6 answers
2
Questions
Updated
1523 views
Is being in the medical worth it even though it causes physical and mental well-being and another thing do most medical students have student debt?
I need an answer...
Login to comment
6 answers
Updated
Katie’s Answer
Hi Rehan,
This is a very interesting question and can be viewed from a number of ways. The medical field isn’t for everyone. It has its times that can be trying. You need to assure you are taking care of yourself and exercising, doing things you enjoy and at times talk to people that can help with difficult situations. This isn’t always psych, it might be a mentor or friend. I think it’s worth it but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life and I think I have the greatest job ever. Even when I’m exhausted and overwhelmed.
Debt is individual based on your situation. If you have high averages or play sports you might get scholarships. If you have family that can fund it then you may not have loans. If you don’t fit into those categories then loans are typically how it’s paid for. I know I can’t give you specifics but I hope this helps you assess where you sit.
Good luck in picking a career
This is a very interesting question and can be viewed from a number of ways. The medical field isn’t for everyone. It has its times that can be trying. You need to assure you are taking care of yourself and exercising, doing things you enjoy and at times talk to people that can help with difficult situations. This isn’t always psych, it might be a mentor or friend. I think it’s worth it but I couldn’t imagine doing anything else with my life and I think I have the greatest job ever. Even when I’m exhausted and overwhelmed.
Debt is individual based on your situation. If you have high averages or play sports you might get scholarships. If you have family that can fund it then you may not have loans. If you don’t fit into those categories then loans are typically how it’s paid for. I know I can’t give you specifics but I hope this helps you assess where you sit.
Good luck in picking a career
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Rehan,
Whether being in the medical field is worth it will be up to you. It can be a very rewarding, very demanding and very interesting job for people. I will create a list of the advantages and disadvantages of being in the medical field. Hope this helps!
Pros:
-Get to help people everyday
-Good Job Security
-High Pay
-Many different opportunities
Cons:
-High stress/can take emotional toll
-High responsibility
-Long hours or irregular hours compared to other jobs
-Lots of school, hours needed for training
Also, yes there will be people that have student loan debt but it will be based on how much you are willing to spend and what your overall financial situation is.
Whether being in the medical field is worth it will be up to you. It can be a very rewarding, very demanding and very interesting job for people. I will create a list of the advantages and disadvantages of being in the medical field. Hope this helps!
Pros:
-Get to help people everyday
-Good Job Security
-High Pay
-Many different opportunities
Cons:
-High stress/can take emotional toll
-High responsibility
-Long hours or irregular hours compared to other jobs
-Lots of school, hours needed for training
Also, yes there will be people that have student loan debt but it will be based on how much you are willing to spend and what your overall financial situation is.
Updated
William’s Answer
I am pleased to hear that you are considering a career in the medical industry. That indicates that you possess an admirable value system.
My advice for you and for anyone who is unsure about the medical field is to avoid a career in medicine.
You may have heard that the "burnout" rate is high in the medical field. The financial stakeholders call it burnout. Burnout in medicine is really human rights violations that result in moral injury. The abuse starts the moment you apply to medical school and never ends until you hang up your stethoscope. The suicide rate for female health professionals is outrageously high in the United States, especially if one has responsibility for a family in addition to the medical career.
Most people become health professionals because they want to help people. Unfortunately the reality is that there are few incentives in the industry that encourage a healing approach. The only thing that the stakeholders care about is how much you can earn for them or how little they can pay you for your hard work. If that offends your internal moral compass, more abuse is guaranteed the moment you bring attention to this perverse incentive scheme.
There are other rewarding careers that can support a comfortable lifestyle that do not involve constant trauma and ethical dilemmas. Until there is substantial change in the medical industry, I will not recommend it for anyone.
My advice for you and for anyone who is unsure about the medical field is to avoid a career in medicine.
You may have heard that the "burnout" rate is high in the medical field. The financial stakeholders call it burnout. Burnout in medicine is really human rights violations that result in moral injury. The abuse starts the moment you apply to medical school and never ends until you hang up your stethoscope. The suicide rate for female health professionals is outrageously high in the United States, especially if one has responsibility for a family in addition to the medical career.
Most people become health professionals because they want to help people. Unfortunately the reality is that there are few incentives in the industry that encourage a healing approach. The only thing that the stakeholders care about is how much you can earn for them or how little they can pay you for your hard work. If that offends your internal moral compass, more abuse is guaranteed the moment you bring attention to this perverse incentive scheme.
There are other rewarding careers that can support a comfortable lifestyle that do not involve constant trauma and ethical dilemmas. Until there is substantial change in the medical industry, I will not recommend it for anyone.
