After working in private practice as a dermatologist, Heather Fork, MD, transitioned to a new career counseling physicians on how to manage their career-related stress and anxiety. Medscape contributor Andrew Wilner, MD, recently spoke with Dr Fork about her decision.
You've successfully transitioned to a nonclinical career as a counselor to physicians. What I find really interesting is that you often work with physicians who have just finished their training, residency, and fellowship and now are transitioning to their first clinical career. Can you tell me about some of the problems these new doctors and academicians often face?
What often happens is that I'll get a call from someone in clinical practice—a doctor or a surgeon—because they've developed some anxiety that's really starting to escalate. As a physician yourself, you know the difference between that point in your career and being in residency.
As a resident, if something is going wrong with the patient, the buck doesn't stop with you; there's always someone senior, an attending or an upper-level, to help you. Even though you're concerned and upset for the patient because you want them to do well, there is still a level of comfort because you're not the one on the spot.
