Practice - repost

I am very seriously worried about the fact that I have a 50 year old doctor who has done nothing but practice his entire career. I mean i practice, but at some point before I reach middle age I hope to be able to do more than practice. Basketball players practice too, but at some point they do actually play a game. Besides which if this guy has spent decades in training he's either got some incredible skills or he just possibly the worst student in the game.