Updated
Madison’s Answer
You're so right that being in medicine is a stressful/time consuming career. It can be mentally and physically tough both during training and after. But for many of us because it was all we ever envisioned doing or feel called to do it feels so worth it. You have to also realize there will still always be bad days or days that are long or hard even if you love your job and that is still ok and normal. I always tell students who are considering medical school: if there is anything else you think would make you equally or happier doing and doing for a really long time, then you should do something else. Remember being a doctor has to be inspired by passion/excitement otherwise you won't be able to get through the long hard days/years of training. No one else should influence your decision to go to medical school because only YOU know if it is right for you and only you know if you will be happy doing it long term. There are SO many other amazing and rewarding careers with less schooling/less costly/less stressful and likely more financially prosperous even.
Hope this helps,
Madison
Hope this helps,
Madison
Thank you so much for the advice.
Rehan
Updated
Brett’s Answer
Hi Rehan,
All careers have their advantages and disadvantages. Clearly it's no fun for me to be up in the middle of the night after having worked a full day, and having to work the next day. I'm confident that it's also not the best thing for my body and mind. What I do know is that the person on the operating room table needs my help, and if we wait, things will only be worse. So with that in mind, I know that it is the right thing for me to do. But if you go into that middle of the night surgery with the perspective that you are doing harm to yourself, then that is where your focus will be. Then you will be resentful and angry, and probably not give the patient the care that they deserve, as you are more concerned with other things.
So if your attitude is like mine, and that your helping patients and society outweighs the negative, then healthcare can be a great choice for you. But if you are more concerned with the negatives of the job, then it's not for you, and I would advise you to choose a different career path. With that being said, there are many healthcare jobs that require long and strange hours, but not all.
Regarding debt after medical school, I am sure many have some, but you can look up the statistics online. Medical school has gotten very expensive, and it is possible to accrue debt that is financially devastating. Bottom line, some debt is ok, but if you plan to finance your entire education with loans, you may dig a hole that you cannot get out of. Many scholarships are available, but they take some legwork - they don't just drop into your lap. The U.S. military can pay for the vast majority of your education. Should you choose this route, you will owe them years of service, but you can emerge debt free.
Hope this has been helpful, and good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
All careers have their advantages and disadvantages. Clearly it's no fun for me to be up in the middle of the night after having worked a full day, and having to work the next day. I'm confident that it's also not the best thing for my body and mind. What I do know is that the person on the operating room table needs my help, and if we wait, things will only be worse. So with that in mind, I know that it is the right thing for me to do. But if you go into that middle of the night surgery with the perspective that you are doing harm to yourself, then that is where your focus will be. Then you will be resentful and angry, and probably not give the patient the care that they deserve, as you are more concerned with other things.
So if your attitude is like mine, and that your helping patients and society outweighs the negative, then healthcare can be a great choice for you. But if you are more concerned with the negatives of the job, then it's not for you, and I would advise you to choose a different career path. With that being said, there are many healthcare jobs that require long and strange hours, but not all.
Regarding debt after medical school, I am sure many have some, but you can look up the statistics online. Medical school has gotten very expensive, and it is possible to accrue debt that is financially devastating. Bottom line, some debt is ok, but if you plan to finance your entire education with loans, you may dig a hole that you cannot get out of. Many scholarships are available, but they take some legwork - they don't just drop into your lap. The U.S. military can pay for the vast majority of your education. Should you choose this route, you will owe them years of service, but you can emerge debt free.
Hope this has been helpful, and good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
Updated
Arminda’s Answer
Hello Rehan,
The medical field is a very rewarding career choice if you enjoy helping others. It's not for everyone because it does have many stresses depending on what role you hold in the field. That being said there are so many career opportunities and healthcare is usually a very important career that has stability, in very high demand all the time. Some things that can cause stress are long shifts, staff shortages, loss, loss of empathy and burnout especially if self care and work life is not balanced. I would say that the field can be very demanding and a thick skin is needed but also care for others. As far as debt goes it's going to be dependent on the funding you receive and the medical career that you choose. If you go to college for a career such as a Doctor, then high debt is possible but you'll also most likely make higher wages, where as if you choose an assistant position you may not.
The medical field is a very rewarding career choice if you enjoy helping others. It's not for everyone because it does have many stresses depending on what role you hold in the field. That being said there are so many career opportunities and healthcare is usually a very important career that has stability, in very high demand all the time. Some things that can cause stress are long shifts, staff shortages, loss, loss of empathy and burnout especially if self care and work life is not balanced. I would say that the field can be very demanding and a thick skin is needed but also care for others. As far as debt goes it's going to be dependent on the funding you receive and the medical career that you choose. If you go to college for a career such as a Doctor, then high debt is possible but you'll also most likely make higher wages, where as if you choose an assistant position you may not.