For many Malaysians, becoming a doctor is seen as the ultimate achievement. It promises prestige, stability, and respect. But for Lee Bei Er, the reality behind that title told a very different story.
After years of studying and graduating with first-class honours in medicine, she made a decision few would expect. She chose not to pursue a medical career at all.
Instead, she built a business selling home-made nut butter. Today, that decision earns her a five-figure income and a life she finds far more fulfilling.
A Dream Built on Becoming a Doctor
Lee’s journey into medicine was driven by ambition and belief. Like many top students, she saw becoming a doctor as the highest form of achievement.
Despite warnings from her parents, she enrolled at Mahsa University in Sepang in 2019, committing to a five-year Bachelor’s degree in Medicine and Surgery.
She completed the programme successfully, graduating with first-class honours.
As a result of her academic excellence, her RM150,000 government student loan was written off, a reward reserved for top-performing students.
At that point, everything pointed towards a promising future as a doctor.
The Reality That Changed Her View
The turning point came during her clinical housemanship training at Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
What she witnessed behind the scenes completely reshaped her perception of what it means to be a doctor.
“I saw housemen and medical officers working hard with very little time for themselves when I was doing my clinical housemanship at Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The long hours — some worked for more than 36 hours straight — while putting up with some seniors and department heads who tend to bully, put me off completely.”
Instead of fulfilment, she saw exhaustion and pressure.
“There is also a severe shortage of housemen and medical officers in most hospitals, which adds stress on junior doctors. Some of them go through emotional and mental anguish while at work.”
The experience forced her to rethink everything she believed about becoming a doctor.
“It was not the glamorous life that everyone thinks doctors have. Some are treated like dirt.”
A System That Made Her Rethink Everything
Lee’s decision reflects a wider reality within Malaysia’s healthcare system.
“During the three years where I was attached to the hospital, I also observed that many of the practising doctors had to stay back until late at night, while I was allowed to clock out earlier. Furthermore, they don’t get paid much too.
“These factors made me question my earlier aspiration to be a doctor as it wasn’t the life I wanted for myself. This is also why now I tell people that if they want to be rich, don’t become a doctor,” she added with a laugh.
She also raised concerns about unclear career pathways, especially for those who aim to specialise as a doctor.
This aligns with a statement by Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, who revealed that only 529 out of 5,000 housemanship slots were filled, worsening the manpower shortage in public hospitals.
Faced with this reality, Lee made a rare decision.
She did not apply to become a doctor at all.
A Completely Different Path
Instead of entering the medical field, Lee took a path few would expect from someone trained as a doctor.
Her turning point came from something deeply personal.
Her father used to eat peanut butter daily, which eventually led to gout, a condition linked to high-purine foods.
Determined to help him, Lee began researching alternatives and discovered black sesame. She then started making her own spread from scratch.
Encouraged by her father, she turned it into a business.
She launched “Yuppy Jiang”, starting small by selling at a pasar malam, testing demand and learning how to run a business from the ground up.
Her key selling point was clear.
A health-focused product with no additives or preservatives.
From Future Doctor to Five-Figure Entrepreneur
What started as a side hustle quickly grew beyond expectations.
“I launched Yuppy Jiang in December 2024 and at that time, I was merely testing my hand at how well the business would go as I wanted to earn extra income while waiting to be a houseman at a hospital.
“However, I didn’t expect the business to take off so quickly and I soon realised that I had to put aside my doctor plans for the time being,” she recounted.
Today, her business generates a five-figure income, proving that success does not always follow a traditional path.
Her parents, initially cautious about her path, fully supported her decision after seeing the business succeed.
Despite her success, Lee has not completely ruled out returning to medicine.
“Also, I will only do it after my 15-month old business is managed by someone whom I can trust. It’s a very lucrative business that’s growing rapidly,” she added.
A New Definition of Success
Lee’s journey challenges a deeply rooted belief in society. That success must come with a certain title.
Her story points to something more personal and more real. Success can also mean freedom, clarity, and the courage to choose a life that truly aligns with your values.
“To me, there’s no such thing as to whether one has made the ‘right’ decision or not. What matters is putting effort into said decision and making it the ‘right’ one.”
She also shared a simple but powerful piece of advice:
“Discover what your strengths are and just go for it when your gut tells you it’s the right move. Don’t think about failing but focus on how to succeed and make it work.”
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