Молодежный инновационный вестник

2415-7805

Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Воронежский государственный медицинский университет имени Н.Н. Бурденко" Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации

10437

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of the Phenomenon of 'Physician-Truants': Migration of Professional Identities and Their Impact on Society

Vorobiova

Anastasia

nastasya_vorobiova@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-1029-8603Razuvaeva

Olga Alexandrovna

olgarazuvaeva020606@gmail.comVarnavskaya

Elena Vladimirovna

mailvev@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7326-4045

Voronezh State Medical University named after N.N. Burdenko

25042025

14S1199202

25022025

24032025

2025

Abstract. This study is dedicated to the analysis of the phenomenon of "physician-truants" individuals with medical education who do not pursue their professional activities in the medical field. Many renowned individuals worldwide, having received medical education, have chosen different paths of self-development and have achieved outstanding success not only in professional medical activities but also in other areas. Researching the phenomenon of "truancy," and understanding the reasons why doctors leave their specialty to actively develop in other fields, can help develop effective strategies to retain doctors in medicine and thus influence the functioning of the healthcare system. The issues of stress and burnout among medical personnel have become increasingly relevant in recent times, so investigating the reasons why talented and creative individuals, as evidenced by their subsequent activities, change careers may assist in developing programs to enhance resilience to stress. All of the above has determined the relevance of our work.

