I am about to finish my 1st year of medical school and I am having doubts on whether or not I want to continue. Both of my parents are doctors and I am starting to wonder if me going to medical school is something I wanted or something I did to make them happy. I enjoy biological sciences and patient contact so I know I want to work in the healthcare field, but I am not sure if I have the stamina to become an allopathic physician. I also am worried that becoming a doctor is not going to allow me enough time with the family I hope to have one day. I never really considered doing anything else as an undergrad until it looked like I wasn’t going to get to medical school after I graduated last spring. (I know I should have thought about it sooner!) I started looking into going into physical therapy, did some volunteer work at an out patient PT clinic and realized that field might be a better fit for me (I understand it to be a field that has less stress and more flexible hours than a physician). Well I did get accepted to medical school and I have since done well in all my classes, I like the people in my class, and I like what tiny bit of patient contact I have had, but I just don’t know if this is the right path for me. I have started doing some serious research into making the switch to a DPT program. I guess I am posting this to get other people’s thoughts on the issue; what I should do right now, this summer off before my 2nd year, etc… (the other postings I have read on here have seemed to be quite insightful). So I guess my question is do I stick it out and see if this is what I really want, or get out while I still can! :confused: :scared:

I am a PT with my DPT degree and I have been in practice for 2 years. I enjoy working as a PT, but you have to seriously look at the potential debt to income ratio of earning a DPT, especially from a private school.

PTs are coming out of school with 70-150k in debt with expected starting salaries in the 50-60K range to pay back those loans.

I have a nice debt load to repay and am now considering applying to PA or med school. While in PT school I realized that practicing medicine and being involved in performing surgery is where my true interest lie.

Obtaining the cheapest education in PT as possible is the way to go (MPT or less expensive DPT). If you chose one of the few MPT programs around, you could always get your transitional DPT afterwards putting you in a more financially sound situation.

Good luck with your decision

warren

I would wait it out, there are a lot of careers within medicine which can offer you flexability or at least good office hours (gas, derm, anesthesia, PMR, etc). Right now you have the choice of a multitude of specialties, PT offers choices but it is far more limiting in my opinion. I was a PT and after practicing for six years went to medical school. I think PT is more volatile of a career than medicine, the AMA has far stronger lobbying power than the APTA when looking at issues that affect reimbursement. I hate to say it, but it is easier to take a hit on payment when you make 160K + vs 50-60K.

Definitely stay in med school. You can chose a 'lifestyle specialty' such as Rehab medicine (especially if you think you're interested in physical therapy), and make 200K without really trying, and much more if you want. Most PT's will never come close to that. The residency after med school is basically 8-5, and your residency salary is only slightly less than what you'd be making as a PT. You would be crazy to make the switch.

I am about to finish my 1st year of medical school and I am having doubts on whether or not I want to continue. Both of my parents are doctors and I am starting to wonder if me going to medical school is something I wanted or something I did to make them happy. I enjoy biological sciences and patient contact so I know I want to work in the healthcare field, but I am not sure if I have the stamina to become an allopathic physician. I also am worried that becoming a doctor is not going to allow me enough time with the family I hope to have one day. I never really considered doing anything else as an undergrad until it looked like I wasn’t going to get to medical school after I graduated last spring. (I know I should have thought about it sooner!) I started looking into going into physical therapy, did some volunteer work at an out patient PT clinic and realized that field might be a better fit for me (I understand it to be a field that has less stress and more flexible hours than a physician). Well I did get accepted to medical school and I have since done well in all my classes, I like the people in my class, and I like what tiny bit of patient contact I have had, but I just don’t know if this is the right path for me. I have started doing some serious research into making the switch to a DPT program. I guess I am posting this to get other people’s thoughts on the issue; what I should do right now, this summer off before my 2nd year, etc… (the other postings I have read on here have seemed to be quite insightful). So I guess my question is do I stick it out and see if this is what I really want, or get out while I still can! :confused: :scared:

I am a PT turned MD (15 days remaining).

You would be crazy to do the reverse!

Do NOT drop out of medical school to go for your DPT. There are plenty of fields in medicine that allow for ample free time. In my opinion, the salary potential of a DPT absolutely does not justify the number of years spent in education. You'll be in school almost as long to do your DPT as you would for medical school.

If lifestyle is what you want, study hard and go for derm. Other lifestyle fields include pathology, PM&R, family medicine (depending on how you set up your practice - it can be a lifestyle field believe it or not), ER (if you don't mind shift work and stress when you ARE at work). Anesthesia and radiology are becoming less lifestyle friendly. If you are interested in outpatient PT I cannot stress looking into PM&R enough. It is not terribly competitive at the present time, although it is getting more competitive. It would allow you to work in the same fields as you would in PT except that you are obviously a physician. If you are interested in manual therapy and other PT like treatments that can easily be incorporated into a musculoskeletal PM&R practice.

