The $120,000 question every doctor considering tech should ask first

"Should I get an MBA or Math/CS degree?" I get this question from time to time.

The short answer is no.

The longer answer requires understanding what's really behind this question. When physicians ask about getting another degree, they're rarely asking about education. They're expressing imposter syndrome.

"How can I really understand machine learning without a CS degree?"

"Would an executive MBA give me the credibility I need?"

"Who am I to build a startup without formal business training?"

These questions come from a place of insecurity that's completely natural when contemplating a career pivot.

But here's what I've learned from watching countless professionals make this transition: the degree itself is rarely what makes the difference.

What Really Matters: Action vs. Credentialing

Whether you want to found a startup, join a healthtech company, consult, or invest in the space, the tech ecosystem values execution and hands-on experience above all else.

When VCs evaluate founders or potential hires, they're not primarily focused on your educational pedigree. In fact, too much formal education without practical experience can sometimes be viewed as a negative signal, suggesting you're someone who thinks more than acts.

The physicians who succeed in tech are those with high agency – people who see rules as flexible and obstacles as problems waiting for creative solutions. They take action before they feel fully prepared or "allowed" to do so.

Your medical training already gives you credibility in healthcare. What you need to demonstrate now is your ability to execute, whether that's by building something, making investment decisions, or providing expert consultation.

Embrace Imposter Syndrome as a Positive Sign

If you're feeling like an imposter, congratulations – it means you're pushing your comfort zone. As Adam Grant explains in his book "Hidden Potential," growth happens at the edge of your abilities, not in the safe center.

Imposter syndrome isn't evidence you don't belong; it's evidence you're stretching yourself. If you never feel like an imposter, it might mean you're not challenging yourself enough. Either that or you've become so comfortable with exceptional achievements that this is just another day for you. You probably know which category you fall into.

The Alternative Path

Instead of spending two years and six figures on another degree:

1. Take meaningful action - build a prototype, make angel investments, consult for a startup, or join advisory boards.

2. Learn what you need when you need it through focused online courses for 2% of the cost and time of a degree.

3. Leverage your unique clinical expertise – this is your competitive advantage that no degree can replace.

4. Connect with others who have made similar transitions through online communities like this one and the doctors that are featured.

This doesn't mean formal education has no value. For some people in specific circumstances, another degree might make sense. But for most physicians I talk to, it's often a very expensive way to address imposter syndrome. But what you really need is to start taking concrete action.

Remember: in tech, what you've done matters more than what you've studied. The fastest way to learn is by doing, not by planning to do.