The Journey After Medical School Graduation

By Eesha S. Farooqi, MD

After spending several years on a carved out, step-by-step path of classes, exams and familiar procedure, the post-medical training world becomes quite intimidating. I remember very distinctly when and where this realization had occurred to me, and it has never faded since.

It was a few months into our final year of pediatrics residency when a few of my colleagues and I were sitting around my living room after a typical foodie frenzy, holding onto our full stomachs with eyes half open. In that relaxed moment, we began to discuss future plans and what we wanted to do after residency when suddenly we all paused at almost the exact same time. It hit us that we generally knew what we wanted to do (pediatrics of course!) and the overall setting (inpatient vs. outpatient). However, the specifics were entirely blank with large question marks in its place. Which city? Which state? Should we stay here in familiar territory or move and start somewhere new? What type of group/organization should we join, whether private owned or larger? What do we look for in a contract? Suddenly, after years of being guided and told what we needed to do to achieve ‘xyz goal,’ we were now free to do exactly what we pleased and go wherever we desired, but ironically, with very little knowledge about how to do so successfully. Our simultaneous pause that day in my living room summed up a combination of excitement, fear, anxiety and relief — all contradictory feelings which did not sit well with our full stomachs.

That day, we discussed various options about job type, location and life goals, and felt a little more at ease as we chipped away at the specifics of our ideal career. For many of us, this was the first true job application and also the first true time where we were not in a desperate "pick me, pick me" position. The world was full of options.

As a group, our residency class later requested an informational session with a representative from a local hiring company. We were able to learn about contracts, terminology, standard benefits, negotiation, etc. as well as fellowship career paths. All helped to relieve some anxiety, but for many of us that were not doing fellowships, there was still a lingering dread of the unknown awaiting us on the other side of residency. Where would we even start looking for jobs?

Luckily, in addition to the typical job sites, the American Academy of Pediatrics regularly conducted virtual job fairs which gave residents access to nationwide job openings and a chance to chat directly with the representative about their questions. I attended a fall session and found my way to ABCD Pediatrics through that platform. I have been truly grateful for that opportunity since then.

The post-training medical world is truly its own challenge, applying technical medical knowledge to a constantly changing world. This first year out, I have realized it requires constant reading, layers on layers of self-confidence, close patient relationships and a lot of patience. However, it becomes significantly worth it when that one family or that one child ends their statement with a genuine “thank you,” and you get that soulful positive boost you needed to keep on moving ahead. I hope to continue to grow as a physician with each patient and with the support of my colleagues, not just in the clinic but in the community as a whole. I look forward to another year of practicing and another year of new experiences.

Eesha S. Farooqi, MD is a Pediatrician in Bexar County and is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society.