Career Changes Support Group
This community is dedicated to the difficult challenges of transitioning from one career or job to a new one. Especially as we grow older, it can be very difficult to acquire the skills and relationships and take the financial risk to make the switch.
Are you prepared to consistently keep long hours?
Sure, Ive done it before and Id gladly do it again if it means studying to become a doctor/surgeonand even more so if Im keeping long hours to help people who are sick, in any shape or formeither as Primary Care Physician, Emergency Room Doctor, or Cardiovascular Surgeonthats what Ive always wanted to spend long hours doing, so YES, I am prepared to consistently keep long hours!
Can you manage high levels of stress over a long period? Exam related stress? Saving lives related stress?
I think I can. I pride myself on remaining very calm, cool and collected during times stressI dont panicand I am able to maintain control. Ive also dealt with the stress of my divorce for over 10 years, and with the stress of being a single parent for 15 years. I also think I can manage exam-related stress very well. I like exams. As long as I study and do the best that I can, I dont get real stressed about examsI actually look at them as challenges to confront and overcome. I honestly think that saving lives related stress is something I live for. To take everything that Ive studied and learned and apply it in a highly stressed life or death situation and end up actually saving someones lifeI think I would actually manage that stress very well!
Are you prepared to deal with the potential for malpractice suits? Do you know how much malpractice insurance costs and who will be responsible for it when you are a practicing physician?
I believe the potential for malpractice suits is a necessary evil. There are checks and balances in every decision we make and everything we do. And as such, the potential for malpractice suits ensures that practicing physicians do everything in their power to save lives rather than risk lives. I have no idea how much malpractice insurance costs (I assume its a couple of arms and legs J) or who is responsible for it as a practicing physician (again I assume the physician is or the hospital for whom the physician works) but I can assure you that I will find out.
Do you have the motivation to remain dedicated over years of education and training?
I honestly believe that I do. I have an insatiable desire to learn. I am happiest when I am learning. I started undergraduate school in the Fall of 1986. I didnt graduate until May 2000. During those 14 years, I fell in love, got married, had a son, and got divorced. I also interrupted my undergraduate studies multiple times, and changed my major multiple times also. But I never quit. I wanted to get my Bachelors degree, and I did. It just took a little longer than expected. So if I have to dedicate the next 10 years of my life to a medical education and training, then I am more than willing and prepared to do just that; without losing any motivation.
Can you afford tuition? Living Expenses? Note that education debt will likely run well over $100,000 and often to $200,000 for medical school alone, not including any debt related to obtaining an undergraduate degree.
Of course I cant afford tuition, I can barely afford those living expenses. But I honestly believe that incurring $100-200,000 in debt for medical school is a very small price to pay to become a doctor. Currently, I already have my undergraduate degree; I own two functional vehicles and one motorcycle; I dont have a mortgage or rent; and I have no real debt. So, if I can come up with the funds to take the exams and apply to medical schools, then I am willing to incur the debt of medical school.
Are you prepared to sacrifice the time, sleep and social life needed to succeed?
Time: Yes, Sleep: Yes, Social Life: YesIve sacrificed all three for the last 15 years in order to raise my son. So yes, I am prepared to sacrifice all three to become a doctor.
Do you love science?
YES! Especially Life Sciences. I firmly believe in Creation, and I believe one of the greatest things created was Man. And to learn and study all about the Human Body, all its systems and how they work to keep us alive is an amazing opportunity.
Are you squeamish?
No, never have been. My mother was a nurse, and I was a sickly child. So I spent my entire childhood in and out of Drs offices and hospitals. I am not squeamish about any internal organs, blood, or needles. I actually like all those things, in a weird sort of way.
Can you afford the time? You will likely not graduate medical school until 26-27 years of age, assuming that you enter straight out of college. Then you will enter three years of internship and residency. After residency, some doctors focus on a particular specialty. Plan on continuing your training well into your 30s.
Yes, I can afford to invest the next 10 years of MY life to becoming a doctor. Ive already done everything else in life. So 10 years is not that long to me. During that time my son will graduate from High School and College. And I will become a Doctor. Something I have said I was going to do since I was four years old! Something Teachers and others have said, I would never do. So YES! I can afford the time.
