In this edition of our series on Redefining Careers after MBBS, we sit down with Dr. Mrudula, whose path moves from a small clinic to health tech, AI research, and public-sector consulting. She reflects on the choices and chances that shaped her journey, and why many more doctors might explore non-clinical roles if they had the exposure.
Let’s start with your early days. What were you doing right after graduating?
I graduated from JIPMER in 2024 and did what most of us imagine doing: I started seeing patients. My family has a long medical background, so I set up my own small clinic in our building and practised there for about a year. It felt familiar and comfortable, but somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I was curious about more than clinical work.
What pushed you toward the non-clinical side?
Technology had always interested me, and in February, a health-tech company reached out on LinkedIn asking if I would join them as a Medical Advisor. They needed someone who understood the flow of a proper medical consultation. It felt like the first opportunity to combine my clinical training with my curiosity for tech, so I took it.
“I started by designing the structure of their telemedicine workflow: how patients register, how the consultations are documented, and how prescriptions are generated.”
Eventually, they asked me to come on board as a co-founder, and that expanded my role into business strategy, planning, and experiments like an asynchronous anaemia screening program.
During that time, I was still running my clinic and also working as an on-call medical officer at a homoeopathic medical college. It was chaotic but exciting.
Your next transition was toward AI and policy work. How did that happen?
I moved to Delhi in May to focus seriously on UPSC, and that’s when I stepped away from clinical practice. Delhi opened unexpected doors: I joined CRASH (Centre for Responsible and Autonomous Systems in Healthcare) Lab as an independent researcher, India’s first physician-led AI research lab. It gave me the space to explore how AI can be applied in healthcare in a safe, meaningful way.
From there, I transitioned into the role of AI and Health Lead at Govern AI, a consulting group focused on responsible AI adoption. My work involves collaborating with public-sector stakeholders and contributing to policy-level discussions around the use of AI in governance.
You made these transitions very quickly. What enabled that?
Two things: self-learning and networking.
“I didn’t come from a tech background, so I started small: joined an engineering group, picked up Python through YouTube and the Harvard CS50 course, and kept asking questions until things began to click.”
Most of my opportunities actually came through LinkedIn. In the startup world, referrals often matter far more than degrees. An MBA can help if you’re aiming for large companies, but for fast-moving roles, genuine connections open far more doors.
You also run a community: The Health Tech Collective. What’s the vision behind it?
We have over 4,000 members now, all people curious about health tech. The idea came from a gap I kept noticing: medical students don’t get exposure to anything outside clinical work. Engineering students have hackathons, internships, and structured guidance. We don’t.
The platform aims to change that by offering a discussion forum, a LinkedIn-like space for networking, and a place where companies can post collaborations and research opportunities specifically for medical professionals. It’s for all healthcare backgrounds, allopathy, homoeopathy, and allied sciences.
The goal is simple: give medical students the visibility and support that is missing right now.
What’s your long-term plan? Do you see yourself returning to clinical practice?
Honestly, no. I enjoy health technology far too much. I would like to either work on the administrative side, which is why I’m preparing for UPSC, or push deeper into research. I’m planning to apply for a PhD in computer science. I want to either continue in consulting or eventually build another health-tech company.
Many interns feel stuck between PG preparation and uncertainty. What would you tell them about exploring alternate careers?
The biggest barrier is a lack of exposure. More than 95% of MBBS students aim only for PG because they haven’t seen what else exists.
“Once people get a glimpse, through conversations, networking, or communities, they often realise they can combine medicine with something they love.”
If you are an intern unsure about PG or curious about other paths, start talking to people outside your immediate circle. Explore online communities, follow doctors in non-traditional roles, and message professionals on LinkedIn. You will be surprised by how many meaningful careers exist beyond the clinic.
Editor’s Note:
Dr. Mrudula didn’t set out to build a non-clinical career. It unfolded as she tried new things, asked questions, and followed the work that excited her. For many young doctors, that’s the real takeaway: sometimes the most interesting paths appear only after you take the first small step outside the familiar.
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