^considering I didn’t get out of debt until age 39, I would have to disagree.
Student debt isn’t necessarily the sole problem, but it can be a big factor when combined with the other expenses a budding physician has.
For many, there are undergrad loans, Med school loans, the cost of either buying into or starting one’s own practice, office overhead, malpractice insurance (which can equate to a good percentage of some specialties’ income - neurosurgery and OB come to mind), the high cost of initiating and subscribing to electronic medical records services, and an ever-changing three-point line with regards to reimbursement from Medicare and insurances. Oh, and I forgot to mention federal income tax - ouch.
Medicine is not the “slam dunk” that many believe it to be. I love many things about my work, but I have not recommended it to my kids as a profession.
Even with “high” physician pay, the net pay is not what you think.
Of course, no one should pursue a career in medicine for the money anyway - if that is the goal, then be a hospital CEO or healthcare company executive instead - the pay of these individuals often dwarfs the income of even the best-paid specialists.