April 22, 2026 @DocDifferently | Vumedi vumedi.com/video/5-physic… via @vumedi

Tonight only. Live webinar. Real talk on how physicians are building income beyond the bedside — locums, expert witness, medical writing & more. First 20 get access to the 90-Day Mastermind. 4PM PST / 7PM EST. Link in bio. #DoctoringDifferently

@Dr_statesman How are you searching?

@DocDifferently Still searching for options

Physicians, what’s stopping you from starting flexible, non-clinical work?

No single job industry for doctors is saturated. Go after whatever you want to do.

I started earning more money when I stopped worrying about being nice in negotiations. Professional, always. Polite, usually. Nice, never.

💥 FREE Webinar 💥 The 6-Figure Exit: How Physicians are Leaving W2 Jobs and Winning on Their Own Terms. Wed 5/6 at 4p PST/ 7p ET. Learn how to blend clinical work with non-clinical roles like expert witness, medical writing, VA disability, aesthetics & more.

Don’t let fear of not having benefits keep you from resigning from a bad doctor job. Start at healthcare.gov for quotes.

Don’t let learning a new EMR intimidate you out of new, higher paying doctor job!