By YiDing Yu, MD, a practicing physician and serial health tech and AI entrepreneur

“Are we going to be ready to support 62,000 physicians by June?” 

It’s 8:30 AM, and I’m on Zoom with the VP of Clinical Operations of a major health plan. We’re launching an AI platform my team has built to accelerate patient care, one that will touch every physician, practice, and hospital — not to mention 30% of all residents in the state. We review the project timelines, finalize our training and communication plan, and, satisfied, she signs off on the June go-live. I slide right into my team’s 9:00 AM leadership standup and share the news, smiling ear to ear. They are pumped to go, too. I welcome our new VP of Product, one of several key leaders I’ve hired in the past few weeks, and listen to the team’s priorities and blockers before signing off. Today, I’m heading to the hospital for my favorite shift, 10AM−6PM, in the ED. Walking into the clinical world, like turning a dial in my brain, I narrow the aperture and focus on the person in front of me. I savor these 1:1 moments with patients. The privilege to make a unique impact on another human being is why I became a doctor, and it inspires every aspect of my work. The day is long and chaotic, but worth it. As I’m wrapping up charting and getting ready to go home, I see a text notification. One of my portfolio companies just received an acquisition term sheet, and the founder wants to connect this evening. “Call you in 30?” I text back. 

My career, while non-traditional, is rich, dynamic, and incredibly fulfilling. And yet, if you had told me early in my medical training that I would be building health care AI companies, I wouldn’t have believed you.

I know I am far from alone. Our preparation for medical school and residency is myopically focused on academic clinical training, so it’s no wonder that for many physicians, even imagining a career beyond the bedside feels out of reach.

But it is not out of reach. Rather, my experience has taught me that our training as physicians means that we bring unique value to the business of health care. If you’ve been curious to imagine the road less traveled, here are three reasons that I hope will encourage you to explore.

Amplifying the Voice of Physicians in Industry

As a physician, I bring unique perspectives and values to my work. My story, those of my peers, and those of my patients ground me in purpose. One of the most powerful acts I can perform to serve my team is to share these stories and bring our mission to life. Without physicians at the table, it is easy for the core principles of patient care, compassion, and ethical practice to get lost in the pursuit of profitability. Who better to advocate for these values than physicians themselves? We’ve seen firsthand the impact of policy decisions on patients. We understand the health care system and the challenges faced by both patients and providers. When we bring our voices to the table, we can help shape policies, products, and businesses to truly prioritize patient well-being and human impact.

Making a Larger Impact

I became a doctor to make a difference in people’s lives. If you’re like me, the most meaningful moments of your career are when you have made a profound difference in the life of a patient. But I am also drawn, almost compelled, to the desire to make an impact on a much larger scale. By leading health care organizations, developing technologies, or shaping policy, we can influence the lives of thousands, even millions, of people.

Through the technologies I’ve built and scaled to market, over one million patients have benefited from life-saving technology that accelerates diagnosis and treatment during a medical emergency; millions of patients have benefited from faster prior authorizations auto-approved by AI; hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses, and medical staff have saved millions of hours in administrative tasks automated by technology. And there is still so much more I can do.

The potential for impact is truly immense. Outside the clinical setting, we can leverage our skills and knowledge to address systemic issues, improve access to care, and drive positive change on a broader level.

Bringing Bedside Skills to Business

A month into my first health care venture, I found myself coaching my co-founders on the stages of change. My argument? The person we were negotiating with was clearly precontemplative, so rather than spending our time eroding the relationship by trying to convince her to change her mind, we should pivot our strategy.

Over time, I have leveraged my “bedside” skills over and over again. We physicians possess a wide range of skills that are highly valuable in the business world. We are team leaders, communicators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers. We are adept at analyzing data, synthesizing information, and making informed decisions under pressure. We are also deeply empathetic and understand the importance of building relationships, responding to emotional cues, and fostering trust.

These talents are highly sought after in leaders and business management. In business, we can use our leadership skills to guide and inspire teams, our diagnostic skills to identify ‘root-cause’ problems, and our analytical skills to hone in on effective operations and solutions. We can use our empathy to understand the needs of our customers and our communication skills to negotiate tough conversations.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re interested in developing new technologies, leading a health care organization, or working in the life sciences, your skills as a physician will be an asset to you as a leader. You will bring a unique perspective, a deep understanding of the health care system, and a passion for improving patient care.

The path I’ve taken has been unpredictable, but it has been incredibly rewarding. If you’re an early-career physician feeling a pull towards something beyond the bedside, I encourage you to explore the possibilities. Your skills, your knowledge, and your passion are needed in the world of business. Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and discover the incredible impact you can make.