The importance of work experience for the qualification of medical specialists

The significance of analyzing work experience in the context of the professional development of medical specialists is determined by the fact that the accumulation of experience is a relatively long process that is less amenable to dynamization than the acquisition of knowledge. Nevertheless, it significantly impacts the enhancement of qualifications, creating, among other things, two vulnerable groups: inexperienced and highly experienced personnel, predominantly comprising younger and older employees. The influence of work experience on the qualification characteristics and the need for additional professional training among medical specialists with varying lengths of service has been investigated using a sample of doctors. The empirical basis for this study was a survey conducted in 2023 among medical professionals working in healthcare organizations in Moscow. The survey showed that inexperienced doctors are those with less than five years of experience in their specialty (mainly less than one year), while highly experienced doctors are those with at least 15 years of experience (primarily over 25 years). It was found that only inexperienced doctors are vulnerable in terms of qualifications. The vulnerability of highly experienced doctors relates not so much to their qualification potential as to its realization, which is complicated by age-related factors. These characteristics are crucial to consider in additional professional training, as well as in the organization of work and working conditions. Considering the age-specific needs of doctors with extensive work experience contributes to the productive work of this qualified and experienced group, as well as to the transfer of their accumulated knowledge and skills to less experienced colleagues through various forms including mentorship.

medical specialist, doctor, work experience, qualifications, professional development, hard and soft skills