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How were you able to overcome the hardships to be able to pursue your medical field?
I would love to be able to pursue anesthesiology as my future career, but 13 years of school is overwhelming. What best advice do you have in being able to stay strong and overcome these challenges?
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Alexander’s Answer
Hi Bidhya,
You're absolutely right that the path to becoming a physician is long and stressful, not to mention that once you reach you desired career you may find it's not what you wanted at the beginning. You will hear a lot of pre-med advisors and counselors tell you that medicine is a calling, not a job. I've found that this is as true today as it was when I first heard it 15 years ago as a premed. The amount of work and sacrifice that goes into becoming a physician does not always match the monetary reward. Unless you find personal satisfaction in medicine, it's going to be unbearable.
You can start by asking yourself why you want to be an anesthesiologist. Is it the pay and lifestyle? I can tell you confidently that there are easier routes to a lucrative career. Thinking about it like this, let's say you find a job that pays $80k per year right out of college. If you were to follow that career for 10 years without any increase in salary, you will have made $800k dollars. Conversely, if you go to medical school, by the time you graduate you will be out ~$250k after four years from student loans. After four years of residency, you will probably not be much better off financially; you will be making money but also your student loans will accrue interest, so your net worth will still be approximately negative $250k. Compare that to the other you, who has now made $640k in that same timeframe without the rigors of medical school. Eventually, you will likely land a high paying job after medical school, but not without giving up about 8 years of your life and being in significant debt. It will take over 10 years to break even financially. Long story short, don't go into medicine for money.
I would recommend shadowing an anesthesiologist if you haven't yet. Get to now their lifestyle, their perspective, what kept them going and why they felt it was worth it. Ask yourself, could I imagine myself doing anything else and having the same level of personal satisfaction? You may find that the answer is yes, and that's okay! Most premeds will not make it into medical school, that does not make you a failure. And it's better to discover now that medicine is not for you, rather than after you've accumulated debt and spent most of your 20s.
For me, I really could not imagine myself doing anything other than what I do and having the same level of job enjoyment. I'm just now at the point in my career where I'm setting out on my own, and I enjoy the challenges and reward that is intrinsic to the position. I developed a passion for neurology early on, and that passion is what helped sustain me through the harder moments of medical school.
You're absolutely right that the path to becoming a physician is long and stressful, not to mention that once you reach you desired career you may find it's not what you wanted at the beginning. You will hear a lot of pre-med advisors and counselors tell you that medicine is a calling, not a job. I've found that this is as true today as it was when I first heard it 15 years ago as a premed. The amount of work and sacrifice that goes into becoming a physician does not always match the monetary reward. Unless you find personal satisfaction in medicine, it's going to be unbearable.
You can start by asking yourself why you want to be an anesthesiologist. Is it the pay and lifestyle? I can tell you confidently that there are easier routes to a lucrative career. Thinking about it like this, let's say you find a job that pays $80k per year right out of college. If you were to follow that career for 10 years without any increase in salary, you will have made $800k dollars. Conversely, if you go to medical school, by the time you graduate you will be out ~$250k after four years from student loans. After four years of residency, you will probably not be much better off financially; you will be making money but also your student loans will accrue interest, so your net worth will still be approximately negative $250k. Compare that to the other you, who has now made $640k in that same timeframe without the rigors of medical school. Eventually, you will likely land a high paying job after medical school, but not without giving up about 8 years of your life and being in significant debt. It will take over 10 years to break even financially. Long story short, don't go into medicine for money.
I would recommend shadowing an anesthesiologist if you haven't yet. Get to now their lifestyle, their perspective, what kept them going and why they felt it was worth it. Ask yourself, could I imagine myself doing anything else and having the same level of personal satisfaction? You may find that the answer is yes, and that's okay! Most premeds will not make it into medical school, that does not make you a failure. And it's better to discover now that medicine is not for you, rather than after you've accumulated debt and spent most of your 20s.
For me, I really could not imagine myself doing anything other than what I do and having the same level of job enjoyment. I'm just now at the point in my career where I'm setting out on my own, and I enjoy the challenges and reward that is intrinsic to the position. I developed a passion for neurology early on, and that passion is what helped sustain me through the harder moments of medical school.
Updated
James’s Answer
One must realize that one's educational journey is rewarding no matter what you end up doing. High school, college, graduate school, residency, fellowship - I spent much of my live in school. I loved most of it. Learning is always a good thing. Sharing the experience with other students - both academic and extracurricular is fun. Our country makes if far too hard/expensive for many who would want to go throught this process but for the money. Nevertheless, if you have a calling to be a physician, and if that calling keeps drawing you towards anesthesiology, then heed that call. One usually goes into debt, but then makes enough money after training to pay off loans and ultimately end up doing fairly well financially.
