5 Lessons I learned in medicine that made me a better developer
Tags: beginners, career
Published: 2021-01-12 20:11:30



  Prior to my foray into software development, I was a paramedic and  Army combat medic for 8 years. I fell in love with software in the middle of a biology degree and decided that it was my goal to use my newly found passion to improve medicine through software. While it might seem like these two disciplines are dissimilar, I quickly found that much of what I learned about the practice of medicine applied to my journey into software development.


## You must embrace change

 Much like medicine, software is a constantly-evolving field that moves quickly and will leave you behind if you don't put forth the effort to keep pace.  Whether you've been in the industry 30 years or a week, you cannot simply 'do what you know' and expect to succeed. 

 While the foundations of computer science are less prone to significant change than those of medicine, frameworks and languages are updated often. Standards can vary from company to company, and new technology can be adopted at different rates. 

If you aren't comfortable with adopting change, excelling as a developer is going to be a challenge. 


## You must be self-aware

 This is something that everyone struggles with on some level, but is incredibly important. In medicine, we would consult with experts if we knew that our knowledge wasn't sufficient to provide the best possible care, or to see if there were any 'tricks of the trade' that might be applied in a certain situation. A cavalier 'I know everything' attitude is dangerous for patients and is not tolerated.

 In software, you may not have the same safety mechanisms in place so it is your job to continually evaluate your own skills. When you're starting out, this can be especially difficult, but it is always helpful to find a mentor that is honest and willing to provide that much-needed gut check from time to time. 

If you don't adopt a habit of self-evaluation early on in your career, its easy to get lost. You need to know when to ask for help, and understand that someone may have a better way to solve a problem. Take an honest inventory of your skillset early and often, then work to develop those skills. Don't put yourself into a position where you have to scramble to fill in knowledge gaps if your job situation suddenly changes. 

## You know when its time to move on

 One of the great things about both medicine and software development is that there is a wonderful litmus test to determine if you're still a good fit for the industry:

 > Do I have anything left to learn?

 A doctor once told me that if I ever felt that I knew everything that there was to know about a subject, then it would be best for the practice of medicine that I moved on. Software is the same way- if you don't have anything more to learn, then you have nothing more to contribute. 



## Software development is hard

Both medicine and software development are complex and difficult disciplines to master, so don't be surprised if new concepts don't come easily or seem unintuitive. People learn in different ways and at different rates, so don't waste energy on beating yourself up if you need extra time to grasp a concept. If you come up with a novel way to grasp a concept, share it with others- it may help someone else who is struggling.

> Remember that anything can be learned given enough time and 
  effort. You can only control the effort.



## Manage expectations

 This seems fairly obvious, but it is especially true in software development. With many people facing financial struggles in 2020, there has been an influx of people both  young and old looking to better themselves by learning to code. While I wholeheartedly encourage those who  fell in love with coding (I did!), I have to warn everyone about managing expectations. 

  The hours are long, the job can be mentally draining, and a lack of care and passion for the craft could spell heartbreak years down the road. I've watched plenty of nurses and paramedics burn out within the first few years because their hearts just weren't in it, and the same is true for developers. Make sure that you are fully invested in this career path before you spend time and money to pursue it.  


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