PM&R is VERY lifestyle friendly. And the good news is demand for PM&R will continue to increase as the population gets older.

You do have to realize that this site and most of the posters are a little biased toward becoming an MD. Just a thought.

You do have to realize that this site and most of the posters are a little biased toward becoming an MD. Just a thought.

all the posters so far are prior PTs...so they have experienced both worlds....so the bias may actually give a true picture of both professions.

Do NOT drop out of medical school to go for your DPT. There are plenty of fields in medicine that allow for ample free time. In my opinion, the salary potential of a DPT absolutely does not justify the number of years spent in education. You'll be in school almost as long to do your DPT as you would for medical school.

If lifestyle is what you want, study hard and go for derm. Other lifestyle fields include pathology, PM&R, family medicine (depending on how you set up your practice - it can be a lifestyle field believe it or not), ER (if you don't mind shift work and stress when you ARE at work). Anesthesia and radiology are becoming less lifestyle friendly. If you are interested in outpatient PT I cannot stress looking into PM&R enough. It is not terribly competitive at the present time, although it is getting more competitive. It would allow you to work in the same fields as you would in PT except that you are obviously a physician. If you are interested in manual therapy and other PT like treatments that can easily be incorporated into a musculoskeletal PM&R practice.

PM&R is VERY lifestyle friendly. And the good news is demand for PM&R will continue to increase as the population gets older.


I was interested in PT who is now very interested in PM&R, I am curious to know if anyone knows if there are many outpatient jobs as a physiatrist. I know that there are outpatient jobs but would it be very hard to find one if I didn't want to spend more time in the hospital after residency? Also is the lifestyle really what people say it is? I mean I guess you don't have call, but is the reason they don't have a lot of hours because they don't have a lot of patients?

Do NOT drop out of medical school to go for your DPT. There are plenty of fields in medicine that allow for ample free time. In my opinion, the salary potential of a DPT absolutely does not justify the number of years spent in education. You'll be in school almost as long to do your DPT as you would for medical school.

If lifestyle is what you want, study hard and go for derm. Other lifestyle fields include pathology, PM&R, family medicine (depending on how you set up your practice - it can be a lifestyle field believe it or not), ER (if you don't mind shift work and stress when you ARE at work). Anesthesia and radiology are becoming less lifestyle friendly. If you are interested in outpatient PT I cannot stress looking into PM&R enough. It is not terribly competitive at the present time, although it is getting more competitive. It would allow you to work in the same fields as you would in PT except that you are obviously a physician. If you are interested in manual therapy and other PT like treatments that can easily be incorporated into a musculoskeletal PM&R practice.

PM&R is VERY lifestyle friendly. And the good news is demand for PM&R will continue to increase as the population gets older.


I was interested in PT who is now very interested in PM&R, I am curious to know if anyone knows if there are many outpatient jobs as a physiatrist. I know that there are outpatient jobs but would it be very hard to find one if I didn't want to spend more time in the hospital after residency? Also is the lifestyle really what people say it is? I mean I guess you don't have call, but is the reason they don't have a lot of hours because they don't have a lot of patients? Anyone know if professional and college teams hire Physiatrists?

Physiatry is a SWEET practice. If I wasn't in Emergency Medicine, I would have chosen that route.

oh but there are the chronic pain patients...blech.

My advice to teh initial poster is to continue in Medical School, if you drop out, there will be a time in which you wish you hadn't. You will sorely regret it.

I'm also moving from PT to MD. Please stay the course. PT is a great field, but you've got a world of opportunity in med school.

I am about to finish my 1st year of medical school and I am having doubts on whether or not I want to continue. Both of my parents are doctors and I am starting to wonder if me going to medical school is something I wanted or something I did to make them happy. I enjoy biological sciences and patient contact so I know I want to work in the healthcare field, but I am not sure if I have the stamina to become an allopathic physician. I also am worried that becoming a doctor is not going to allow me enough time with the family I hope to have one day. I never really considered doing anything else as an undergrad until it looked like I wasn’t going to get to medical school after I graduated last spring. (I know I should have thought about it sooner!) I started looking into going into physical therapy, did some volunteer work at an out patient PT clinic and realized that field might be a better fit for me (I understand it to be a field that has less stress and more flexible hours than a physician). Well I did get accepted to medical school and I have since done well in all my classes, I like the people in my class, and I like what tiny bit of patient contact I have had, but I just don’t know if this is the right path for me. I have started doing some serious research into making the switch to a DPT program. I guess I am posting this to get other people’s thoughts on the issue; what I should do right now, this summer off before my 2nd year, etc… (the other postings I have read on here have seemed to be quite insightful). So I guess my question is do I stick it out and see if this is what I really want, or get out while I still can! :confused: :scared:


