Non Clinical Doctors
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  • Where to find non clinical jobs
    • Job Openings
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    • Medical Review Companies
    • Medical Writing Job
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  • Useful Links
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    • Licensing and Programs for International Physicians
  • Resources For Physicians With Disability
  • Re-Entry Into Medicine
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Resources For Physicians with disability

Being a physician is a rewarding and demanding job. Disability can prevent a physician from practicing at full capacity. Many medical doctors who are too disabled to practice medicine want to continue to work and are still able to thrive in some non clinical careers.
Information for physicians with disability
This page provides information about how to proactively shop for physician disability insurance and how to navigate loan forgiveness, income replacement and employment options if you are a physician with a disability.
Physician disabilities include
  • Lower than baseline endurance for work during or after an illness such as cancer, stroke or heart attack
  • Physical disability, such as handicaps incurred from accidents and injuries
  • Chronic medical illness
  • Addiction
  • Emotional or physiological overburden
If you have experienced these types of situations, there are a number of important resources and considerations for you.
Loan forgiveness
  • If you have an educational loan, your disability may qualify you for loan forgiveness if you have certain impairments. You can learn if you qualify here.
  • The US Department of Education provides information about how to apply for educational loan forgiveness due to disability here.
Income replacement
If you are a disabled physician, you may need short term or long term income replacement. Income replacement may come from government benefits, from an insurance policy, or from modified work arrangements.
Government disability benefits
Disability coverage through government programs follows strict guidelines and may be affected by or may affect the amount of payment your receive from your disability insurance.
How to apply for government benefits
  • Temporary disability assistance
  • Government benefits for people with disabilities
  • Disability starter kit
  • Disability planner: How to apply
Proof and evidence of disability
Receiving disability benefits requires proof of disability. If you have a disability insurance policy, then your  benefits are subject to the rules of your policy. You may also be entitled to social security disability benefits.
  • Social security requires you to prove your disability with these documents
  • The documents that you submit must show evidence of disability, as described here.
How your assets affect your disability benefits
If you have assets, this may impact whether you are eligible for government disability benefits. Find out which assets may be counted when your disability benefits are calculated here.
Worker's compensation
If you have had an injury at work that prevents you from working, you might be eligible for worker's compensation.
  • United States Office of Worker's Compensation Programs
Physicians disability insurance
Disability insurance for physicians includes short term and long term insurance. Short term insurance may be offered at a low rate or even for no cost by some employers. Long term insurance can be purchased through your employer or through an insurance company. Purchase of disability insurance is recommended for young, healthy people who can obtain insurance at lower costs and may be able to ‘lock in’ low premiums. 
Own occupation disability insurance/specialty specific disability insurance
Physicians have specialty training and specialty specific certification. That is why it is recommended to obtain insurance that covers loss of income in case you experience a disability that prevents you from practicing your specialty.

Residual disability
If you are able to work with your disability, but receive a lower income than you could before you were disabled, you can still collect part of your lost income of you have residual disability coverage as part of your policy.

Getting quotes:
Comparing quotes and policies may take hours, but it is well worth it in the long run. 
  • Pattern
  • Disability Insurance Services
  • Doctor Disability.com
  • Leverage RX
  • Doctor Disability Shop

Some companies that provide disability insurance for physicians:
  • AMA disability insurance for physicians
  • Guardian physician income protection
  • Northwestern Mutual physician disability insurance
  • Pattern insurance brokers
Organizations for physicians with disability
  • Society of physicians with disabilities
  • Society of healthcare professionals with disabilities
  • Coalition for disability access in health science and education
  • Canadian association of physicians with disabilities
  • Association of medical professionals with hearing loss
Help and support for physicians with addiction
Understanding addiction and medical licensing
Preventing addiction
First responder substance abuse and mental health resources
Treatment of addiction for medical professionals
Recognizing addiction
  • RehabCenter.net- Rehab Center Programs For Physicians Addicted to Drugs and Alcohol
  • Drug Rehab- addiction help for medical professionals
  • Doctors and Addiction
  • Physician Rehabilitation and Monitoring Program
Discounts and programs for people with disabilities
  • Savings tips and buying guides
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Work opportunities for physicians with disability
If you are a physician with a disability, you might still want to work, even if you cannot continue to practice medicine in your specialty. There are opportunities that do not require on-call responsibilities or long hours, and offer flexible schedules. If you can maintain your license and board certification, these are advantageous.
Work from home jobs
These include full time jobs or contract only jobs
  • Telemedicine
  • Medical review/utilization review companies
  • Medical writing
Modified clinical work
These options allow you to practice medicine, and may offer shift schedules, flexible hours, and less on-call responsibility. When cutting back on work, physicians with disability must pay attention to maintaining medical license requirements and maintenance of certification.
  • Part time work
  • Locum tenens
  • Urgent care
Other options
Medical legal work
Patient or disease advocacy
Non-profit work
Reentry and retraining in medicine

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Stay Connected

  • Non-clinical jobs for doctors
    • How to Find a Non-Clinical Job
    • Medical career strategies
    • Transition Toolkit
    • Physician Success Stories
    • Wound Care Physician
  • Where to find non clinical jobs
    • Job Openings
    • Medical Writing and Strategy Agencies
    • Medical Review Companies
    • Medical Writing Job
    • Clinical Research Training
  • Useful Links
  • Careers for Physicians Without Residency
    • Licensing and Programs for International Physicians
  • Resources For Physicians With Disability
  • Re-Entry Into Medicine
  • Tips from your doctor
  • How to Become a Licensed Physician in the USA