r/medschool • u/Dependent-Bicycle-42 • 15h ago
👶 Premed Career switch - building application while working full time in med device industry
I’m currently 24 working in the medical device industry in orthopedics, specially product management. I’ve learned a tremendous amount about the business/operational side of healthcare through my role. However, I know my true passion is delivering healthcare more directly, physician to patient.
I studied biology in undergrad and finished with a 3.81. Im currently studying for my MCAT and hope to take it early next year to potentially apply in May given I like my score. I’ll need both volunteer and clinical hours, how have others accomplished that while working full time? Regular hospital volunteer networks? Scribing? I’d love to hear more ideas and any advice from those who switched from big industry into medical school.
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u/Needleman26 12h ago
Heads up, this is probably a better prompt for r/premed.
I’m just applying right now but I spent 3 years working as a Clinical Specialist in medical device. I’ve got very similar background and stats, made the same moves at a similar age. My hours and on call would have never accommodated volunteerism or productive studying.
I moved to EMS for more predictable hours and independent patient care, then took my MCAT, and have since been volunteering and doing unpaid research.
If you plan on using your current experience as clinical exposure, make sure you can have good explanation on how you contribute to patient care rather than simply having organizational healthcare experience. Utilize your current relationships for strong letters of recommendations from physicians. It might also be good to shadow them to see what their practice look like outside of the OR.
Of course be reflective on why medicine as well. It’s easy to see what the attendings do in the OR and to be excited about that career path. Exposure to bedside care and residents is a really good way to understand more about what medicine looks like in practice. Consider a midlevel role as well.
Medical device is a lucrative business with a lot of cool opportunities to develop your own patient relationships. Think hard about your decision. I know I’m absolutely certain about perusing medicine but that didn’t happen until I had my own, independent patient care experience.
Good luck!