Two recent encounters with solo medical practices demonstrated to me the stark contrast between a medical practice business model stuck in the 20th century and that of one that has boldly stepped into the 21st century.

How long does one have to be a practicing physician before it becomes obvious that a clinical career isn't the right line of work? It depends. Hear how one plastic surgeon explored his passion for writing by investigating the field of medical communications ... and a new, non-clinical career was born.

Clinical medicine is becoming increasingly left-brained, organized by evidence-based medicine and guidelines. Any right-brained activities we might engage in are relegated to just a few moments of our day. How then do we then satisfy our natural human craving for creativity in our work?

As a formerly idealistic pediatrician whose eventual disappointment in clinical practice led to her leave medicine altogether, Maggie Kozel, MD, has put into words what I felt about being a practicing physician and have been unable to express adequately. I invite you to listen to my interview with Dr. Kozel, where we explore what life is like after medicine.