With factors like the shockwaves of COVID-19 to a forecasted rise in antimicrobial resistance, the world is paying attention to pathogens. For the infectious disease (ID) physician, this heightened awareness is a double-edged sword. On one hand, your expertise is more critical than ever; on the other, the relentless demands of the clinical environment may drive you to consider alternative careers that allow you to use your skills without the same pressures.
The good news is that ID can be a launchpad for various non-clinical roles. Whether you are looking to leave clinical medicine entirely or seeking a side gig to regain some balance, the options are vast.
Why do infectious disease physicians seek alternative careers?
In general, physicians often cite lack of work-life balance as their motivation for switching careers. In a poll asking Sermo members for the main reason they attribute to doctors leaving medicine, 26% said emotional stress/mental health/burnout, 21% said long hours/lack of family time and 19% said poor work-life balance.
It’s the nature of working in medicine, according to an anesthesiologist in the community. “Most other doctors I know (in the US mainly) feel that excess ‘busy work’ is the prime factor creating those long hours, poor work-life balance, and stress/burnout.”
As an ID physician, you are trained to hunt down the microscopic culprits behind unexplained fevers, manage complex HIV/AIDS regimens and guide antimicrobial stewardship programs in hospitals. This often involves long hours, lower reimbursement rates compared to procedural specialties and significant burnout. A 2022 study found that while overall physician burnout rates decreased during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic (38.2% in 2020 vs. 43.9% in 2017), rates didn’t improve for ID physicians.
Here’s how burnout and other common factors lead ID physicians to consider transitioning to non-clinical roles:
Monetizing epidemiology and public health skills
ID specialists possess training and skills in outbreak investigation, vaccine strategy and public health that is marketable. While hospitals need this for infection control, so do government agencies, travel clinics and global health consulting firms. These organizations are often willing to pay for insight that goes beyond patient care and looks at population health management.
High demand in litigation and pharma
Your daily routine of managing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and navigating complex antibiotic regimens is valued in both the legal world and in pharma. Medical malpractice cases often hinge on infection control standards. In the pharmaceutical industry, expertise in tropical medicine and anti-infective research is crucial for clinical development and advisory roles.
Flexibility and autonomy
A general practitioner on Sermo highlighted frustrations that sometimes affect physicians across specialties: “It’s already a tough profession; increased regulations, risk of disease, and dangerous patients make it only harder.”
What’s more, ID physicians’ work is often fragmented. You might be running between three different hospitals for consults, leaving you with little control over your day. The specialty “is very difficult, it takes up a lot of time, too much paperwork, we are not well paid either,” writes one ID specialist on Sermo.
Alternative careers can replace these unpredictable schedules with project-based work, remote options or standard corporate hours.
Strategic alternative careers for infectious disease physicians
A general practitioner on Sermo advocates for making a career change if you’re no longer satisfied with your role. “There is nothing wrong with doing non-clinical jobs, such as administrative or teaching jobs,” they wrote.
Here are several strategic pivots that leverage your ID background, along with what you might expect in terms of salary for U.S.-based roles.
Epidemiologist
Epidemiology can offer a natural transition for an ID physician. Epidemiologists study the patterns and causes of diseases in populations. In this role, you shift focus from the individual patient to the community. You might design research studies to investigate disease trends, manage public health programs or develop protocols to prevent future outbreaks.
Average salary: $90,430, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Policy advisor
Healthcare policy shapes how providers practice medicine. As a policy advisor, you would use your medical expertise to guide legislation, regulation and public health initiatives, for government bodies, non-profits or think tanks.
Average salary: $104,760, according to ZipRecruiter.
Public Health (CDC, FDA, NIH, etc.)
Public health jobs within federal agencies like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or National Institutes of Health (NIH) allow you to contribute to national and global health security. Roles can range from medical officers reviewing new drug applications to field officers deploying to outbreak zones. “Some states employ physicians to review Medicaid claims,” notes an internist and Sermo member. “Networking is important in finding these limited positions.”
Salary Range: Varies depending on the agency and level of seniority.
Health economics consultant
Health economics consultants bridge clinical efficacy and financial viability. They analyze the cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions. For ID physicians, this might mean digging into the economic impact of a new vaccine rollout or antimicrobial stewardship program.