So what do you think? Is medical school and a career medicine for ME?
thanks...
DR
Sure, Ive done it before and Id gladly do it again if it means studying to become a doctor/surgeonand even more so if Im keeping long hours to help people who are sick, in any shape or formeither as Primary Care Physician, Emergency Room Doctor, or Cardiovascular Surgeonthats what Ive always wanted to spend long hours doing, so YES, I am prepared to consistently keep long hours!
Can you manage high levels of stress over a long period? Exam related stress? Saving lives related stress?
I think I can. I pride myself on remaining very calm, cool and collected during times stressI dont panicand I am able to maintain control. Ive also dealt with the stress of my divorce for over 10 years, and with the stress of being a single parent for 15 years. I also think I can manage exam-related stress very well. I like exams. As long as I study and do the best that I can, I dont get real stressed about examsI actually look at them as challenges to confront and overcome. I honestly think that saving lives related stress is something I live for. To take everything that Ive studied and learned and apply it in a highly stressed life or death situation and end up actually saving someones lifeI think I would actually manage that stress very well!
Are you prepared to deal with the potential for malpractice suits? Do you know how much malpractice insurance costs and who will be responsible for it when you are a practicing physician?
I believe the potential for malpractice suits is a necessary evil. There are checks and balances in every decision we make and everything we do. And as such, the potential for malpractice suits ensures that practicing physicians do everything in their power to save lives rather than risk lives. I have no idea how much malpractice insurance costs (I assume its a couple of arms and legs J) or who is responsible for it as a practicing physician (again I assume the physician is or the hospital for whom the physician works) but I can assure you that I will find out.
Do you have the motivation to remain dedicated over years of education and training?
I honestly believe that I do. I have an insatiable desire to learn. I am happiest when I am learning. I started undergraduate school in the Fall of 1986. I didnt graduate until May 2000. During those 14 years, I fell in love, got married, had a son, and got divorced. I also interrupted my undergraduate studies multiple times, and changed my major multiple times also. But I never quit. I wanted to get my Bachelors degree, and I did. It just took a little longer than expected. So if I have to dedicate the next 10 years of my life to a medical education and training, then I am more than willing and prepared to do just that; without losing any motivation.
Can you afford tuition? Living Expenses? Note that education debt will likely run well over $100,000 and often to $200,000 for medical school alone, not including any debt related to obtaining an undergraduate degree.
Of course I cant afford tuition, I can barely afford those living expenses. But I honestly believe that incurring $100-200,000 in debt for medical school is a very small price to pay to become a doctor. Currently, I already have my undergraduate degree; I own two functional vehicles and one motorcycle; I dont have a mortgage or rent; and I have no real debt. So, if I can come up with the funds to take the exams and apply to medical schools, then I am willing to incur the debt of medical school.
Are you prepared to sacrifice the time, sleep and social life needed to succeed?
Time: Yes, Sleep: Yes, Social Life: YesIve sacrificed all three for the last 15 years in order to raise my son. So yes, I am prepared to sacrifice all three to become a doctor.
Do you love science?
YES! Especially Life Sciences. I firmly believe in Creation, and I believe one of the greatest things created was Man. And to learn and study all about the Human Body, all its systems and how they work to keep us alive is an amazing opportunity.
Are you squeamish?
No, never have been. My mother was a nurse, and I was a sickly child. So I spent my entire childhood in and out of Drs offices and hospitals. I am not squeamish about any internal organs, blood, or needles. I actually like all those things, in a weird sort of way.
Can you afford the time? You will likely not graduate medical school until 26-27 years of age, assuming that you enter straight out of college. Then you will enter three years of internship and residency. After residency, some doctors focus on a particular specialty. Plan on continuing your training well into your 30s.
Yes, I can afford to invest the next 10 years of MY life to becoming a doctor. Ive already done everything else in life. So 10 years is not that long to me. During that time my son will graduate from High School and College. And I will become a Doctor. Something I have said I was going to do since I was four years old! Something Teachers and others have said, I would never do. So YES! I can afford the time.
So what do you think? Is medical school and a career medicine for ME?
thanks...
DR
i'm working on it slowly...One day at time...my goal is to be in med school by fall 2010!
thanks again...
-DR-