Career and Life Planning Guidebook for Medical Residents

R E A D : The Landscape The creation of a transition plan is the foundational — and most important — step for adapting to the changes that come with pursuing a career in medicine. By creating a plan in the form of a timeline, you will walk away with a STRATEGIC, STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS for your transition that will give you a clear roadmap as you move forward. This will eliminate guesswork and redundant effort that can consume precious hours of your time. You might be thinking to yourself, “What is the utility of this timeline? I’m too busy as it is, and I don’t have time to do this. There are plenty of opportunities for physicians in today’s environment, so I only need to study for my boards in my last year of my training. What’s the rush?” But this mentality is actually a trap. Think about how many years you’ve invested in preparing to become a physician. This asset is devalued if you do not continue to invest the necessary time to get organized. By creating a transition timeline, youwill gain a well- informed sense of direction and ultimately spend less time on the search for the position that is right for you. SECTION I: T MINUS THREE YEARS CAREER AND LIFE PLANNING GUIDEBOOK FOR MEDICAL RESIDENTS 12