Beyond the clinic: career journeys and professional fulfilment in osteopathy

Osteopath Kale Mazurek reached a turning point after a decade in practice, when the physical demands of hands‑on work began to take a toll. With long‑term career sustainability and family life front of mind, he started exploring roles beyond the treatment room. That search led him to a new professional direction where he could continue drawing on his osteopathic training in a different way.

In this conversation, Heath Williams speaks with Kale about the transition he made, what prompted it, and why osteopaths are uniquely positioned to move into a wide range of non‑clinical roles thanks to their strong transferable skills.

Kale describes the path he followed beyond the clinic and how core osteopathic capabilities—critical thinking, adaptability, time management, and stakeholder communication—helped him thrive in a government position. Their discussion also highlights the breadth of opportunities available to osteopaths, including policy, support coordination, occupational rehabilitation, claims management, injury prevention, and corporate wellbeing.

With the research article (Trends in retention and attrition among osteopaths in Australia, 2025*) showing declining early‑career retention, this episode offers a timely reminder that osteopaths have diverse and meaningful career options both within and beyond clinical practice.

*Lathlean T, Orrock P, Malon R, Barclay L, McNamara T, Tan J, Divakar R, Woodward C, Saar E. Trends in retention and attrition among osteopaths in Australia: Insights from the Workforce Retention and Attrition Project. Int J Osteopath Med. 2025;58:100793. doi:10.1016/j.ijosm.2025.100793

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