Second Careers: Physician

CHRISTIANNE BISHOP, 67 | $250,000 a year

Home: Lodi, Calif.

Previous life: Court reporter

Why she did it: I wanted to become a doctor, but I was advised that few applicants over 30 were accepted to medical school. I graduated from a physical therapy program at age 41. Two years working in that field only made me more determined to become a doctor.

How she succeeded: I graduated from medical school at 48 and was told I was too old to survive the 100-hour work weeks required of a resident. At 58, as I applied for fellowships, the other residents shook their heads.

What you need to know: Ignore the naysayers and decide for yourself if you’re “too old.”