Experts offer radiologists advice for overcoming 'mid-career syndrome'
A new Academic Radiology paper offers tips for providers on renewing a sense of purpose in the medical field in the midst of the mid-career lull that many clinicians encounter during their professional tenures.
Such lulls—referred to in the paper as “mid-career syndrome,” and described as a time when providers lose their sense of purpose and/or engagement after having been in their role for more than a decade—although not uncommon, can be problematic and exacerbate burnout if they go unaddressed, authors of the new paper suggested.
“Overcoming this loss of purpose and committing to a new or renewed career goal or focus is essential for mid-career faculty to continue to be productive members of an organization and to possess a personal sense of fulfillment,” corresponding author of the paper Tara Catanzano MD, FSABI, with the Department of Radiology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School-Baystate, and colleagues shared [1].
These feelings of disengagement are compounded by multiple factors that the predecessors of today’s midcareer radiologists were not faced with, including the ramifications of a global pandemic and the changing landscape of leadership roles that are veering away from traditional “work your way up the ladder” paths to career advancement.
Nevertheless, today’s problems cannot be solved with yesterday’s solutions, the authors implied before offering their own insight into ways radiologists can restore their sense of personal career fulfillment.
Reflection. Individuals should be intentional with reflecting on how they got to where they are in their careers, what has changed from their early versus current days and what direction they want to take in the future. The authors suggested honoring the emotions tied to past career paths as well as what might improve or sustain (if positive) those feelings in the future. This, the authors wrote, "allows the radiologist to intentionally acknowledge sources of career fulfillment as well as to identify problematic aspects of a current position.”
Goal setting. For this, individuals need to have a firm understanding of their skill set in order to set ambitious, yet achievable goals. How these skills align with career options—teaching, research, administration, etc.—should be considered in order to devise achievable goals. For those who find goal setting difficult, the authors suggested consulting a career coach for accountability and support.
Consider a career pivot. Radiologists should consult practice leadership to gain a better understanding of what opportunities outside of their current scope may be available to them. These can range from teaching to research, academia, publishing, legal work, advocacy and, in some cases, entrepreneurial ventures. Career pivots require open communication, stringent planning and often necessitate the rebalancing of workflows.
“Understanding factors that lead to both personal satisfaction and dissatisfaction, identifying areas of possible career pivot through self-awareness, and finding resources to nurture talents and explore new opportunities can help mid-career radiologists navigate successfully into the next career phase with greater career satisfaction,” the authors concluded.
For more tips and insights from the paper, click here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.