2 answers
Lianys
Student
San Juan, Puerto Rico
2
Questions
Asked
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If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self starting the pre-med journey, what would it be? #Fall25
Hi! I’m currently a high school senior, wanting to pursue a career in medicine. I understand this is a very demanding field and would appreciate any advice to succeed and achieve my goal from the very beginning. Thank you!
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2 answers
Rita Chuang
Physician
259
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
I've thought about my journey in medicine. It was a long journey and was not easy. When I was your age, I would have done anything to get into medical school. Now, I'm 55 years old and I'm retired from medicine a few years ago. Although that sounds old to you, it's actually young. I go back and forth if I would do medicine again.
What are the negatives? I did not take any breaks so by the time I finished medical school, I was 29 years old. You spend long hours studying. You think if I can just get through schooling, I'll be fine but when you start practicing, the hours are long again. I would start my day at 6:30 AM reviewing patient questions, reviewing labs, reviewing notes while eating breakfast. Then I would go to work early 7:30 AM to start getting ready. I saw patients at 8 AM and finished at 4 PM with patients but that doesn't mean you leave at that time. Between seeing patients, you will be reviewing more labs, more questions from patients, more notes from specialists, refilling prescriptions, reviewing Xrays, CT, mammo etc. I would review all of the labs, notes on Saturday and Sunday so my Mondays would not be as bad. On vacation, I would bring my computer to work. Patients will also be calling you or texting you all the time. I think people are very difficult and I think you should get ready to deal with very difficult people and not let it bother you. Learn how to deal with difficult people even if you are not in medicine. For some reason, people have been meaner.
What are the positives? You will always have a job. Your salary will be decent but unfortunately, it doesn't always increase. I was in private practice for over 20 years and most of the insurance companies did not increase how much they paid us during that time. So, you need to see more patients to make up this difference because unfortunately, utilities, rent, salaries of your staff go up. You will never learn it all so you won't be bored. When you have a patient that is grateful to you or you do save a life, it's a wonderful feeling.
I am a people pleaser by nature. I had to slowly give that up because you cannot please everyone. I would squeeze in so many patients every day so that my patients who had appointments were mad at me because I rushed them but the patients that I squeezed in were happy because they were seen. However, I trained those patients that they could call anytime and be squeezed in. I would probably try to work as a scribe so that I could learn about medicine earlier and then medical school would have been a little easier for me. Because I'm shy by nature, I would try to do things to make me speak up more. That will help during medical school.
What are the negatives? I did not take any breaks so by the time I finished medical school, I was 29 years old. You spend long hours studying. You think if I can just get through schooling, I'll be fine but when you start practicing, the hours are long again. I would start my day at 6:30 AM reviewing patient questions, reviewing labs, reviewing notes while eating breakfast. Then I would go to work early 7:30 AM to start getting ready. I saw patients at 8 AM and finished at 4 PM with patients but that doesn't mean you leave at that time. Between seeing patients, you will be reviewing more labs, more questions from patients, more notes from specialists, refilling prescriptions, reviewing Xrays, CT, mammo etc. I would review all of the labs, notes on Saturday and Sunday so my Mondays would not be as bad. On vacation, I would bring my computer to work. Patients will also be calling you or texting you all the time. I think people are very difficult and I think you should get ready to deal with very difficult people and not let it bother you. Learn how to deal with difficult people even if you are not in medicine. For some reason, people have been meaner.
What are the positives? You will always have a job. Your salary will be decent but unfortunately, it doesn't always increase. I was in private practice for over 20 years and most of the insurance companies did not increase how much they paid us during that time. So, you need to see more patients to make up this difference because unfortunately, utilities, rent, salaries of your staff go up. You will never learn it all so you won't be bored. When you have a patient that is grateful to you or you do save a life, it's a wonderful feeling.
I am a people pleaser by nature. I had to slowly give that up because you cannot please everyone. I would squeeze in so many patients every day so that my patients who had appointments were mad at me because I rushed them but the patients that I squeezed in were happy because they were seen. However, I trained those patients that they could call anytime and be squeezed in. I would probably try to work as a scribe so that I could learn about medicine earlier and then medical school would have been a little easier for me. Because I'm shy by nature, I would try to do things to make me speak up more. That will help during medical school.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Lianys
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
I would tell myself not to worry as much. Yes, one must work hard to get excellent grades, and yes, I personally did a lot of fun extra-curricular things in music and sports, but I worried all the time that I wasn't going to cut it. I got in to my last choice of medical schools, and felt worried I wouldn't become a good enough physician. I got an excellent education, made good friends, and got into a good internship. Then I worried that I wouldn't keep up with the Harvard and Yale and UCSF grads. I was better prepared than they were, as in my less-well-respected school, I got to do a lot, and was far better at doing things than others.
There is always a give and take in life, and I have missed out on a few things I wish I had done - but thank goodness most of the time I chose having a good time with good friends and dedicating myself to my family, rather than exclusively worry about being the best doctor.
By the way, the burnout rate that is so high should tell you to make sure you don't overtax yourself.
Enjoy the moments along the way and remember your core values that are driving you into this career.
Best of luck.
There is always a give and take in life, and I have missed out on a few things I wish I had done - but thank goodness most of the time I chose having a good time with good friends and dedicating myself to my family, rather than exclusively worry about being the best doctor.
By the way, the burnout rate that is so high should tell you to make sure you don't overtax yourself.
Enjoy the moments along the way and remember your core values that are driving you into this career.
Best of luck.
Thank you so much for the advice.
Lianys