.... And I want to make a lot of money so that I can have a television. Physicians have to coordinate and lead the care team and make decisions about how to proceed, who to consult, and take into consideration the input from all of the other members, as well as the patient, when forming a treatment plan. As I got older, my experiences with my home and learning environment changed my outlook on what I wanted to do with my life. To go through point by point... > What did you take in college (year of graduation, what college did you go to, and the subjects you majored in) I was a biology major with a minor in chemistry. I will gladly study for 7 years to become a practicing doctor, and hopefully I will push through all the shit we get thrown into to reach that. I have this God complex, and there aren't really too many places I can play that out. You know, I don't tell this story often, but I remember when I was seven years old, one time I found a bird that had fallen out of its nest, so I picked him up and I brought him home and I made him a house out of an empty shoebox and... oh my God! I became more interested since I myself had surgery for a few orthopedic conditions and gained an interest in orthopedic surgery because of the tangible and immediate aspects of surgical care. Session 215. Ever since I was a little boy I just wanted to help people. Besides the financial aspect, the following 7 points will make your decision of PA vs. MD easy. I'm an undergraduate at a competitive university where the majority are premed students. I spent the past summer shadowing in a few different hospitals and I applied to a guaranteed medical school program at a few different colleges. I wanted to be a doctor for the same four reasons everybody does: chicks, money power and chicks. In this interview, she discusses how her mother’s illness led her to a career in hematology and oncology. Take it as you will. And they will continue to be the foremost authority on health and wellness for a … It’s definitely part ego trippin on top of all the fundamental reasons that people go into medicine i.e. They should have had children of their own and loved those children and I want to make that possible for other people. Kathleen Franco, M.D., Contributor. How can you be so sure medicine is the right career for you? But, since HMOs have made it virtually impossible to make any real money, which directly affects the number of chicks that come sniffin' around, and don't ask me what tree they're barking up, 'cause they're sure as hell not pissing on mine, and as far as power goes, well: Here I am during my free time letting some thirteen-year-old psychology fellow who couldn't cut it in real medicine ask me questions about my personal life, so here's the inside scoop there, pumpkin, why don't you go ahead and tell me all about power. I'm a people person. Please read the rules carefully before posting or commenting. And hopefully you will too! Coming from a small town, everyone looks out for one another and it was something I want to emulate in my career pursuits. Reddit's home for wholesome discussion related to pre-medical studies. Why do you want to become a doctor? Thank you so much for the response! My schools were under-staffed, overcrowded, and surrounded by the reminder of what was to come. If I can teach residents, conduct research, and help change protocols that non-physician providers use daily, I can have a much bigger impact than I can as any other kind of healthcare provider. Initially I was interested because a lot of my family and neighbors were in the medical field and I didn't know about any other careers. Lest you worry that as a patient, your doctor is distracted, it is quite the opposite. Why do you want to study medicine? Would you like us to help you ace your med school interview? Why? People on here usually answer this by either saying: 1) The cookie cutter answer "I want to help people" 2) Get money, get babes. On that note, here is a list of terrible reasons to become a doctor: To make money: You will, but there are way easier and more profitable ways. There's pro's and cons' to this field, it's not all flowers and unicorns, BUT, if the positives outweigh the negatives, then you'll enjoy becoming a physician. I wanted the autonomy that comes with being a physician versus something else like PA or RN. However, I decided that instead of running from these problems, I could try to be a part of the solution. Medicine has also become a huge business and you'll have to deal with upper management who is more worried about finances than helping people(I understand this to some extent though). love of people, highly meaningful and valuable work, opportunity to become incredibly educated, good pay, etc. I remember having to use the ER as a PCP for several years, living off of food-stamps, and hoping that my dad didn't lose his job again because eating rice-a-roni everyday sucked. Basically, if you've GOT to be a surgeon, and you want a life, Urology is the only field to go into, in my highly-biased opinion. Although the road is long and hard I'm still excited to do it because medicine is something that has really interested me for a long time. Writing a little admission essay, are we? Why do you want to be a doctor over the other careers in the health care? My fundamental drive to do healthcare is about helping people, but I also want to maximize the impact that I can have. To be honest I have somewhat of an idea as to why I want to pursue medicine. why did you want be become a doctor? Best / worst things about being a doctor? You also need to be able to show awareness of what the role entails and what will be expected of you when you become a doctor, and how you are prepared to tackle those responsibilities. in school, I hated reading stuff like, "...X is beyond the scope of this course". There's a sense of pride in what I do. HUGE extirpations when you're young and energetic (and probably get paid more for just doing office urology.) Why did I become a doctor? This is the definitive guide to answering the Why medicine question, in your head, on your personal statement and at interview.. Here’s a common question we’ve been getting asked on our subscriber list. In this video, Stephen Hanff, MD explains how his career in orthopedics is the result of many lifelong interests and discusses the joy of being a doctor in the community where he was raised. I wanted a stable job. Being from a low-income area, I have seen the effects of lack of healthcare and education first-hand. At other times, it is a challenge to decide what best to do and how best to do it. The day that the rain smelled like ice cream, my bunny went to heaven in front of my eyes. But most of the reasons for wanting to be a doctor can also be fulfilled by many different health professional positions. In this episode, I discuss the importance of knowing why you want to be a doctor. They should have become adults. Also I knew I wasn't business savvy and wouldn't be satisfied in a corporate career. I did the majority of shadowing in ortho and volunteer at the ortho wing of the hospital I volunteer at. Take my advice - choose your career for the passion and remember - never regret as you are always old enough to move on and take the experience with you. like any career you have to go through phases to get to where you want to be. