DOC (also known as DOC Jobs or Drop Out Club) is an online community about leaving the practice of medicine or science to pursue other careers.[1][2] It includes job posts, networking events, and forums.[1][3] As of 2017, there are more than 40,000 doctors, scientists, and students registered on the site.[4] About half of the site's users are medical doctors, one-fourth are PhDs, and one-fourth have dual graduate degrees.[4] There are members in more than 100 countries,[2] but the site is most active in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.[5]
DOC began in 1999 as an informal in-person gathering among six former classmates from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.[2][4] Each former classmate had left the practice of medicine for another career.[2] The in-person gatherings grew to more than 30 attendees,[6] who often shared job opportunities.[7] As the gatherings grew larger, two members created an online community for the group.[4] Job listings were added to the site in 2008.[2][7] By 2015, the site had 23,000 users.[2] In 2016, DOC acquired Oystir, a career website for STEM PhD students, and merged it with DOC.[7]
