I am motivated to assist physicians who find themselves in the position where I was seven years ago. Physician Renaissance Network, which I started in 2004 with this goal in mind, is a comprehensive resource for doctors with nonclinical careers and interests. I mentor numerous physicians that I meet through the Web site, Peloton Advantage recruiting, and speaking engagements. These physicians have a challenge ahead of them, but one that is well worth the effort. I have recently gathered my answers to the questions they commonly ask into a book entitled “Do You Feel Like You Wasted All That Training?”

As I sat in a plane writing the first draft of this article, there was an announcement asking whether a physician was on board to evaluate a sick passenger. I saved the file containing my article about leaving clinical practice and pressed the flight attendant button. My kids looked puzzled. My oldest daughter Megan asked “What are you doing?”

 “A lady up there needs my help,” I answered.

Michael McLaughlin, MD, is cofounder of Peloton Advantage, a medical communications company. He founded Physician Renaissance Network for doctors with nonclinical careers and interests, and he advises physicians changing careers. A Senior Scholar in Thomas Jefferson University’s Department of Health Policy, he lives in Bethlehem, Penn. with his family.

This article originally appeared in the November 2007 issue of Physicians Practice.