One should not go into medicine to be rich, but if helping people brings you joy, it is a wonderful profession.
So, to "stay strong", focus on the joy of each rung on the ladder. Enjoy the non-academic endeavors you like. Be sure to surround yourself with friends who support you at times of need. Remember how this effort will allow you to do something special and remarkable - to connect with, and help other humans when they most need help.
One should not go into medicine to be rich, but if helping people brings you joy, it is a wonderful profession.
So, to "stay strong", focus on the joy of each rung on the ladder. Enjoy the non-academic endeavors you like. Be sure to surround yourself with friends who support you at times of need. Remember how this effort will allow you to do something special and remarkable - to connect with, and help other humans when they most need help.
Updated
Madison’s Answer
You're right that the road through college/medical school/residency/even fellowship potentially is LONG, tiring, stressful, financially and socially can be difficult. As with many things in life, I think it is so important to acknowledge that stress/hardships. See what you can do to help mitigate that stress/hardship, make short and long term goals that are realistic. ASK FOR HELP. Never ever be afraid to ask for help whether it is for career advice, studying/course work, friendships/family, general goals/stress. If you need a therapist/want one, try it out and see if that helps to discuss the stress of this timeline/field. It never hurts to talk about your feelings and can really help alot of people. The people I saw struggle I think really either were afraid to/too proud to ask for help when they needed it and then it got to a point where it was too late for help. Set up a support system before you even start the medical school application process (both for academic support and just life support). Tell people what you're going through. Talk to people who have done it before you that you know and trust and get their advice/hear there experiences. Find things you love to do/make you happy outside of school and make time for those things! Plan ahead and you WILL have time for friends/family/travel/vacation. ALWAYS find time for wellness/sleep/eating/working out.
Always seen second opinions and third opinions. Plan ahead. Think through each step it takes to reach your goal one by one so that it is less overwhelming.
Always seen second opinions and third opinions. Plan ahead. Think through each step it takes to reach your goal one by one so that it is less overwhelming.
Updated
Brett’s Answer
Hi Bidhya,
I certainly agree with the above physicians. If it's what you truly want to do, it is well worth it. Yes, it is 12 years of training (4 years undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 4 years of internship-residency). But it can be an enjoyable journey if this is your calling, and you maintain a healthy lifestyle - difficult, but doable. After that you have a rewarding career - financially and emotionally - once again, if this is what you really want to do. I've been a practicing anesthesiologist for over 30 years, and it still brings me joy. As stated previously, if you are doing it for the money, don't do it. There are lots of other ways to make money without being up in the middle of the night with a super sick patient whose abdomen is full of feces.
So the really big question I believe - is this what you really want to do. I too would recommend trying to shadow an anesthesiologist. I know of no better way to get a feel for a career than to observe someone actually doing it. Contact your local hospital - they usually have a department for volunteers, which is also a great way to get to see various medical careers in action.
I don't think our current educational system places enough emphasis on how to choose a career pathway, and lots of people end up picking a career for the wrong reasons and end up unhappy. When each of my children came to me for career advice, it was always started the same - pick something you like doing, because you're going to be doing a lot of it. Lots of people change their career choices along the way, and if that leads to a happy career, then it is certainly worth it. I think a lot of people don't give that initial career choice the importance that it truly deserves, and don't emphasize the factors that end up being truly important.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
I certainly agree with the above physicians. If it's what you truly want to do, it is well worth it. Yes, it is 12 years of training (4 years undergraduate, 4 years of medical school, 4 years of internship-residency). But it can be an enjoyable journey if this is your calling, and you maintain a healthy lifestyle - difficult, but doable. After that you have a rewarding career - financially and emotionally - once again, if this is what you really want to do. I've been a practicing anesthesiologist for over 30 years, and it still brings me joy. As stated previously, if you are doing it for the money, don't do it. There are lots of other ways to make money without being up in the middle of the night with a super sick patient whose abdomen is full of feces.
So the really big question I believe - is this what you really want to do. I too would recommend trying to shadow an anesthesiologist. I know of no better way to get a feel for a career than to observe someone actually doing it. Contact your local hospital - they usually have a department for volunteers, which is also a great way to get to see various medical careers in action.
I don't think our current educational system places enough emphasis on how to choose a career pathway, and lots of people end up picking a career for the wrong reasons and end up unhappy. When each of my children came to me for career advice, it was always started the same - pick something you like doing, because you're going to be doing a lot of it. Lots of people change their career choices along the way, and if that leads to a happy career, then it is certainly worth it. I think a lot of people don't give that initial career choice the importance that it truly deserves, and don't emphasize the factors that end up being truly important.
Hope that helps, and good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital