kono

"Job satisfaction in medicine goes down extremely quickly and the vast majority of doctors will tell you not to go into medicine, and or they would not do it again either"

This is a good statement, because it is said quite often. I do not discourage anyone from going into medicine, but due to the long career road you need to keep some perspective.

The truth of the matter is that if you are a high school or college student, by the time that you become a practicing physician the field will change. While we cannot know all of those changes, it is certain that there will be more regulation and restrictions on medical care. If you don't believe me, ask any healthcare professional. This is necessary for the nation as a whole. The cost of healthcare in the US is destroying our ability to compete (look at GM). Thus, it is a serious error to look at the way that medicine is practiced today and think that this is how it will be when you practice.

For those of you who are motivated by money, and look at the current salaries and expect a comparable salary in the future, you may be in for a big disapointment. Ask yourself why physicians in other countries are not paid nearly as much in the US. Have you ever thought about this?

impactangel

At the same time, the need for doctors is only going to increase in the future.

While the job may not be as high-paying, doctors will always have a job. Another thing to consider if the whole financial security reason is something at the top of your list when applying to medical schools

ihateCA

How many docs do YOU know that make $250k+ fresh out of medical school? Sure, investment bankers have to work like 70+ hours a week and there is a ridiculous amount of pressure, but I'm sure it's less stressful than medicine:
-Docs get sued if THEY make mistakes
-Docs get sued if PHARMACISTS give the patient the wrong medication
-Docs get sued if THE PATIENT takes the wrong amount of medication
-Docs in larger hospitals (who get paid more-I've done the research too-I wanted to be a psychiatrist before I like failed chemistry-then I permanently gave up-Now I have every intention of becoming an investment banker) have to work "on call" occasionally to oversee emergencies. And if you end up in one of those severely underfunded hospitals, your life will suck.

Oh about the debt, you're looking at $50k+ per year of med school for four years (that's cheap- MBA's cost $66k per year for two yrs) plus the interest you accrue on your undergraduate loans. As residents, I'm sure you won't make much money at all, so it is absolutely a valid excuse. Some people are already like $100k+ in the hole by the time they finish undergrad. Paying off $300k+ and interest on that on a high-five figures salary is cruel and unusual punishment.

It's terrible. Why is the government punishing students for pursuing higher ed by making it more difficult to get grants and scholarships???? Higher ed, in all ways, shapes and forms (including professional school) should be heavily government funded. Private universities should get more money from the gov't so that they can lower their tuitions and/or give out more financial aid.

impactangel

nobody makes 250K fresh out of med school

and if you are expecting a salary of 250K, medicine is definitely not your field!

but there's nothing wrong with a job that pays 100K, is fairly stable (patient demand is always much greater than physician supply), and allows someone to help people every day at the office

I don't think there's any argument that investment bankers will make more (I know they also have less stable jobs but with the money they make, I'm sure it's more than enough to live on while searching for the next profitable job)

LateRegistration

Makes me kind of just want to become a medical malpractice lawyer. Doctors will always be around, and will always make mistakes. Tons of money could be made keeping them in check.










I'm kidding of course.

bigndude

Depends on whether or not you want healthcare. If you do, don't become a trial lawyer, if you don't care please do. The thing is, many times doctors refuse to treat lawyers who sued them or their friends. Its basically a black list. Same happens to patients with a history of suing doctors, the doctors are always very aprehensive when it comes to treating them, and often times will not treat them unless it is life threatening, same as with lawyers.

fjm_001

I wasn't sure where to post this question, but I was just wondering if you want to be a surgeon and are doing a 5+ year residency, is your pay going be 30-40k during all of those years, or only at first?

impactangel

yes

it increases each year but i dont think it will be much more than 50k over the 5 years

of course, you probably wouldn't have time to spend the money anyway seeing as residency is so grueling (esp surgery)

mkm56

I'll put in my two cents now. My husband is a cardiologist. He works long hours, his share of busy call nights, and spends of lot of "vacation time" learning new techniques and procedures. He says he would do it all again, he loves what he does. However, when my firstborn S. was about 5 and someone asked him if he wanted to be a doctor when he grew up his answer was "No, I want to be a 'real' daddy". That comment cut my husband to the quick as he was not and is not there for all the ball games, teacher conferences, recitals, holiday dinners, Christmas mornings and the list goes on.

As for salary: yes, he is well compensated, but there are sacrifices and the pay has gone down every year for the last 5-10 years due to reimbursements and they never turn away patients who can't pay and have no insurance. Also, their group has dealt with frivolous law suits that though the plaintiffs did not win, time was lost from the practice and patient care, and money was spent to defend yourself from something bogus.

My youngest son is comtemplating medicine and I keep dropping little hints that many other fields offer a more normal life, financial security, less gov't involvement and in some cases less bureaucratic bs.

In short, as others have stated, go with your heart---only then will you be happy practicing medicine.

impactangel

I have heard a lot of stories like that where doctors often encourage their children to not enter medicine.

It's not the same old "everyone gets rich" field anymore.

Any suggestions on a field that offers "a more normal life, financial security, less gov't involvement and in some cases less bureaucratic bs."?

mkm56

Since my youngest loves the sciences, I've encourage him to look at research and development--you can still make a huge difference in the quality of life for people. My oldest went into finance and he seems to enjoy financial planning--does alot of work with elderly and with group 401Ks--also does community education for women, retirees, workers at the entry level at plants, etc. Of course, if my S wants med, so be it, just want him to go into it with eyes wide open and not get too stressed out when you find out your life is not your own.

dcb07

Doctors are only getting payed around 100-150k? Thats discouraging. You can earn close to that being a fireman/ paramedic and you will be helping people in a similar way without all the difficult hours and years of schooling.

Maybe I'm crazy, but I find it hard to believe that doctors are getting payed in that price range. Doctors running a practice are making way more than just an average salary. They own their own business and control the hours they work. More hours= more money. What also needs to be taken into consideration of average salaries is of not so well to do areas of the country. A doctor that is working at a low level hospital in a poor neighborhood is not going to get paid as much as a big time surgeon in a big time city. And also, what is being "rich". Is "rich" having a mansion in 4 different parts of the country? To me, doctors are not necessarily rich beyond belief, but live very comfortably, have nice cars, nice homes, nice lake houses, and don't have to worry much about their financial situations. I honestly don't see a future where doctors will be struggling for money and won't be living a comfortable life style.

impactangel

Actually, I've heard doctors in rural areas tend to make more. Specialists especially because they are often the only ones with that skill in the region

matrixrebloated

I would have to say alot of people want to become doctors based on money (I'm talking high school students)

Most of them prob won't, but one says he wants to be an invasive cardiologist....it's obvious he just wants to earn alot of money, later

impactangel

That's because in the past, doctor = dough.

Times are changing now and while doctors still will make a comfortable living and have financial stability, it isn't a gold rush where everyone strikes it rich anymore.