<p>Are you crazy? Why medicine? Why choose to live the difficult life of a physician?</p>
<p>This is what a successful Cardiologist asked me last summer. He said that if he could turn back the hands of time he would not become a doctor. He went as far as saying that if his son told him that he wanted to become a doctor he wouldn't let him. </p>
<p>What is your reason for choosing to live this lifestyle?</p>
<p>~El Sol</p>
<p>Passion. If this cardiologist thinks that becoming a doctor was too difficult then apparently he did it for the wrong reasons. It is expected that a doctor would make sacrifices so he could do what he loves to do and it isn't a easy money making profession like many make it out to be. If you're going to become a physician for money, then don't do it; if you're becoming a physician because you like the profession, then by all means go for it.</p>
<p>Life is tough these days for the profession. Incomes are dropping while workloads are rising. However, not everyone leads the pressure-cooker existence of a cardiologist. My own sub-specialty allows for almost no emergency calls, no nights and no weekends. Of course it pays 1/2 what cardiologists make, but that's a choice you can make for yourself.</p>
<p>Ouch, my mom told me the same thing. She keeps on saying that med school was a waste of time and that I should be a pharmacist instead.</p>
<p>PSedrish what is your specialty? I guess the next question would be if you could, would you do it all over again?</p>
<p>~El Sol</p>
<p>Rheumatology, and yes I'd do it all over again! What else would make me not dread Mondays?</p>
<p>i want to be a doctor (oncology) becuase my mom had cancer and i wanted to know everything about it and what caused it etc. I just want to help people and since i've had someone i love go through it, i think it would make me more compasionate etc.</p>
<p>my mom is a nurse and she absolutely loves her job. then again i have family friends who are doctors and hate their job. i think it depends on the person</p>
<p>Well, I'm only in high school But I'm seriously thinking I want to be a doctor. And If I get rejected from all medical schools (which is likely even for 4.0 college students I here) I'll become a nurse. </p>
<p>The reason I want to be a physician is becuase it's always been something that's interested me. Also, I had cancer as a child, and I remember being very young and while I was in the hospital the doctors and nurses would NEVER water anythign down for me, they'd always use medical terms wiht me and explain them soo well. I mean, i was the only 10 year old kid that new the names of all leucocytes and what erythrocytes were! haha. Plus, the nurses woudl often let me go into the lab with them and look at blood samples and what not. those experiences just got me very intersted in things of that nature. </p>
<p>I just think it would be super if i could become a doctor so I perhaps help people who were in my situation.</p>
<p>(sorry for spelling, itss eeeearly for me)</p>
<p>i want to become a cardiologist because my grandfather and half my family suffers from heart problems. Also my people (mexicans) usually suffer from heart disease. I want to do this for personal reasons. Also the anatomy is a passion for me to study. </p>
<p>Peace be with all</p>
<p>well, for me its because i love psychology but i believe that the mind can not be explained entirely without considering biological factors. many diseases can not be explained purely on sociocultural, psychodynamic, behavioral or cognitive perspectives. i also like biology and believe i have a knack for it. moreover, i like helping ppl, but i dont like marketing, finance, or management. i also like to be surrounded by intelligent ppl. so psychology+biology=psychiatry :-)</p>
<p>my reasons...well simply puy, ive been around the ER, docs, paramedics, and EMT's for close to 3 years now...and i love medicine and helping people, and seeing the results of ur treatment.</p>
<p>Ive seen the tradgedies and ive seen the successes, the lifestyle keeps me pumped up</p>
<p>as for it being hard, heres my senior quote to answer that one. "The things worth most in life were the ones that were the hardest to achieve."</p>
<p>I became interested in becoming a doctor because of my own severe asthma. I have to go to the doctor a lot and I becaem very interested in the lifestyle. I was in a special program in high school (I just graduated) called the Medical Careers Magnet. I also love "medical shows" on TV. I want to be an ER doc and the fact that I just received my EMT license keeps me interested in Emergency Medicine. Although I am still quite young, I am CERTAIN I want to become a doctor. I also like Pediatrics too (as many people do) I would like any comments out there concerning advantages and disadvantages of Emergency Medicine and/or Pediatrics.</p>
<p>Currently my main interest is in laboratory medicine; specifically pathology.</p>
<p>I first became interested in pathology after doing some research into forensic pathology (For the longest time I wanted to be a forensic scientist) I recently attended a summer camp about the different medical careers available, and I really enjoyed the medical lab technician portion of the camp (My understanding is that some of the work pathologists do is somewhat similar to the medical lab tech, except that pathologists deal with the unusual/abnormal cases).</p>
<p>There are also other areas of medicine that interest me, such as pediatrics, infectious disease, radiology, and emergency medicine. I'm hoping to get some hands-on experience in the coming years, as well as some job shadows.</p>
