Why I’m Transitioning From Healthcare to Marketing – And Why They’re More Similar Than People Might Think

Have you ever woken up and just laid in bed for a moment deciding if work was worth it? Did the act of getting to work start to feel like it had become a job itself? Yeah, I’ve been there. 

The experience of burnout forced me to take a hard look at what I wanted from my career. It wasn’t just about finding a different job but about finding work that aligned with my strengths, curiosity, and desire to keep learning. That reflection ultimately led me to marketing. 

Marketing allows me to use the many skills I have gained from each of my degrees, certificates, and jobs that I have had over the years. 

• Empathy

Working with patients that are coming in stressed and nervous for their outpatient testing has taught me a lot about how to be empathetic to people and their situations. Marketing also needs empathy to help you understand people’s situations and what they might tune in to.

• Problem-Solving

For me, problem-solving has become second nature. In healthcare, unexpected challenges happen everyday, and I’ve learned how to stay calm, identify the issue, and find a path forward. Whether it’s helping a patient navigate a confusing process, insurance questions, or operational issues, I naturally gravitate toward finding a solution. Marketing requires you to always be looking for a creative way to get your message to people.

• Adaptability

I have become very adaptable over the years. This was a skill that really took time to take shape for me. With always changing minute processes in healthcare, I have really learned that you must always be adaptable and not stuck in one way of doing something. I have also learned how to work in multiple locations in my hospital and with that comes a different dynamic in each location. 

• Communication

Having communication is key for a team, especially working in a healthcare environment. There are so many departments working together to help give a patient the best care possible that it is so important to have quick and effective communication on all fronts. This is also important in marketing, because you want to be able to interpret what your client is needing and/or wanting for their company. 

• Leadership

Leadership has been a skill I have been really working on. Being the Team Lead of a 13 person team has allowed me to really grow in my leadership skills. I have also recently started a girls small group at my church and am learning how to be a good leader to them.

• Working under pressure

I work under pressure every day working at the hospital. In registration, you are constantly doing about 10 million things at once as well as trying to make everyone happy, including the patient, the department that is doing their test, and their doctor/doctor’s office. In marketing, you have to meet deadlines. I feel my experience in working under pressure will benefit me. 

When I look at these skills together, I realize they are exactly what drew me to marketing in the first place. At its core, marketing is about understanding people, solving problems, and communicating effectively. These are skills I’ve been developing throughout my entire career. 

This transition isn’t about starting over but about building on everything I’ve learned so far and applying it in a new way. I’m still learning, growing, and figuring things out as I go, but that’s part of the excitement. If you’re also navigating a career change, pursuing a new goal, or simply exploring what’s next, I hope you’ll follow along. Thanks for being here!