We often think in linear terms about what our careers will look like, visualising ourselves progressing along a clear pathway.
Deviations from set career trajectories are often seen as risky or flighty. And they are especially unusual when it comes to vocational careers, such as teaching or medicine.
But if I could relay a message to my younger self, I’d tell him not to be afraid of making a big career change. They can be scary, but the opportunities bold career moves can unlock can be boundless.
I spent a total of 18 years training to become and then working as an NHS surgeon. Medicine was and always will be my passion and I still very much think of myself as a doctor. But after working on the frontline of healthcare for a number of years, I began to get frustrated at the delays my patients were facing when it came to accessing the right care. This was impacting the quality and effectiveness of their treatments.
I noticed how the outdated referral process meant that precious resources were being wasted through appointments that could have easily been avoided with closer communication between different doctors. For example, too many patients were being incorrectly referred to hospital appointments ‘just in case’, when they could have been treated in local community clinics. This was leading to anxious waits for people who had nothing to worry about, and longer waiting times for those with more urgent needs.
This wasn’t the fault of healthcare staff at all, but rather down to the siloed communication systems used by the NHS to relay information.
I decided that I wanted to do something to solve it, but I was initially wary of stepping back from clinical practice. I loved my career as a surgeon, but I ultimately wanted to try my hand at helping patients in another way. I wanted to fix this triaging issue, to provide better health outcomes for patients and more efficient systems for NHS staff. So I decided to take a risk – hanging up my surgical scrubs to pursue a career in HealthTech.
This decision was not one that I took lightly – but my ambition to help people, the same as what led me to pursue a career in medicine, is what ultimately led me to step into the HealthTech arena.
In 2018, I launched Cinapsis – a tech platform that allows GPs, paramedics and community nurses to share details of a patient’s condition with a local specialist in real-time and make more informed calls on the best course of action. This would enable patients to access the most appropriate care for them, more quickly – whether that would be an appointment with a specialist, care in a community setting or self-management.
Once I made the decision to take the leap and start a HealthTech company, I never once regretted it. It was a steep learning curve, but I’ve gained a hugely expanded skill set and feel an even deeper sense of purpose – something I wasn’t sure would be possible.
My message to people who are thinking about trying out something new, but are nervous about changing direction – is to just take the leap. Indecision to try something new is a decision in itself. If we all stay within the confines of what we think is a ‘traditional’ career route, we stifle creativity and innovation.
So don’t be afraid to break free from the imaginary constraints that are limiting your life and your career. If you think you have the potential to make a change in the world by taking a different route, why not try it? The beauty of leaving a career you’ve trained for is that you can always return to it down the line if you want to.
If I could tell my younger self anything, I’d urge myself to think outside the box and try new things in my career – you never know where you’ll end up going or what you will end up achieving.