re: What are your thoughts about medical school? Any doctors on the O-T?

I'm 20 years in private practice. I am a surgeon and a clinician (not general surgery, but a specialty involving major surgery). I earn a nice living, and what I make is not given to me. When I am busier, I earn more, when I take more time off, I earn less, but that doesn't vary a whole lot. I went nose to the grindstone to build a nice practice for quite a few years, now I'm in a big call group and don't worry so much about checking out to the guy or gal on call.

I think it is rewarding because you help people that need your expertise and to me, it is very intellectually stimulating and emotionally/spiritually (?) fulfilling. My wife is also a physician, and we have managed to raise four kids, provide a nice home for them and be good and attentive parents - hasn't always been easy, but I would do it all over again (unless I could be an MLB player or ATP Tennis pro

There have been changes in medicine over the 24 years I have been out of med school that I wouldn't always describe as positive, but I wouldn't tell anyone that felt like they had the intellectual capability and the sand to do it to do something else, though I will admit I have encouraged my own kids to also consider dental school provided they have interest in that.

quote:

---

I am a retired DDS and can tell you...There is a lot of stress.

---

LOfrickingL

My wife is a dentist and so is my best friend. They've got it made, and they'll both tell you that. Good income. No call. Minimal stress. 3-4 day work week.

Like someone already said, if your top priority is making money, i'd recommend something else, because you will likely end up frustrated.

I'm very happy and I'd do it again.

quote:

---

Spending your 20s in a hospital gets old. I wouldn't do medicine again. Good luck.

---

At least I will have a job for the last two years of my 20s

My drip bag is empty and all you jack offs are posting on the OT.


Dermatology. No call.

quote:

---

Is med school still worth it?

---

Ask me again in 2 years.

I sometimes envision a life where im doing some 8-5 job with no weekends and a respectable salary. That life would've started 8 years ago. Mostly it's when I'm up at 2am dealing with some nonsense Ed consult and then having to work the next day.

Maybe it'll be nice once I make more money and have a slight bit more control of my life. we shall see.

quote:

---

I always hear this echoed by other physicians and medical students. We all can't be investment bankers. What are the better options?

---

Well, there are some reasons why this article has flaws, but it essentially says "If I were a UPS driver vs doctor vs UPS driver who worked as much as I did as a doctor at the same hourly rate."

I think the numbers aren't perfect, but it is an interesting concept, for sure. Right now, I typically work somewhere between 60-80 hours/week. There is no "time and a half" or extra time off offered for hours above 40 (or 50, 60...), just a hard cap of 80h per week and a requirement to have 4 days off per month while in residency (which really hinders moonlighting opportunity more than anything where I'm at, but in other places does stop programs from really ruining your life in residency). Those restrictions don't exist later on.

In any outside industry, jobs typically stop at 40 hours weekly (this isn't suggesting that no one works more than 40 hours a week, just an average or "standard" for comparison). But most people don't go find an extra 20-40 hours of work during the week. If someone were really interested in making money moreso than being a physician, I'd recommend they work 60, 70, or more hours a week without an initial (in my circumstance), $207,000 debt burden at whatever highest paying full time job + highest paying part time job they could find. They would probably do as well or better long-term from an expendable income standpoint.

It depends on what you're looking for.

If you wanna make your parents happy, then letting them tell people their child is a doctor will give them a reason to be proud.

If you want social capital then telling people you're a doctor gives you loads of social capital. They will think money, prestige, smarts and dedication.

If you want to give back to society then medicine is one of the ways to do so.

If you want to look back on your younger days and compare it to a teen movie, don't do medicine. You will waste your teenage school years studying to get high enough grades, waste your late teens/early 20's doing the same and waste the rest of your 20's getting qualified as a registrar. And then you work stupid hours and work with gross stuff.

However I guess if you were able to be a doctor you wouldn't have the type of personality that is predisposed to wanting 'fun in the sun' due to the commitment required.

But you could then have a midlife crisis at 31 and think you missed out on everything.

I've thought about this. It's not the 1950s anymore. Everyone can afford a car, a Ferrari or a Honda, it still drives and has a seatbelt. Everyone can buy a house and have internet and a Xbox. A mansion in Malibu is still just a place to sleep. And everyone can afford a holiday to France to see the Eiffel Tower these days.

If you want status symbols or experience, the option is there. Free time or symbols of success?

If you were inclined to be a doctor, you probably aren't outgoing and a Porsche would do it for you.

quote:

---

Would I do residency again? Absolutely.

---

What the hell is wrong with you?

Would do it again. Med school isn't as bad as it's made out to be. Intern year can blow. Residency/fellowship aren't bad because even though the hours can suck, if you go to a program with good residents you can make a lot of great friends.

quote:

---

I said I'd do it again but the above sounds absolutely miserable ?

---

I just figured that by the time I'm old and grouchy, at least I'll have good reason to be.