As a resident physician, are you thinking about where you want to build your future in medicine? Meet AMA member Jordan Doerr, MD, a family physician and a featured voice in the AMA’s “Finding My Place in Medicine” series.
In this series, physicians reflect on what influenced their decisions when choosing where to work—and what they wish they had known earlier. Explore his journey to help guide your own path toward a fulfilling medical career.
If you are looking for your first physician job after residency, get your cheat sheet now from the AMA. In addition, the AMA Transitioning to Practice series has guidance and resources on deciding where to practice, negotiating an employment contract, managing work-life balance, and other essential tips about starting in practice—including in private practice.
"Following” Dr. Jordan Doerr
Specialty: Family medicine, with geriatric home visits.
Practice setting: Multispecialty group practice.
Employment type: Employed by Wenatchee Valley Medical Group, which is part of Confluence Health in Wenatchee, Washington. Confluence Health is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Years in practice: One.
Key factors that led to me choosing to work at Confluence Health: A few things converged to make me feel Confluence was the right fit.
First, the Wenatchee area is home. I was born and raised here, and my family is still here. When I was weighing options after training, the idea of giving back to the community that raised me was really important.
Second, I genuinely love living here. It has amazing access to outdoor activities and small-town life, with close family support all around me.
And then there's the practice itself. Home-based primary care for a geriatric population is a relatively unique practice model that I was excited to be involved in.
What stood out to me during the interview and hiring process: When I was interviewing, people were so passionate about the group’s mission. I had the opportunity to speak to many different people at different levels of the organization, which allowed me to get different perspectives. I also enjoyed being told that I could have an opportunity to guide the direction of the department.
I got a similar feeling during the hiring process—everyone involved seemed eager to have me come back and work with the group. They were very welcoming, giving me the opportunity to do a rotation to get a better sense of the practice. And they were always available to answer questions.
How feedback from peers and mentors influenced my evaluation process: I think the biggest influence was my mentor, who knew I wanted to go back to Wenatchee to practice, but advised me to do a rotation as part of residency so I could see firsthand what the work would be like. I also got feedback to explore as many different practice types as possible through residency electives to make sure I found a system I liked.
Why I chose to work in this practice setting: Wenatchee Valley Medical Group and Confluence Health had the infrastructure and support systems I needed to provide comprehensive care that the elderly need.
This is a system I grew up getting my care from and trusting their setup. I also had pride from working in the system as a phlebotomist at first, which gave me my first glimpse that this was a system I could see myself working for.
The top three qualities for a great place to work for physicians: First, I’d say an approachable leadership that makes themselves available for support. Second, a happy, well-supported staff. Third, support of autonomy and clinical independence.
How my current practice supports physician well-being and work-life balance: We have genuine paid time off, so I can confidently “unplug” from my computer while on vacation because I know my partners will be covering me.
Also, we have open lines of communication with leadership to discuss our workloads. In addition, loan repayment support takes a huge stressor at least partially off my shoulders, and leadership opportunities abound.
The workplace attributes that contribute most to my job satisfaction at Confluence Health: We enjoy unique practice support. In particular, it is awesome that Wenatchee Valley Medical Group and Confluence Health support a home-visit program to help with some of our most vulnerable patients.
I also have passionate colleagues to discuss care with, and taking care of my community—the people I know in my community—adds another whole layer of meaning to my practice.
The biggest challenges I faced when transitioning from residency to practice: One was losing the daily, close companionship with residents. A group you bond with for three years is hard to leave behind.
Another was changing systems. Having to learn a new community’s resources, specialists' availability and the patterns of practice takes time.
The third was the hurdle that you aren’t running every decision past an attending anymore. It's daunting at first, but you need to have confidence in your training. It’s also helpful to have colleagues at your new job to bounce ideas off of.
What I wish I had known about evaluating a job offer before choosing my first position:For starters, you have power. You are a treasured resource for most organizations, and you often have time and power to negotiate or explore options that you really want. You don’t have to say yes to your first offer, at least not right away.
Also, I wish I had a better grasp of payment models and common compensation models for physicians, as it can all seem so nebulous coming from residency.
What I would have done differently when choosing my first job after residency: Honestly, nothing. I found my dream job. I did my due diligence, rotated there before signing on, and I talked it over with my mentors. It all just felt right. I would make the same decision again.
Also, I wish I had a better grasp of payment models and common compensation models for physicians, as it can all seem so nebulous coming from residency.
What I would have done differently when choosing my first job after residency: Honestly, nothing. I found my dream job. I did my due diligence, rotated there before signing on, and I talked it over with my mentors. It all just felt right. I would make the same decision again.
