Can an engineer become a doctor?

I had a classmate in Chemical Engineering at Andhra University back in the late 1950s. He passed out , went to USA and became a good cardiac surgeon. The curious thing is that cardiac surgery does involve a host of chemical engineering operations and processes. Heat transfer, mass transfer, gas absortion/desorption, non-Newtonian fluid flow, pumping of gases and liquids are a few such.

An engineer can definitely become a doctor. If you are looking for an inspiration, you've to know the story of Janhavi Ajit Rao - an engineer who became a doctor at the age of 47; and when she was at the height of her successful IT career!

Here's her story in short -

Janhavi decided to let go of her successful career spanning over 18 years as an IT engineer to get the MBBS degree, and then the MD.

In 2003, Janhavi was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease - while she was running her own IT company in Bengaluru. She's had done her BE (Electronics) and then MS in the same field from University of California Santa Barbara.

She even worked with top US firms before moving to Bengaluru in 2002. The founded her own startup in electronics engineering domain.

After delivering her child, she began experiencing pain in her joints. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. At that point, she began thinking about switching to a profession with deeper and meaningful human impact.

Janhavi enrolled for MBBS course at Ramaiah Medical College in 2013 at the age of 40. She says she enjoyed her conversations with patients.

Janhavi - if you are reading this, we'd love to know from you about your inspiring story.

I wish to add a few famous examples of engineers who became successful doctors. They made a successful switch and it required lot of dedication and hard work.

Dr. Robert Gallo

Dr. Gallo, a prominent biomedical researcher, initially studied engineering at Providence College before switching to medicine. He later co-discovered the HIV virus and played a significant role in the development of the HIV blood test.

Dr. Mehmet Oz Before becoming a renowned cardiothoracic surgeon (who performs surgery on organs in chest) and TV personality, Dr. Oz earned an undergraduate degree in biological sciences, with a focus on bioengineering, from Harvard University.

Dr. Peter Agre

Dr. Agre, a Nobel Prize-winning physician and molecular biologist, started his academic journey as a chemical engineering major before changing his focus to medicine. His groundbreaking work in aquaporins (AQP) has made a lasting impact in the medical field.

So yeah - engineers can become doctors! :-)

Looks like this discussion is getting popular. Someone wrote to me asking if it's worth becoming a doctor after you've earned an engineering degree.

The person was trying to evaluate the option purely from the financial perspective. Just to answer - a doctor, in general, would earn more than an engineer.

The income of professionals in any field, including engineering and medicine, varies significantly depending on numerous factors such as the country they're working in, the specific specialty within their field, the level of experience they have, and more.

While we can draw some generalisations, it's important to remember that these may not apply to every individual case.

Overall Earnings:

Generally speaking, doctors tend to earn more than engineers.

This is largely due to the additional years of education and training required to become a doctor, which typically takes at least a decade.

In contrast, engineers can typically start earning a full salary after completing a bachelor's degree, which usually takes four years.

Specialisation: Within each field, certain specialties tend to earn more than others. For instance, in medicine, specialties like neurosurgery, orthopaedic surgery, and cardiology often have higher incomes than family medicine or paediatrics.

Similarly, in engineering, specialties like petroleum engineering or computer engineering may earn more than civil or industrial engineers.

Experience: Experience also plays a significant role in earnings. In both fields, individuals with more experience tend to earn more than those who are just starting out.

However, the income growth over time may be more pronounced in medicine than in engineering.

Geographical Location: The country and region where a professional works significantly influence their income.

For instance, doctors and engineers in countries like the United States, Australia, and Switzerland tend to earn more than their counterparts in countries with lower costs of living.

Private Practice vs. Employment: Doctors who own their own practices have the potential to earn more than those who are employed by hospitals or healthcare systems.

Similarly, engineers who start their own firms or work as consultants may have higher earnings than those who work as employees.

Research, Teaching, and Other Roles: Both doctors and engineers can supplement their incomes through other roles. For instance, they can conduct research, teach at universities, work as consultants, or take on leadership roles within their organisations.

Remember, while income is an important factor, it should not be the only one to consider when choosing a career.

The best choice is usually the one that aligns with your interests, skills, and long-term goals. It's also worth considering the work-life balance, job satisfaction, and the potential impact of your work on society.

this was a great post. thanks for writing this.

How can I pursue MBBS after completing a degree in Engineering? I've finished my 12th grade with a focus on PCM (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics) without Biology, and I hold a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering along with a Postgraduate Diploma in Nuclear Science & Engineering. Currently, I work as a scientist in the nuclear industry, but I'm interested in studying medicine in the future, particularly in fields like radiology or nuclear medicine.

However, the NEET prospectus states that Biology must be one of the main subjects in both 11th and 12th grades to be eligible for applying to MBBS. Although there's an option to retake 11th and 12th with Biology through open schooling via NIOS, the prospectus also specifies that candidates from the NIOS board are not eligible. Given these constraints, how should I proceed? It seems that the Indian Medical Association has closed all doors to medicine for individuals like me. How did others in similar situations overcome these barriers?

Hey, I'm also looking for options to pursue Medicine. I'm also an engineering graduate, with a software engineering career spanning 4 years. I have been confused on the practicality, until i see this discussion. If anyone can share any details on how possible it is for an Indian student, without having studied Biology in the 12th grade, that would be really great.