<p>aha trisa its because i have my EMT for a while that made me wanna stay away from being an ER doc and focus in other areas of medicine</p>
<p>Doogie311, if you don't mind, would you care to tell me a little about it? I recently received my EMT license so I am still a "rookie" to the field. I have a lot to see and learn and I plan to practice down in Princeton, NJ when I start my Freshman year. I am sure that I am going to become a doctor but I have my "phases" each year. I have been through my pulmonology, cardiology, and critical care phases already and I am currently very focused on Emergency Medicine. I like the adrenaline and unexpectedness of the field because I am a person who hates routine and gets bored easily. I just feel that Emergency Medicine suits me. I really want to know some downfalls. I've heard that it is patients who abuse the system by faking, "frequent flyers" etc. Is this what discouraged you or is there something else? Let me also mention that surgery has become a possibility because I love to dissect things (yea that may sound lame) and I am really really steady and good with my hands (not interested in Chiropractic care). However, I tend to feel ill when I stand for prolonged periods of time so that may rule out surgery.</p>
<p>i have a few frequent flyers...they are actually pretty fun though because we make it a game, like who can memorize her information for the paperwork first ahah, the doctors laugh when we bring her in too. But na thats not it. I decided to stay away from Emergency Medicine because honestly its a very very difficult life to lead. You are always on call, and you have very difficult hours at the hospital. My gf's dad is also an ER doc and he is never around, it really puts a strain on his family life. I mean i know exactly what you are saying because i love the adreanline rush too, EMS is just awesome like that, but i guess emergency medicine is a field only for the people who are willing to devote a big chunk of their life to work and are willing to sacrifice having a "normal" family life. </p>
<p>That plus ER docs are really getting the brunt of the wrath of the insurance companies. Medicare is taking over and its really hurting ER docs and nurses. Its very easy to get stiffed on your salary as an ER doc, and as much as it is wrong to go into medicine for $, its a part of life and it has to be considered. I mean for the work ER docs do, for the hours they spend, and for the time they put in at the hospital...they dont get paid NEARLY as much as they should. </p>
<p>Read this book by Dr. Pamela Grim. Its called- Just Here Trying to Save Life: Tales of Life and Death from the ER.</p>
<p>She tells the stories of the good, the bad, and the ugly...its a great read and spells everything out black and white. </p>
<p>As for your concerns about surgery, lol i dont think standing will be a problem. My cuz tells me time goes by fast and you dont even think about it when you have someones heart in your hand...i guess i can believe that. </p>
<p>But through medical school you will see different fields of medicine and you will find out whats right for you, you dont need to choose now. Thats the only thing bad about EMS, you really dont get to see ALL the fields of medicine in action, you are really limited to pulmonary for diffbreathers, oncology, renal, cardiology, and Emergency Medicine. Try and get out there to see the other fields, find out what you like.</p>
<p>I know you say u did your rounds, but do it more, it will really really help.</p>
<p>Thanks for your response Doogie because you brought up some good points and you gave me an awful lot to think about!! I'm not expecting to make a million dollars a year! but I at least want to make a good amount to have a decent house and support at least two kids. I know it's early to think about that now being that I just only turned 18 but it's something that has to be taken into consideration as to what my specialty will be. I am definitely positive about being a doctor, just not sure about the specialty. I appreciate your honesty and I would like anyone else with input to be completely honest, no matter how brutal. ALso thanks for the book reference and it reminds me:
For all of the peopel who are definitely considering medicine nand want a "real" perspective of what resident life is like, DEFINITELY read the book INTERN BLUES. It's great and for the females, it also shows first hand what it's like trying to take care of a newborn baby at home and be in a relationship during residency. I'm almost sure it will sway a few decisions here away from medicine as they show "the real deal." If there is anyone here going to Princeton interested in reading this, just let me know and I will gladly lend it to you to read.</p>
<p>I too just graduated from highschool and was in an academy that allowed us to intern and work in the local medical center and nursing home. As for me I have always wanted to become an emergency room doctor because it is not your regular 9-5 sitting in an office job. I also love to help people and recently obtained my Certified Nursing Assistants license and enjoy every bit of it. I say to everyone if you are coming into the field for the money, leave ou will not enjoy it. But for those who are passionate for others and understand them this is a great oppurtunity!</p>
<p>08-16-2005</p>
<p>I was hoping the zombie thread fad was over…</p>
<p>Did you know that zombie movies increase in number during times of intense social unrest?</p>