Keywords Physician-truantsculturehistory of medicinepublic perception

Врачи-труэнтыкультураистория медициныобщественное восприятие

Introduction. Our work is devoted to the analysis of the phenomenon of "truant doctors" - people who have a medical education, but do not carry out their professional activities in the medical field. Many of the most famous people around the world, having received a medical education, chose a different path of self-development and achieved outstanding success not only in professional medical activities, but also in other areas, including literature, art, science and politics. Relevance and purpose. The purpose of this study is to analyze the phenomenon under consideration. Modern healthcare faces many different challenges, such as professional burnout, personnel shortage and others. The study of the phenomenon of "truantism" is relevant, because understanding the reasons why doctors leave the specialty and actively develop in other areas of activity can help develop effective strategies to retain doctors in medicine and thus influence the work of the healthcare system. In the modern world, a career change can also reflect such broad cultural, social changes in priorities, values that affect the development of society as a whole, and show how it is changing. The problems of stress and burnout of medical personnel have recently become increasingly relevant, so the study of the reasons why talented, creative people, as shown by their subsequent activities, change careers, may help in the development of some programs to increase resistance to stress. Examples of extra-medical activities of such people demonstrate that the education they received remains a reliable basis for a creative approach and the introduction of new things in various areas of life. Therefore, the study of the phenomenon under consideration in the diachronic aspect is also relevant and, perhaps, will help to rethink and better understand the changes in professional identity, which, in our opinion, is important for the formation of new approaches to the training of medical specialists. Materials and methods of the study. The work used methods of quantitative, qualitative and comparative analysis. The interdisciplinary approach allowed us to attract knowledge from related fields of science: the history of medicine, psychology and sociology. Results of the study. Below we will consider several examples of the biographies of world-famous figures of science, art and literature, whose activities began with a medical career, which are presented in diachronic order. Luigi Galvani (17371798), an Italian physiologist and physician, made a significant contribution to science by discovering what later became known as bioelectricity. His medical and scientific careers were inextricably linked, but over time he gained worldwide fame for his discoveries, which significantly influenced the development of biology and medicine. Vladimir Ivanovich Dal (18011872), known for his interpretations of Russian words, graduated from the Faculty of Medicine in his youth, but devoted most of his life to literature and ethnography. Despite his status as a physician, his work in medicine can be seen as secondary, while his work in folklore, lexicography, and language would bring him greater fame. This can be perceived as "truant", in the context that he could have devoted himself exclusively to medical practice, but chose a different path. Arthur Conan Doyle (18591930), a Scottish writer and creator of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. He received his medical education at the University of Edinburgh, where he studied medicine and later practiced as a doctor. His medical experience influenced his writing in many ways. For example, the attention to detail, logical thinking, and analytical skills of the hero Sherlock Holmes were most likely borrowed from his medical experience. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965). British writer, known for such works as Theatre and The Moon and Sixpence. He received his medical education at the University of London and worked for a time as a doctor. His medical experience was an important part of his life, and many of his works reflect a deep understanding of human nature and psychology, as well as paying attention to moral and ethical issues, which may have been related to his medical training. Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961). American writer, Nobel Prize laureate. He did not receive formal medical training, but during his service in World War I, he volunteered for the Red Cross, helping the wounded, which gave him knowledge of medicine in wartime. This knowledge influenced his writing, and many of Hemingway's works contain elements of war medicine and trauma. The Russian medical school has developed not only requirements for professional skills and mastery, but also ideas about personal qualities and norms of behavior in society and professional activity. "The requirements for the level of education and culture, moral ideals, internal organization and hard work were unquestionable" [1]. Historically, doctors were considered authoritative figures, so such a high educational potential was inherent only to a very developed personality. In modern society, medical education has become more standardized, with an emphasis on scientific research and clinical practice. The need to develop in the broadest sense of the word has practically disappeared. Nevertheless, it is doctors who have a creative approach to many types of activities. In the course of the work, the biographies and creative heritage of 50 famous people who received a medical education, but later became famous in another field, were studied. Such physicians as Anton Chekhov, Leonid Bulgakov, Alexander Ostrovsky, Boris Pasternak, Yuri Lotman, Alexander Herzen, and lexicographer Vladimir Dahl became famous in the field of literature. Alexander Borodin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninov, Alexander Scriabin, and Mikhail Glinka also received wide recognition in the field of music. He also studied medicine before devoting himself to music. Many of his contemporaries who became famous in the film industry, such as Yulia Menshova, Leonid Yakubovich, Svetlana Kamynina, and Larisa Belogurova, also began their studies in medicine, but chose acting. There are many such people among famous athletes: the legendary hockey player Valery Kharlamov, Valery Brumel, and the famous track and field champion and weightlifter Yuri Vlasov. Above, we have listed only the most famous names. However, it is worth noting that we have encountered a very small number of doctors who left medicine and became famous thanks to their subsequent political activities. Most of the "truents" chose creative professions. In our opinion, this situation is quite natural: one of the first treatises in the field of medicine was called "The Art of Healing", that is, art and treatment, healing have gone hand in hand for a long time. We believe that a doctor should find an approach to each patient, taking into account the uniqueness of the individual. This requires not only analytical skills, but also mastering the art of communication, a quality inherent in writers. In addition, like an artist, a doctor can see those details and nuances that are not always obvious at first glance. After all, the ability to analyze symptoms also requires a creative approach. Like writers, a doctor must be able to communicate with patients, i.e. master the art of communication. In addition, emotions, sometimes negative, always accumulate during medical practice, while creativity is a way to express emotions and experiences. It is art that provides an opportunity to find a way out of stress and worries. Therefore, the transition to creative professions may well be a natural step. Doctors who go into art remain true to the humanistic aspects of their work. At the same time, creative professions offer a wider range of opportunities for self-expression, which in the medical field is often limited by certain standards. Conclusions. Truantism, viewed through the prism of historical and cultural figures, indicates that medical qualifications do not always determine a career path. People with medical education often choose other directions, becoming outstanding figures in literature, music, painting, and less often in technical sciences. This emphasizes the importance of the personality and circumstances in which a person decides to follow his goals, as well as the social and humanistic focus of medicine. The transition of "truants" to creativity can be not only a natural, but also a very positive step, giving the opportunity to realize their talents and find a new way to express themselves and help others. This emphasizes that medicine, like art, requires not only knowledge, but also a humanistic, human approach, creativity and emotional depth. We believe that further study of the phenomenon of truantism will influence the public perception of doctors and their role in society. Understanding and accepting that "truantism" is not just leaving the profession, understanding and accepting this approach to their further activities can lead to deeper respect and support, since "truants" continue to serve society and remain true to the humanistic principles that guided them when choosing their original specialty.

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