Hey Health Tech x Practitioner Pivot

Author

Lauren Curtis
May 13, 2025

Hey Health Techies!

I’m back with another clinician in tech interview for you today. If you’ve been wondering whether your clinical degree could take you somewhere else—somewhere more flexible, more creative, or just more aligned with the life you want, then this story is for you.

Meet Hannah, an occupational therapist who realized early on that the traditional clinical path wasn’t the right fit. Instead of pushing through the discomfort, she got curious. That curiosity led her to a fulfilling role in health tech where she still uses her clinical brain every single day, just in a totally new way.

In this interview, Hannah opens up about what it felt like to admit she didn’t love clinical care, how she handled the judgment from others, and what ultimately helped her find her next chapter.

✨ And here's the exciting part: Hannah and I are teaming up to host a workshop on Wednesday May 21st titled Startups, Salaries, and Stability: What Clinicians Need to Know About Health Tech. You can register here. 

🚪Enrollment is also now open for my signature program, Health Tech Success—an 8 week group cohort program to help you pivot into a role you actually want. The doors to Health Tech Success are open but not for long! Join by midnight tonight to get earlybird pricing ($100 off!) — enrollment closes on Thursday.

Ok, onto the interview with Hannah!

What made you start thinking about leaving clinical care—or at least exploring other options?

Hannah: It actually started while I was still in grad school—I was always intrigued by the different ways OTs could use their degrees beyond traditional settings. Once I began working clinically, I realized I couldn’t picture myself in that same role 10 years down the line. I deeply respected my seasoned colleagues who had been in the field for 20 or 30 years, but I just knew that path wasn’t right for me.

To be honest, I also just wasn’t happy in clinical care. At first, I assumed it was new grad growing pains and that the feeling would pass as I got more experience, but it didn’t. I kept waiting to love it the way I thought I would, but that moment never came. And I knew I didn’t want to spend my entire career feeling disconnected or resentful toward my work.

At 24, I started thinking about what I wanted my life to look like at 30, 40, and beyond. I saw how limited the opportunities for growth were if I stayed in direct patient care. That long-term vision—wanting more flexibility, fulfillment, and career growth—was what ultimately pushed me to start exploring non-clinical paths.

How did you deal with other people’s reactions—colleagues, family, peers in the field?

Hannah: At first, I was really nervous to talk about my pivot. I felt guilt and even a bit of shame. I didn’t want people to think I was “leaving” the profession or giving up. But once I started opening up, I was surprised by how many people were genuinely curious and happy for me. I think they could see how much more energized and fulfilled I felt.

I’ve been lucky to have a supportive circle that encouraged me through the transition. And honestly, I also made a conscious decision to distance myself from the negativity—whether that was in certain Facebook groups or from people who didn’t understand my choice. I knew this was the right decision for me, and I wanted to protect that clarity.

What skills from your OT background have helped you the most in your current job?

Hannah: So many! One of the biggest has been my ability to understand and advocate for the end user. As an OT, I was trained to assess needs, identify barriers, and create personalized strategies—skills that directly translate to building user-centered products and processes in health tech.

I also lean heavily on my communication skills—being able to translate complex ideas across different teams, whether clinical, technical, or business-facing. And honestly, my ability to stay flexible and iterate when things don’t go as planned has been huge. That mindset of “observe, adapt, and try again” is something I learned in clinical care and now use every single day.

What should other clinicians know about your role or industry if they’re considering it?

Hannah: Clinicians bring incredible value to health tech—often more than they realize. We deeply understand the healthcare landscape, the real challenges patients and providers face, and the workflows that actually work in practice. That insight is irreplaceable when designing or implementing tech solutions.

One thing I wish more clinicians knew is how aligned our training is with fields like user experience, product development, and implementation. For example, OTs are trained to hypothesize, test, adapt, and iterate—just like the design thinking process used in tech. We assess needs, identify barriers, and problem-solve in real time. Those same skills are the foundation of so many roles in health tech.

If you’re curious about this field, know that your clinical lens is not only relevant—it’s needed. We need more people who can advocate for the end user because they’ve been the end user. Your voice has the power to shape better, more human-centered healthcare solutions.

What resources helped you the most when you were figuring out your next step?

Hannah: Honestly—networking. It may not sound like a traditional “resource,” but leading with curiosity and a genuine desire to connect made all the difference for me. Talking to others who were also questioning their clinical path, or who had already made the leap, gave me both clarity and encouragement.

Those conversations helped me see what was possible and allowed me to build relationships that would later shape my career in unexpected ways. Being curious, kind, and open has led to opportunities I couldn’t have predicted—but that all started with simply reaching out and listening.

What advice would you give to another clinician who’s on the fence about pivoting?

Hannah: If you’re even thinking about pivoting, that’s worth paying attention to. You don’t have to know exactly what’s next to start exploring—and giving yourself permission to be curious is a powerful first step.

So often we wait for burnout or a breaking point, but it doesn’t have to get to that. Wanting more—more growth, flexibility, creativity, or joy—is a valid reason to make a change.

My biggest advice? Don’t do it alone. Start talking to people, ask questions, and surround yourself with others who’ve done it. You’ll start to realize that your skills are valuable, and that you’re not behind—you’re just building something new.

Do you think more clinicians will move into nonclinical roles in the future? Why or why not?

Hannah: Yes, absolutely. I think we’re already seeing that shift—and it’s only going to grow. There’s more awareness now than ever that clinical roles, while meaningful, aren’t the only way to use our degrees and make an impact.

Many clinicians are looking for more: more flexibility, more growth, more creativity, and more alignment with their values

Quick Takeaways:

🚪 Wanting more flexibility and growth isn’t selfish. It’s a career signal.
🧠 Your clinical brain is already wired for user-centered tech work.
🤝 Networking wasn’t optional—it was the unlock.
🔁 Clinicians are trained to observe, adapt, and iterate just like in tech.

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Until next time,

Lauren

P.S. If you’re ready to make some moves in your career, here a couple of ways you can get started today:

  1. The doors to the next Health Tech Success cohort are open but not for long! Join by midnight tonight to get earlybird pricing ($100 off!) — doors close on Thursday.

  2. If you’re still in the beginning stages of your journey, join Hannah and I as we deliver our workshop on Wednesday May 21st titled Startups, Salaries, and Stability: What Clinicians Need to Know About Health Tech. You can register here.