From Medicine to Management and Life Coaching

Hanging the Stethoscope Series

Welcome to Hanging the Stethoscope series where we interview real doctors who have deviated from the path of medicine and are finding fulfilment in other endeavours. Enjoy!

• Your name and present occupation – Ijeoma Anusim. I am a management consultant and life coach.

• What year did you graduate medical school? – 2004

• At what point did you decide you would deviate from medicine? – I haven’t completely deviated from medicine. I just don’t work in a clinical setting anymore. 

• What inspired you to start what you’re doing now? – When I realized that there were socio- economic factors that determines and affects health. I decided I wanted to influence people’s health outcomes from a macro level. So, I help ensure people get access to quality healthcare. I have worked on projects where I have built world class healthcare facilities.

• How long have you been away from Medicine? – about 10 years

• What has been people’s reactions to your decision? – They don’t understand why I spent 8 years studying medicine and not practicing.

• What was your family’s reaction? Same as above

• Do you have any regrets stopping medicine? Not exactly, I transfer my skills and training as a medical doctor into everything I do. Medicine teaches you how to think holistically and systematically. I find that I have an edge over my medical doctor friends. I can speak the language of medicine and business which they can’t. I also have a wide and diverse worldview which most doctors don’t have.

• Do people still call you doctor? Yes

•  What are the challenges you are having in this new role? None. I am curious and I learn quickly.

• Did you have to do any special study or training for your new job/role? -Yes. I am constantly learning to improve my skills.

• Can you still write a prescription for malaria/ hypertension/ diabetes? – Yes. And google is my friend.

• Do you try to update yourself on medical trends– Yes I try to.

• Have you faced any embarrassing questions by people who still feel you are practicing? – Sometimes but am quick to say that am rusty as I haven’t practiced in a while. I go and read it up.

• What would yu like to change about the way medicine is practiced in Nigeria- The problem is not the way medicine is practiced, it in doctors being well trained and being well remunerated.

•  What advice would you give a medical student or doctor that wants to hang his or her stethoscope– I will ask why they wanted to study medicine in the first place. Then what other ways can you achieve the reason/s you wanted study medicine?

• Your Social media handles – Not active @ijeanusim