3 answers
Kathryn
Student
Pacifica, California
1
Question
Asked
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Will I be able to make a big impact on people while working in the medical field?
caring for others and loving on people is so important to me, and i don't want the stresses of life to get in the way of that
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3 answers
Ashley Lowe
College Instructor/Clinical Coordinator
59
Answers
Minnesott Beach, NC
Updated
Ashley’s Answer
Yes, you absolutely can make a big impact in the medical field. In fact, healthcare is one of the few careers where small, everyday actions can mean everything to someone. It’s not always dramatic, life-saving moments. Sometimes the biggest impact is explaining something clearly to a scared patient, holding someone’s hand before a procedure, advocating for comfort, or simply treating a person with dignity when they feel vulnerable. Those moments matter deeply.
You’re also wise to recognize that stress can get in the way if you’re not careful. Healthcare can be fast-paced and demanding, and if you don’t protect your heart and your boundaries, burnout can dull your compassion. The key is learning to care deeply without carrying everything home with you. That takes maturity, self-care, and strong support systems. When you protect your own well-being, you preserve your ability to “love on people” consistently.
The beautiful thing is this: the medical field needs people like you. Technical skill can be taught. Genuine compassion cannot. If you stay grounded in why you chose this path and build healthy habits along the way, you can absolutely make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of others.
You’re also wise to recognize that stress can get in the way if you’re not careful. Healthcare can be fast-paced and demanding, and if you don’t protect your heart and your boundaries, burnout can dull your compassion. The key is learning to care deeply without carrying everything home with you. That takes maturity, self-care, and strong support systems. When you protect your own well-being, you preserve your ability to “love on people” consistently.
The beautiful thing is this: the medical field needs people like you. Technical skill can be taught. Genuine compassion cannot. If you stay grounded in why you chose this path and build healthy habits along the way, you can absolutely make a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of others.
Franny Buzimkich
Executive Concierge
23
Answers
Wolcott, Connecticut
Updated
Franny’s Answer
Hi Kathryn,
Absolutely, working in the medical field offers numerous opportunities to make a significant impact on people's lives. Here are several ways you can make a difference:
1. **Improving Health Outcomes**: Whether you are a doctor, nurse, therapist, or technician, your work directly contributes to diagnosing, treating, and managing patients' health conditions, which can profoundly improve their quality of life.
2. **Providing Emotional Support**: Medical professionals often support patients and their families during challenging times, offering comfort and guidance through difficult decisions and treatments.
3. **Preventative Care and Education**: By promoting healthy lifestyles and preventive measures, you can help individuals avoid illness and maintain better health, which can have long-lasting effects on their lives.
4. **Advancing Medical Knowledge**: If you're involved in research, you can contribute to medical advancements that lead to new treatments, technologies, and understanding of diseases, potentially impacting countless lives.
5. **Community Health Improvement**: Working in public health or community health initiatives allows you to address broader health issues, improve access to care, and enhance the overall well-being of communities.
6. **Advocacy and Policy Making**: Engaging in healthcare policy and advocacy can lead to systemic changes that improve healthcare access and quality for larger populations.
7. **Mentorship and Training**: By educating and mentoring future healthcare professionals, you ensure that the next generation is equipped to continue making a positive impact in the field.
Every role in the medical field, whether clinical or non-clinical, has the potential to contribute to meaningful and impactful work, improving individual lives and society as a whole.
Absolutely, working in the medical field offers numerous opportunities to make a significant impact on people's lives. Here are several ways you can make a difference:
1. **Improving Health Outcomes**: Whether you are a doctor, nurse, therapist, or technician, your work directly contributes to diagnosing, treating, and managing patients' health conditions, which can profoundly improve their quality of life.
2. **Providing Emotional Support**: Medical professionals often support patients and their families during challenging times, offering comfort and guidance through difficult decisions and treatments.
3. **Preventative Care and Education**: By promoting healthy lifestyles and preventive measures, you can help individuals avoid illness and maintain better health, which can have long-lasting effects on their lives.
4. **Advancing Medical Knowledge**: If you're involved in research, you can contribute to medical advancements that lead to new treatments, technologies, and understanding of diseases, potentially impacting countless lives.
5. **Community Health Improvement**: Working in public health or community health initiatives allows you to address broader health issues, improve access to care, and enhance the overall well-being of communities.
6. **Advocacy and Policy Making**: Engaging in healthcare policy and advocacy can lead to systemic changes that improve healthcare access and quality for larger populations.
7. **Mentorship and Training**: By educating and mentoring future healthcare professionals, you ensure that the next generation is equipped to continue making a positive impact in the field.
Every role in the medical field, whether clinical or non-clinical, has the potential to contribute to meaningful and impactful work, improving individual lives and society as a whole.
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
It is hard to imagine other professions having nearly the impact one makes in the healthcare field. All of us need caring, compassionate, knowledgeable, and accessable healthcare teams to help us with the inevitable illnesses, injuries, benefits of prevention...
I think there are stressors for everyone that has a meaningful job (just ask!). Making sure one cares for their personal needs (sleep, nutrition, relaxation, hobbies) while caring for others does require some discipline, but is possible. Those who find this balance obtain great satisfaction from knowing how they positively impacted others.
For those who find direct patient care too stressful, many still add great value through research, healthcare process improvement, sterile processing, healthcare supply chain, and other areas.
I think there are stressors for everyone that has a meaningful job (just ask!). Making sure one cares for their personal needs (sleep, nutrition, relaxation, hobbies) while caring for others does require some discipline, but is possible. Those who find this balance obtain great satisfaction from knowing how they positively impacted others.
For those who find direct patient care too stressful, many still add great value through research, healthcare process improvement, sterile processing, healthcare supply chain, and other areas.