Finances

Which is Better: One Career or Two?

By Cheryl G. Murphy, OD

Once you have your optometric degree, you’ll work as an optometrist…right? Most likely, but some choose to work part time as an OD while pursuing other passions or another field entirely.
One of the greatest pros to a having a career in optometry is the flexibility it allows. Sure, sometimes we have to trade a Saturday we would rather be spending at a family barbecue for one spent with a schedule jammed packed with patients. Other times, we scramble to find fill-in coverage so we don’t miss out on attending a friend’s wedding or our kids’ big soccer game. Generally speaking, I think optometry is great because it does give us flexibility that other careers don’t allow. As our life circumstances change, we can find a way to adapt our career to them so that our optometric career evolves with our changing needs and wants.
As optometrists we have options. We can choose to work full time or part time. We can choose to own a practice or work for another doctor. We can go “the corporate route,” working at a corporate-owned optometric location as an employed doctor or lease space from them in which we can set up shop.
With whatever path we choose, there are advantages and disadvantages. However, as optometrists, we are lucky that in most situations, we can adapt our job to our current life circumstance. Often, in other fields, you just can’t do that.
We all go through different stages in our lives. With each decade comes new challenges. Some of us may have to deal with student loans or new mortgages, others try to balance having kids and a career, some may face an unexpected illness. With optometry and all of its employment options we can more than likely find some way to continue practicing while contending with whatever life throws at us. And that’s a pretty remarkable thing.
In fact, optometry can leave room for one to explore other passions which might include an entirely different career aside from optometry.
I myself am currently managing two careers, optometry and freelance science writing. Other optometrists I graduated with have also taken paths less traveled. I have a friend who gave up practicing optometry altogether to start a brand new sports business with their spouse. Another friend moved to another country and became a clinical director and teacher at an optometry college there. I know others who practice optometry while balancing a second career as speakers, industry educators and product or practice consultants. Optometry can leave us freedom to explore a totally different career if we so desire.
Did I ever think that I would make money at anything other than being an optometrist once I finally finished all of my schooling? No. But do I love balancing my passion for optometry with my passion for science writing? Absolutely.
We as optometrists are lucky. We are in a position where we can find other possibilities for income–even if those possibilities include an additional career in a field outside of optometry entirely.
Have you acquired income any other way besides practicing optometry since you graduated optometry school? How have you balanced optometry and illness/family life/other challenges? Have you found a career in optometry adaptable to your lifestyle leaving you time to pursue other passions, interests or careers?

Cheryl G. Murphy, OD, practices at an independent optometric practice in Holbrook, NY. You can like her on Facebook or follow her on Twitter @murphyod. To contact her: murphyc2020@gmail.com.

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