Average salary: $97,999, according to ZipRecruiter.
Medical research scientist
If the “why” of disease fascinates you more than the clinical management, you might feel at home in a research role. Medical research scientists design and conduct experiments to understand human diseases and develop treatments in academic settings or private research institutes.
Average salary: $121,720, according to ZipRecruiter.
Clinical laboratory director
While this usually requires additional regulatory certification or specific lab oversight experience, it can be a natural transition for ID physicians. You would oversee the operations of a clinical lab, ensuring the accuracy of diagnostic testing.
Average salary: $133,713, according to ZipRecruiter.
Biosafety specialist
Biosafety specialists ensure the safe handling of biological agents in laboratories and manufacturing facilities. They develop protocols to prevent accidental exposure or release of pathogens. With the rise of high-containment labs, this is a niche but growing field.
Median salary: $84,000, according to Glassdoor.
Infection control specialist/consulting
Many ID physicians do this as part of their hospital duties, but you can pivot to doing this exclusively or as a consultant for multiple facilities. Infection control consulting involves helping hospitals, nursing homes and surgical centers meet regulatory standards and reduce HAIs.
Average salary: $76,405, according to ZipRecruiter.
Pharmaceutical scientist/medical affairs
This is a broad category that includes roles like Medical Science Liaison (MSL) or medical director. You serve as the bridge between a pharmaceutical company and the medical community. In the ID space, companies developing new antibiotics, antivirals or vaccines seek physicians to lead their scientific strategy.
Median salary: $205,000, according to Glassdoor.
Quality control scientist
In the biotech and pharma manufacturing world, Quality Control (QC) scientists ensure that products meet purity and safety standards. For ID physicians, this often intersects with sterility assurance in drug manufacturing.
Median salary: $90,000, according to Glassdoor.
4 side gigs for infectious disease physicians
Perhaps you aren’t ready to leave your role. Many physicians find that a “side hustle” provides the financial freedom or mental break they need to keep enjoying clinical practice. A poll of Sermo members revealed that medical surveys (46%) and medical consulting (40%) are popular side gigs within the physician community.
Here are four side gigs to consider that are suitable for ID physicians:
Expert witness
Infectious disease malpractice cases are complex. Lawyers need experts to review charts, opine on the standard of care and testify in court. It can be lucrative work and relies entirely on your clinical judgment.
Remote infection control consulting
Smaller facilities, ambulatory surgery centers and long-term care facilities often cannot afford a full-time ID physician or infection preventionist. You can offer public health consulting or infection control oversight remotely, reviewing policies and surveillance data from your home office.
Utilization review
Insurance companies and hospitals hire physicians to review medical records and determine if treatments or hospital stays are medically necessary. Your expertise in antibiotic stewardship makes you well-suited to review complex ID cases and prolonged hospitalizations.
Travel medicine consulting
As a travel medicine consultant, you can set up a boutique travel clinic or consult online, advising travelers on necessary vaccines and prophylaxis for malaria or traveler’s diarrhea.
Sermo paid medical surveys as a means to reach your goals
Whether you are saving for a Master of Public Health (MPH) to pivot your career, or simply want to pay down student loans faster, supplementing your income can be a smart strategic move. Sermo offers a flexible, high-yield way to do this through paid medical surveys.
Beyond the financial benefit, participating in market research through these surveys keeps your finger on the pulse of medical innovation. You might be reviewing the profile of a new antibiotic before it hits the market or giving feedback on public health messaging. This keeps you clinically relevant even as you explore non-clinical avenues.
The supplemental income from these surveys can support your career pivot—funding a certification course, a professional resume rewrite or the ability to cut back on clinical hours while you job hunt.
Find your next move
The intellectual rigor required to be an infectious disease physician makes you versatile. You are not “just” a clinician; you are a data analyst, a risk communicator and a public health strategist. Whether you’d like to dive into public health jobs, climb the corporate ladder in biotech or build a portfolio of consulting gigs, your skills are in high demand.
The Sermo community can offer advice as you leverage your skills to secure your next role . Sermo is more than just a place to take surveys—it is a global community of more than 1 million verified physicians. Join the discussion, share resources and find the peer support you need to make your next move.
