Doctor wanting to break into finance

Hello all.You read the title.31 M, Have worked as a surgeon for 8 years but following a health related event have realised that my true passion is finance and markets and want to drastically pivot my professional life.I have a pretty a sound knowledge of markets, and want to make a career change into finance. Have a solid background in scientific and medical research too.Was wondering what your opinions and advice are?

20 Comments
 

Well markets are quite on the go and hands on - i like that - and there’s a lot in common in terms of working environment and non-technical skills between the two disciplines (trading & surgery i mean) - feel that I’m prepared from that point of view. Prefer fixed income since there is a macro element to it, which interests me (no pun intended lol)

 
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Thanks for taking the time to reply in such detail, much appreciated. Unfortunately dont work in the USA but Europe. I’ve just become increasingly enamoured with finance over the years, and have been doing my fair bit of trading on the side on my own personal account. I’ve read through John C Hull’s options futures and other derivatives. I want fixed income simply because it’s so tied to global macro and geopolitics - which i am fascinated by (avid ray dalio reader here!)

Not sure what you mean specifically by networking? Sorry bout that but it’s not exactly big in medicine hahah. Could you perhaps give specific examples? Say cold messaging ppl on linkedin as a start?

 

Connect with people and have conversations with them that tie into their career and background. Build rapport and develop relationships in which they will refer you to more people to speak with. Eventually you’ll be talking to higher ups who help you get an interview. After that, it’s all interviewing skills and knowledge on the markets.

 
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So let me get this straight. A "health event" led you to want to become a trader? Are you fkidding me? What's next, private equity??

 

I think you misunderstand finance. Try and get into investment banking. Trading is no longer a realistic career path nor is it fulfilling. Once you get into investment banking you can specialize in healthcare M&A and then move into private equity focusing on healthcare investing. Bottom line is you need to spend more time thinking about this before jumping into a dead-end. Just some advice from a 22 yr old analyst so take it with a pinch of salt.

 

I think you need to realize that it is too late at some point. maybe you're into a "grass is greener elsewhere" mentality. 

Maybe you could use these medical knowledge to specialize into M&A related to healthcare or investments related in healthcare as someone posted earlier. however you have a whole learning path to do again.

However medicine have nothing in common with finance, you'll have an other whole learning path to do. however if you succeed (low probabilities) but you're simply attracted by a higher remuneration, you'll surely change your mind an other time within few months.

You could simply concentrate your efforts into creating a nice stocks portfolio individually that could bring you high returns and a great complementary revenue rather than betting your whole life on what seems to be an ego trip pursue.

Money is not a passion, it is a tool. I wish you the best of luck anyway

 

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