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First $1,000: The Med School "Decision Doctor"
Today's feature comes from Clarissa Reynolds, a medical resident working in Chicago. Because it's not enough to be a doctor at a busy hospital, she also has a side hustle as the med school "decision doctor," helping students and interns navigate some crucial decisions that take place as they move through their training.
In the world of medical education, Dr. Clarissa Reynolds found a side hustle opportunity that hit close to home. Her experience navigating the convoluted path of med school and residency sparked a desire to guide others through this journey. She remembered the countless nights she spent fretting over major decisions—choosing a specialty, ranking residency programs, deciding on fellowships. Each decision carried a weight that could shape her entire career.
It was during a late-night discussion with fellow doctors reminiscing about their early years that she had her eureka moment: many students and first-year residents grapple with the same decisions they once did. She could use her experience and insights to make a difference.
She set out to offer decision-making consultations for those at the crossroads of their medical journey. Each consultation was tailor-made to address the individual's specific questions. Starting with her own hospital, she began giving free talks on decision-making in medicine, supplemented with posts shared on medical student forums.
Her first paying client, Jason, was a fourth-year medical student teetering between psychiatry and family medicine. He had heard one of her talks and felt a connection. They had three in-depth consultation sessions, ranging from analyzing his interests and skills to understanding the future implications of each specialty. That helped Jason decide to pursue psychiatry.
Jason's decision marked a small but pivotal victory. He was her first $250. Within a few months, she had four more clients. When she received her cumulative $1,000 from these consulting sessions, it felt like a validation of her mission.
To make each consultation as efficient as possible, she requested her clients complete a questionnaire before their meetings—helping her understand their situation before they even started, allowing them to jump right into the substance during the session.
"Even though my life is still overly busy, I cherish the memory of my first $1,000, not for the financial gain, but for the confirmation that my guidance was meaningful and necessary."