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I see one of the biggest differences as the leadership role. I thought I was going to be a doctor even in elementary school. By far the best and the most comprehensive answer. Doctors sacrifice the majority of their 20's and early 30's trying to pass rigorous exams throughout their undergrad, medical education, and residency. In my case, my mother was a first-generation immigrant. Well, don't forget the good ol' manual powered chisels. even as a 2nd year student. There are days where I wonder if I made the right decision and the negative reasons weigh heavy. Being a doctor encapsulates the discovery of the human body and the humanitarian drive to help everyone every day. View All 14 Slides. How to Answer the Interview Question “Why Did You Choose Nursing as a Career?” Because there are so many factors that go into choosing a career, you can answer this question in a variety of ways. I've also debated with a very proud nursing student who knows she is in her profession because she "actually cares about the patient," implying that premeds/doctors don't. Its your life and you do what makes you happy. I became a doctor for the same four reasons everybody does: chicks, money, power, and chicks. I love it, but there are many times I wonder why I did it. “I know I want to do medicine but I’ve no idea why! I will gladly study for 7 years to become a practicing doctor, and hopefully I will push through all the shit we get thrown into to reach that. With this question, perhaps more so than any other you’d be asked in a medical school interview you MUST be honest. Do some shadowing programs. I struggled with the same question that you did at one point. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. I want to be the person in charge of formulating a plan, and I want to have the deepest knowledge of a particular subject. And if you suck at NBMEs too, then you get penalized for essentially the same flaw for four fucking years. You want to focus your answer on the YOU part of why YOU want to be a doctor and why YOU would be an excellent doctor. We'll see. But then again I might be saying something different when I get to residency. Fresh AskReddit Stories: ER doctors of Reddit, what are the craziest excuses you get for people putting things up their butt? Honestly, that's really something you have to figure out for yourself(not trying to sound condescending). WHy do you care what anyone else thinks. The day that the copper pipes in the old building smelled like burnt food, my brother went to heaven in front of my eyes. /r/medicine is a virtual lounge for physicians and other medical professionals from around the world to talk about the latest advances, controversies, ask questions of each other, have a laugh, or share a difficult moment. What I realized was that the role of a physician is about so much more than doctors seeing patients. Take a breath before you speak, look your interviewer in the eye and tell them plainly and simply why you want to be a doctor. When did you first decide to become a doctor? I'm a high school student who plans to pursue a career in the medical field and I was just curious as to why medical students/doctors chose this path. Becoming a doctor has long been an esteemed honor. I agree with everything except the part about giving up your 20's. It's what I'm good at, ie the science and implementation of knowledge aspect. You can go through medical school because you want to, because others have chosen that route, or because someone else told you what they like. There you are, filled with passion and excitement, your whole life is in front of you, and the doctor you’re shadowing turns to you with dreary eyes and reaffirms your life-long dream by muttering “don’t become a Doctor.” their booth had cookies at the career fair. 6) Ability to practice pure clinic urology as you get older, vs. Find a family or local physician who will let you follow them for a few WEEKS (not days) in a silent capacity. But as long as you remain persistent and passionate about your goal, you can overcome the obstacles and fulfill your purpose in life. Do many jobs really fulfill number 2 tho? I also love my patients (do a lot of first responder stuff) and everyone has their own unique story and I like trying to figure out the best way to interact with my patients (will they respond to humour or should I sympathize with them that this situation is horrible etc). If you think it would help you - you could tell why you think you want to be a NICU ... but they are still difficult to get without experience. When I was a kid, I would steal my mom's anatomy textbooks (she was a surgical tech until she had my brother) and color in the drawings. 5 questions that doctors and medical students get asked a lot; why medicine? When you apply to medical school, you have to coherently and effectively answer the question “why do you want to become a doctor?” in your personal statement. Coupling my curiosity for science and my desire to change my community, I decided to pursue an MD. I am a fellowship-trained surgeon. Looks like you're using new Reddit on an old browser. Do not apply to medical school without understanding exactly what you're getting into. Press J to jump to the feed. When I ask my peers the question of why they want to become doctors, the answers I receive are: Money, prestige, my parents are pressuring me. Should You Become a Doctor? Physicians play a massive role in education (of students, residents, and non-physician providers), research, developing clinical protocols, developing organizational and government-level policy, and a whole lot more. In my 6th grade yearbook, I thought I’d become a pediatrician. I have heard many different answers from my peers like wanting to help others using their medical knowledge, interacting with and helping other people during some of their most vulnerable times, helping people stay healthy and live long lives so they can achieve all the things they want, etc etc etc. It takes on an average at least 15 years (after high school) of head in the sand (books) to complete fellowship and reach the $200,000 debt figure that you are quoting. As experts in science, biology, wholeness and wellness, doctors remain influential members of society. I grew up in a rural community where the physicians and health care providers did a lot to serve our schools and sports teams. Many of my friends are in history because I think everyone 's `` why '' changes with time knew a. However, I guess it 's what I 'm an undergraduate at a competitive university where physicians... Health professional positions ’ s hard to say why I did the majority are premed students 7 will! 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