Doctors (NO ROVER CONTENT

[Billakris]

Hey, (NO Defender Content)
I know there are at least a couple of you out there that are doctors and im just looking for some personal advice from a broad area, and this is the first place I turn, Ha. Anyways, i just have a few personal questions about the profession that would help me to set my goals straight. Ive been dreaming of becoming a doctor since i was a kid and now im in a bit of a decision making part of my life, and i need to be absolutely sure. So, if any of you would like to chat, ide love to ask a couple questions. Thanks in advance

[rover4x4]

as long as you are good at math and chemistry you should do okay. I am by no means an MD , I am a geology major..

[Willh]

Hey Kris,

My father is a Doctor. It's definetly the kind of job that you have to love. It's a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year commitment. I thought about being a doctor, but it wasn't something I wanted to pursue deeply. My wife thought about going to Med school, and would have gotten in very easily, but with us wanting to have a family, she opted to go the route of PA (Physician's Assistant). It allows for more personal time. To tell you the truth, Doctor's spend more of their time these days running their office like a business than being able to practice medicine and give good care like they use to. You have to deal with Insurance Companies. And if you think that they are a pain to deal with as a provider, you won't believe what it is like to deal with them on the other end. PA's get to do what doctors used to do. Just sound advice, make sure that you are wanting to do it for the right reasons. If it makes you happy to help people everyday, then it's probably the job for you. But remember, it's a life long commitment.

Will H.

'97 D-90 #1008

[billnsandi]

The above post is a broad generalization and does not apply to all jobs as an MD. I am a specialist in a large group and go to work about 7am-4-5pm each day and take call about once every 2 weeks. The lifestyle of my job is pretty good and I can leave work at work (no 24/7 kinda stuff). The life you lead as a physician is highly variable and dependent on what you choose to do, and where you live.

As far as what you can do now in college - I would NOT major in Biology/Premed. Just take the premed prereq's and get a real degree in something (like buisness/history/art/whatever the heck you want). I wish I had a degree in buisness to tell you the truth. Only a few classes really help you in med school and they are in the prereq's.

I enjoy going to work everyday, and think it is a great job. But the road to where I am currently is long and expensive (both financially and personally).

Bill R.
billnsandi (at) comcastaux.net

ps. feel free to email me any specific questions you have

[ronward]

I think Will is speaking from the perspective of the child of a physician, not a physician. Medicine is clearly a life-long commitment, but any career worth pursuing is a life-long commitment. Just make certain that you are getting into medicine because it is your calling in life, not because you like to watch ER, Scrubs, and Nip/Tuck. Expect long hours, a highly competitive environment and poverty early on. The end result is worth it, if it is your calling. Just my $0.02 worth.

[Billakris]

Hey thanks guys,
be sure im in it for the right reasons, especially when i hear about the 100,000 + in dept that occurs after med school! wow, but, im still trying to decide whether i should go for a great private school, or an ok public school. Either way, its kinda up to me how good of a docter ill be in the future, but i just cant imagine getting the same education at a $4000 school as i would at a $40,000 one. Anyways, thanks again for everything.

[rgrrvr]

so what did you decide?

[Billakris]

I'm at K-State working towards a BS in Mechanical Engineering and will be taking the MCAT this spring. With the engineering and the premed classes i've had to extend everything to 5 years.

[floyd650]

Hey Kris,

I am an Emergency Department Doctor and really enjoy it. I will say that I had a very idealistic view of the world, and Emergency Medicine forces you to be a little bit more of a realist. This is the biggest sacrafice that I think I have made to my career, and it is more significant that you might guess. I used to work in a rural area in the Columbia River Gorge that was more rewarding from a social standpoint than my current job in Portland. Emergency Medicine, Radiology, Pathology, and a few other specialties actually give you more flexibility and free time than most jobs. This career has been the right choice for me, but I can easily imagine it not being a good career for a lot of people.

Drop my a line if you have more questions!

-Alex

adlapidus (at) yahoo (dot) com

[snuffer]

My brother is an MD. He likes the science but not the people part of the job. He was in family practice but went into emergency medicine so he could have a life.

My brother in law is an orthopedic surgeon. He works his axx off because he loves it and it pays.

I did see it is hell getting there though.

[rgrrvr]

keep at it. It's more work than you can imagine, but in the long run it's a good profession. I am an EM resident in my second year, that's why I asked.

Keith