User Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Does anyone know what careers are best for people with schizophrenia either inside or outside of medicine? I am a recently diagnosed med student year 4 and desperately want to stay employed. I have lots of support, but need advice on the best work options at this point...work that won't be too stressful and trigger a dreaded relapse. So far the criteria I have identified are low-stress, one thing at a time, and a regular daily routine. I am willing to leave medicine but don't want to end up jobless or with a job that makes me relapse! I am also very worried that if I can find a suitable specialty in the med field, I won't survive the residency it takes to get there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergie Posted January 14, 2008 Report Share Posted January 14, 2008 Hi! Please, look at this: http://www.img-canada.ca/en/index.html even though this is an IMG site you will find many interesting career ideas for some relatively calm and stable jobs in the med field. Some of them require additional training others - not. Do not leave your idea to work as an MD, your conditoin could be stabilized. There are enough physicians who suffer/suffered from the same problem but were able to find their way through and do what they like. Best of luck, s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Satsuma Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Can't really give you advice on specific careers. I thought I would post a book you might be interested in. It is written by Elyn Sacks, a professor of Law, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. I haven`t read it, but apprently she has a family and successful career. Could be an interesting read. The book is called "The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness" and I've seen it on Amazon. Best of luck Sats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne Berndl Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 Hi there, I think that all areas of medicine are stressful to some extent, but then again so are many other careers. There are some jobs that have more reasonable working hours and less call. However, regardless of what area you go into you will still need to complete your PGY1, which often will have rotations that have heavy call and significantly disrupt your sleep schedule for that year. I would think it would be a good idea to talk to who ever is managing your schizophrenia about this, I am not the person to give you advice on this! However, if you want a list of medical careers that tend to have more reliable hours: Community medicine Radiology Family medicine General Pathology Hematological pathology Laboratory medicine Medical genetics Medical microbiology Neuropathology Physical medicine and rehab Also, I found this discussion board where there are other professionals with schizophrenia, maybe it would be useful to you. http://208.69.42.138:8080/jiveforums/thread.jspa?threadID=429&tstart=0 Good luck!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Posted January 16, 2008 Report Share Posted January 16, 2008 I know someone who, when he finished his 4rth yr, decided he didn't want to practice as a doc and instead went into teaching (didn't do residency, but could still be a pbl tutor, etc.). I also know someone who ended up working with policies at Health Canada. It depends on what is stressful for you, but these paths can offer at least a more regular, reasonable schedule with no call or night shifts If ever you would like contact info for these people, send me a pm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralDoc Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 Sounds like a difficult condition/job match! I would try the following website. It allows you to ask job accommodation specialists about specific conditions and the best job modifications for them... should be a good challenge for them! http://www.jan.wvu.edu/JANonDemand.htm They also list common conditions and specific recommendations at: http://www.jan.wvu.edu/soar/disabilities.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickdraw_mcgraw Posted January 19, 2008 Report Share Posted January 19, 2008 The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario is currently working on a policy that would allow them to know a doctors personal health history. If they felt someone with a medical condition was a danger to patients, and it's pretty arbitrary, they could prevent you from practice if the policy goes through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnickles Posted January 24, 2008 Report Share Posted January 24, 2008 Does anyone know what careers are best for people with schizophrenia either inside or outside of medicine? I am a recently diagnosed med student year 4 and desperately want to stay employed. I have lots of support, but need advice on the best work options at this point...work that won't be too stressful and trigger a dreaded relapse. So far the criteria I have identified are low-stress, one thing at a time, and a regular daily routine. I am willing to leave medicine but don't want to end up jobless or with a job that makes me relapse! I am also very worried that if I can find a suitable specialty in the med field, I won't survive the residency it takes to get there... Hello - where are you located? I work at the First Episode Psychosis Clinic in Ottawa, and I know there are parallel clinics in Montreal and Toronto. They'd have a wealth of resources and would be committed to helping you make this decision as wisely as possible. PM me if you would like to chat! PS - Rehabilitation medicine and Rad/Onc come to mind as residencies that are more relaxed. My fiance has friends in PGY-3 in both, and both seem to have kept pretty good hours for the first three years (and it only gets better after that). Anyway, if I can be of any help, just send me a message. All my best out to you. And don't give up on the things you've hoped for in your life. Just remember that . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemgirl Posted January 26, 2008 Report Share Posted January 26, 2008 If they felt someone with a medical condition was a danger to patients, and it's pretty arbitrary, they could prevent you from practice if the policy goes through. My province has a similar thing, but all they care about is that you see your psychiatrist and stay on your meds. That's really all that should matter to them. They don't go around arbitrarily telling ppl that they can't be docs, they have to have evidence that you are actually a danger, not just that you would theoretically be. Hell, we could all theoretically be harmful to our patients. Now, to the OP: Don't give up on medicine, man, you're almost there. I'm bipolar and I have no plans to give up on medicine. Clerkship has taught me that I need something with predictable hours so I can take my meds at the same time each evening and morning. Personally, I'm going for psychiatry. Regular hours, rewarding and definitely the most interesting patient population. When I was first diagnosed in year two, it felt like the end of the world to me. My school was so supportive, though, and I realized that I'm not even close to being the only doc or doc to be around with a mental illness. The first few months were rough, but once the medications started to help, things steadily improved. All the best to you! And remember, by seeking help and having a support system, you've already won most of the battle. Those two things will be indispensable and keeping you stable and enabling you to practice medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickdraw_mcgraw Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Hey, You're preaching to the choir. But it's even worse in Ontario, new policies at the college are so vague that they could be interpreted as I had mentioned. We are told in Ontario that the CPSO is not your friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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