<p>So, my son is getting ready to start his sophomore year of HS and has announced he wants to be a doctor. I asked him why and the only response he can give me is to have a good, reliable income. He is an excellent student, right now with a 4.0, taking all honors classes, adding 2 AP courses this year, etc. How can I tell if this is the right path for him? My concern is he has never expressed a particular interest in the sciences, and is totally involved in fine arts ECs...band, chorus, drama. </p>
<p>I suggested he might want to cut back on some of his ECs to make time for volunteering at the hospital or something. What are some other things he can do to see if he is suited for a career in medicine? How do you know if this is the right career for you?</p>
<p>Shadowing a doctor would be a good start. I don’t mean just coming in for a couple of hours and seeing a few cool surgeries. I mean following the doctor for the entire workday and realizing what it’s like to be on your feet for 10 hours or what it’s like to spend 40% of your time tying notes on the computer to cover your @$$ later on if the patient decides to sue.</p>
<p>Yes, and I think sophomores get a couple of days during the year where they can job shadow. I have a much younger brother currently doing an ER residency at a hospital, and I know how rough it’s been for him (he chose ER medicine, but can anything really prepare to sometimes work 30 hour shifts?), but unfortunately he is several states away from us. But I’m sure we can find someone he can shadow here. Would you recommend a particular type of physician?</p>
<p>Yes, I suggest shadowing primary care physicians (internists, family docs, pediatricians) to start. They are more accessible, at the forefront of the healthcare shortage/debate, and are more of what you think of a “classic” doc as whereas radiologists or surgeons or pathologists have more unique schedules.</p>
<p>I shadowed an Orthopaedic surgeon, and I did see a number of surgeries, and even got to assist in a practice shoulder replacement on a cadaver, but I spent the vast majority of my time in clinics, watching patient consults and even helping run the office for 2 weeks while one of the secretaries was out.</p>
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<p>I think you should consider the effect the global economy might be having on your son’s outlook. Medicine might suddenly have become attractive to him because he doesn’t see doctors getting laid off while many other professions are suffering big job losses or seeing salary cuts. It’s absolutely true that doctors enjoy a lot of job security and overall, a very high standard of living, but those two things don’t come easily.</p>
<p>How can you find shadowing opportunities? I’m surprised with all the privacy laws that this is even possible.</p>
<p>^ yeah how do u you do this? because i’ve called around and many doctors don’t allow high schoolers to do so…
esp surgeries…wow thats extremely lucky to see</p>
<p>You could go on the main hospital’s website and see if they have a shadowing program, but this is usually a one time deal and after a few hours you’re done and have to re-apply after so many months. It’s definitely not a way to find a long-term shadowing experience, but I guess it is better than nothing.</p>
<p>A longer-term option might be volunteering at a hospital, clinic, or whatever else is around. You can probably attend an orientation and see what types of options you have to do there (ER volunteer, patient transport, etc.) and see if something interests you.</p>