You don’t owe anyone an explanation—but here’s a good one anyway

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Hey Health Techies!

If you’re thinking about leaving clinical work (or you’ve already made the leap) you’ve probably faced the questions:

“Wait… you’re leaving healthcare?”
“But you’re such a good [insert clinical specialty here]!”
“What a waste of your degree!”

Cue the awkward silence, not to mention the self doubt.

You might feel like you’re on trial, having to justify your choice to leave the thing you worked so hard for.

But let me tell you something:
You are allowed to change.
You are allowed to grow.
And no, it’s not a waste.

🧠 You don’t owe anyone an explanation…

But it helps to have one, especially for your own confidence.

Most people who question your decision aren’t trying to be hurtful. They’re just used to seeing clinical roles as life-long careers. Chances are, you did too.

That’s why having a well thought out, simple explanation can go a long way—not just to reassure others, but to remind you why this transition makes sense.

💬 A 3-part script you can use

Here’s a framework I love for explaining my own career pivot when asked (which, strangely, even after 10 years removed from clinical work still happens all the time). Feel free to borrow, steal, or tweak to make it your own.

1. Start with your big why
Affirm your original motivation for getting into your clinical role.

Something like “I got into healthcare because I wanted to help people” or whatever resonates with you.

2. Share your observations of why a change might be needed
Share what changed for you, and why a new path has started to make more sense.

“Over time, I realized I could help solve problems on a bigger scale—by working on the systems, not just inside them.”

3. Look ahead
End by sharing the vision for what this could mean for you. What are you moving toward?

For example, “Now I’m focused on building tech tools that improve patient care and support the clinicians still on the front lines.”

Need an example? Here’s how that might sound all together:

(Feel free to remix until it feels like you and your own passions and values are reflected.)

“I’ve always been passionate about healthcare, and clinical work gave me a strong foundation in what patients and providers need. But I started to see recurring problems that couldn’t be fixed one patient at a time. I wanted to work at a systems level—designing better tools, streamlining care delivery, improving access. Now I’m building a career in health tech where I can create solutions that help thousands, not just one person at a time.”

As a bonus, having a short statement like this not only prepares you for conversations that will likely come up with friends and family, it’s also a great elevator pitch for networking events and interviews.

Considering a departure from clinical care doesn’t mean you’re leaving healthcare. It just means you’re choosing to expand your skillset and help patients in a new way.

You’re still driven by serving others. You still know how to solve complex patient problems.
You’re just scaling your impact in a new way.

The people who get it will cheer you on.
The rest will catch up later.

You’ve got this. 💪🏽

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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 Resume Template Pack: Don’t let choosing a the perfect resume template keep you from applying to that remote role. Grab these and know that you’re using tried and true templates that help get the job done.

2. Strategy Call: Need help planning your job pivot? Book a call and let’s do it together.