10 Best Non Clinical Physician Jobs

Non-Clinical Physician Jobs – Overview

Doctors are an incredibly important part of our society. They hold an esteemed position that cannot be filled by anyone else.

Doctors may pursue alternative career paths due to factors like burnout (reported by 45% of physicians in 2023), interest in flexibility, or desire for impact beyond direct patient care. This exploration extends beyond fatigue and monotony, encompassing various motivations for career change.

Numerous career paths are available for physicians at all stages, including those licensed, board-certified, or exploring options before completing residency.

To practice medicine independently in the U.S., physicians generally must complete full residency training, not just one year, per state licensing laws.

Curiosity could also propel you to seek jobs outside the medical and clinical industry.

If you qualify among the above, you don’t have to worry about making the decision. There are a growing number of nonclinical jobs for physicians in the U.S., spanning sectors like pharma, public health, tech, and education.

Best Non-Clinical Physician Jobs

Several industries offer nonclinical jobs to medical graduates. We narrowed down the list to the top 10 nonclinical jobs for physicians.

Let’s take a look at our selection of the best non-clinical jobs for doctors in the US:

1 – Physician coaching

Physician coaching involves guiding peers to enhance their professional development, leadership skills, and personal growth, not just their medical science knowledge. Coaches support physicians in various aspects of their careers and lives, contributing to overall job satisfaction and effectiveness.

This is one of the most popular alternate career choices for physicians worldwide.

This career primarily focuses on enhancing patient satisfaction and workplace communication, as these are the two most crucial aspects of ideal healthcare services.

Physician coaching is a fast-growing field helping peers improve well-being, leadership, and performance. A 2019 JAMA study showed it reduces emotional exhaustion and burnout symptoms.

2 – Executive leadership

Executive leadership Physician-led hospitals often outperform others, with leadership roles like CMO or CEO increasingly requiring formal training (e.g., MBA, MHA). This shows doctors’ incredible potential in executive leadership positions, especially for those seeking non-clinical jobs.

The training you get as a doctor is an incredibly essential asset for holding executive posts in hospitals, such as the CMO (Chief Medical Officer), CEO (Chief Executive Officer), or CIO (Chief Information Officer).

To qualify for executive leadership positions in hospitals, physicians often need medical experience and additional qualifications in business, management, or healthcare administration.

In addition to extensive medical experience, you may be required to undergo additional training to hold executive leadership positions at hospitals.

3 – Medical and Pharmaceutical Device Industry

Physicians in the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Industry work in roles like R&D, medical affairs, pharmacovigilance, and as medical science liaisons. These are among the top nonclinical careers in 2025.

4 – Health Insurance

If you enjoy clinical work and want to play a more noticeable role in providing affordable healthcare, a position as a medical expert or consultant for health insurance companies is a good choice.

Working in healthcare administration also offers incredible opportunities to improve the healthcare payment process.

Working in health insurance involves using medical knowledge to develop policies and manage claims, aligning with evidence-based practices. Health Insurance and Utilization Management Physicians serve as medical directors or reviewers for health plans, shaping policies and reviewing claims for clinical appropriateness.

5 – Medical Writing and Communication

Licensed physicians interested in medical writing can explore opportunities such as creating scientific content, which often requires expertise in medical subjects and the ability to communicate complex information clearly. You can become an expert in medical communications without even having your medical blog.

Medical communication companies regularly require skilled writers who can convey medical jargon in layman’s terms for various audiences.

You can even become a freelance medical content writer without discontinuing your full-time job.

Medical writing is also an incredible way to work from home, which is incredibly appealing and convenient for many doctors today. Medical Writing and Communication Physicians are in high demand for roles in regulatory writing, CME content creation, and health journalism. Remote, flexible work options have made this increasingly attractive

6 – Education

Patient education is one of the most important aspects of a doctor’s responsibilities. Physicians passionate about teaching can pursue full-time careers in medical education, often requiring formal teaching credentials or experience in addition to medical knowledge. Education and Academia: Teaching in medical schools, residency programs, or online CME platforms remains a stable path. Over half of U.S. med schools now offer dual MD/MPH programs.

Physicians have opportunities to teach in various settings, including medical schools, universities, and professional development courses, not limited to biological science courses. Their expertise allows them to contribute significantly to the education of future healthcare professionals across many disciplines.

If done right, you can become part of the medical school faculty full-time and actively participate in educating the next generation of physicians and doctors.

7 – Consulting

Physician Recruitment and Admin With a projected shortage of 124,000 U.S. physicians by 2034, recruitment is growing. Doctors in these roles improve hiring, retention, and onboarding. Consulting offers numerous and varied career opportunities, especially for healthcare experts. This works even better if you have a flair for business and managing finances. There are job opportunities in almost every area of expertise.

Major consulting firms are always looking to hire experienced doctors and skilled physicians as full-time employees or independent contractors.

8 – Recruiting physicians

Current projections indicate a potential shortage of physicians in the US, particularly in primary care, which may impact healthcare delivery.

This means that the healthcare system is looking to ramp up hiring efforts within the industry. There is an especially high demand for primary care physicians.

As a physician recruiter, you will be responsible for matching candidates with the best-suited employment opportunities.

Being a doctor is an incredibly effective add-on as a recruiter because you have a deeper understanding of the job profile and can make informed, smart decisions regarding hiring.

9 – Public health

A career in public health is incredibly suited for individuals who want to make significant changes in the healthcare industry. Public Health and Policy Physicians work in local health departments, the CDC, WHO, and global NGOs. Many pursue MPH degrees to support roles in epidemiology, policy, and program design.

Depending on your interests and skills, you can acquire various roles. You can choose from education and research to a broader field.

This job opportunity suits doctors who enjoy working on diverse projects. Such candidates are ideal for hiring the Department of Public Health’s office health officers.

Additionally, several medical schools allow you to pursue a master’s in public health (MPH) simultaneously with your medical degree.

Pursuing a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) alongside or after a medical degree enhances a physician’s ability to apply medical knowledge in public health settings, focusing on preventive care, public health policies, and global health issues, broadening their impact beyond individual patient care.

10 – Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship and Innovation More doctors are launching health tech startups or joining early-stage ventures. AMA’s Physician Innovation Network and VC-backed incubators support this shift. Although medicine has progressed immensely, there is still vast room for improvement. This is incredible news if you are an entrepreneur, too.

You can easily turn a concept for an innovative medical device, implant or technique into reality.

Although initially, you may have to do a lot of up-front work yourself, rest assured, the rewards are comparatively higher than working for a medical company.

Conclusion

These are ten of the most in-demand nonclinical careers for physicians in 2025. Explore part-time or side-gig opportunities before making a full transition.

See Also

Physician Wellness Grants

Loans for Medical Doctors

How to Deal With Needle Phobic Patients

Insurance Jobs for Physicians