8 Meaningful Ways To Use Your Medical Degree

A medical degree is a huge accomplishment requiring many years of training, internships, and residencies. It often means years of little to no sleep and a stressful learning curve that forces you to build confidence as a licensed physician. While the most obvious use of a medical degree is a doctor, you may have other options available. A medical degree can open up a wide range of meaningful opportunities. We have compiled a list of beneficial ways to use your medical degree.

Help Influence Healthcare Laws

Healthcare laws guide the way in which people access health insurance and healthcare. Laws also cover things like confidentiality and patient records. With a medical degree, you can help influence healthcare laws. This means you can be at the forefront of pushing toward bills that ensure people have sufficient healthcare insurance. Physicians are in an important position to advocate for their patients, and that means influencing healthcare laws.

Conduct and Publish Research

Medical research is important to furthering the medical industry and how we diagnose and treat common conditions. Clinical research helps uncover information like what pharmaceuticals or treatments best relieve symptoms. It also helps us understand certain diseases better, which further helps to shape the medical care industry. 

Conducting and publishing research in medical journals is also necessary for educating future medical professionals and helping form modern medicine. Medical professionals with good research skills may join in on other physicians’ research projects or plan their own using grants or university funding.

Help Patients Deal With End-Of-Life Conditions

Not all physicians deal with end-of-life care conditions. Medical providers can use their degrees to help patients not only understand these conditions but also help them feel more comfortable with the worsening of symptoms. Palliative care physician jobs can be demanding and overwhelming, but they can also be one of the most meaningful careers you’ll ever have. You can feel like you were there for someone when they needed it most.

Educate Future Healthcare Professionals

The education of future healthcare professionals is just as important as working with patients today. Highly-committed medical professionals with teaching and mentoring skills can help shape future physicians. In addition to ensuring medical care needs are met in the coming years, this also helps train competent, empathetic physicians who can support the growth of the medical industry.

There are various ways to help educate the country’s future medical professionals. You might become a professor at a medical school or mentor student interns or residents in a hospital or urgent care environment. Even participating in research projects helps educate incoming physicians by providing them with the data they need to make informed decisions to help their patients better.

Assist Under-Served Populations

Many medical professionals work with private care patients who may have health insurance or are able to afford health care out-of-pocket. However, an estimated 30 million Americans don’t have health insurance. A lack of health insurance leads to disproportionate numbers of people seeking medical care in impoverished communities. 

Medical professionals can donate time or volunteer at low-cost or inner-city clinics to help serve these populations. Some medical professionals may even open a private practice in these underserved communities to extend their reach. This makes it easier for certain populations to receive medical care.

Work in Administrative Medicine

Some medical professionals may enjoy a career in hospital administration. Hospital administrators help improve procedures to maximize efficiency. They also work to ensure all patients receive prompt, thorough care. Many hospital administrators are also focused on policies, including maintaining HIPAA laws.

Coordinate Health Insurance

Health insurance companies often need team members with a medical background to review health insurance coverages and treatment plans. Medical professionals can use their degrees to review submitted treatment plans to determine whether or not the services listed are under the covered scope of practice. A health insurance verification specialist serves as a coordinator between the insurance company and other physicians.

Work in Mental Health

Medical professionals willing to return to school for specialization in psychiatric care can work with patients in a behavioral health setting. A psychiatrist may manage common psychological disorders through talk therapy and pharmaceuticals. A career as a psychiatrist allows you to positively affect patients’ lives by helping them overcome psychological disorders.

A medical degree sets the foundation for a good career. However, those with a medical degree don’t necessarily have to join a private practice. The medical industry is made up of numerous specializations, many of which promise a rewarding career. Medical professionals can also use their degrees to assist in other areas beyond medical care, such as influencing healthcare laws or participating in medical research.