Take the summer before your 2nd year to shadow physicians in various fields and therapists. Would recommend spending time with a Physiatrist if you want a related field in medicine. we don't do a lot of the hands on therapy but we are familiar with therapy lingo and some outpatient Physiatrists give their patients a real rudimentary home exercise program until they can get in to see a therapist. We work very closely with therapists and I think we have mutual respect for each other. As a 1st year or even as a 2nd year medical student, it's hard to understand the reality of the lifestyle/time committment issue. I worked 80+ hrs/wk as an intern, but now probably average about 45-50 hrs/wk as a PGY3 in PM&R. I have PLENTY of time to spend w my family and friends and definitely have a life outside of medicine.

Lifestyle in medicine is what you make of it. If you want to work part time, you can. If you are doing well in your classes and get along well with your classmates, would highly recommend staying in school. You already have one year worth of debt +/- college, right? :laugh: plus, you just got through one of the hardest year in medicine.

As an MD your options are pretty much limitless. You can go into rehab sciences or cardiac rehab, which are very similar to what PTs do in their clinics. I applied to both MD and PT because I fear that my GPA may not get me into MD this time around. However, I've done extensive research on both and MD offers many more opportunities. One of my profs in undergrad was actually an MD who became involved in Cardiac rehab. So basically he enjoys the same hours/lifestyle that a PT in a cardiac rehab clinic would have. However, since he is an MD he has higher credentials and makes more money, and has more power to receive research funding etc.

He always stressed that if given the chance do your MD. Even if you don't practice as a doctor after, the title alone gives you much more options and a higher status. You can always open a rehab clinic as an MD.

Also, if you are concerned with costs and time to get your DPT, look into Canadian schools. Most are only 2 years in length and costs are not as heavy.
Good luck!

So out of curiousity why did you choose ER over PM&R? Oddly enough these were my two interests- and even though I've chosen my pathway I still think I'd be happy in both fields.

You are not crazy, I am considering doing the same thing. I was in my first year of med school and I had and A was doing great, but it didn't feel right. I am now considering going to PT school. I think I will be so much happier. Don't worry about the money or the idea of being a doctor, do what will make you happy

Let me start off by saying, as a 3rd yr physical therapy student, I am completely biased.
I always wanted to go to med school but decided I wanted a family more. Ironically, I am dating a med student and I have to tell you, our lifestyles are completely different. Please don't get me wrong, I am sure there are tonnes of doctors that have time for their families but you would be naive to think that the whole 5+ yr med shcool process is anything close to being easy. Anyway, my point is that you should make a list of pros and cons for both professions and see what you truly think. While being a PT might not really satisfy the financial aspect, you might find yourself with a set 40 hr/week schedule and time off guaranteed on weekends and much less stress. Good luck.

To the original poster,

Do what you think is best for you. Ultimately all MDs will put the money factor into the equation, however I did not base my decision solely on money when I decided to go to the PT school. It is unbeliavable how some posters are talking about the endless opportunuties you'd get as an MD and nothing as a PT. Wow to that!

I was a med student but switched to PT, I dont know if I am regret or not.
I enjoyed the working schedule: no calls, no nights,

but I have to admit that pt salary sucks.

Also, if you are concerned with costs and time to get your DPT, look into Canadian schools. Most are only 2 years in length and costs are not as heavy.


Can you elaborate on this? Suggest some decent schools? Can a student of Canadian education easily become licensed in the U.S.?

To the original poster:

Sharing my personal experiences with you...

I was destined for medical school. I took the mcat (did pretty well on it--got a 30, decent to get in somewhere), worked in a hospital for 2 years... etc. My issue is that I lost interest, mainly stamina. As I approached senior year of college, the 8 more years (med + resid) of complete mental strain was less and less appealing. I worked a year after graduation to figure things out. I realized that I DID belonged in healthcare, but still was not excited about the length. So I started exploring healthcare careers that are rewarding and all that jazz, but had a comfortable stress/intensity level (both during and post graduation). There are plenty.

So unlike a lot of pre-MD/MDs in here that are telling you "just do it," you should ask youself what your risk appetite is (what if you go though 4 years of school, and don't land the residency that you want--which is happening to some friends of mine right now) and what's your stess appetite. Do you still have the stamina? Are you pooped out??

There are plenty of autonomous healthcare professions that still give you an amazing life (financially, personally, professionally, etc) while still doing great things for society. So think long and hard about it. I really don't think you can make a wrong decision, especially if you stick with healthcare. If money isn't your drive, you especially need to think about things. From my research, PTs make great money, enough to live comfortably that is, unlike say a social worker who makes $30-40K.

Telling you "just do it" is not going to really solve your dimllema.

Good luck and keep us posted! :thumbup: