Only 54% of physicians would choose medicine again as a career

...just over half of all physicians (54%) would choose medicine again as a career..., reports MedScape Today.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/761870

I hate these stats because they mean nothing for the people that read them. If 1 person saw this and decided they would switch careers midway through med school because they think they should have chosen something else I will be surprised.

If advising premeds using this stat, what viable options would you give them that is as rewarding, stable, and lucrative? Banking (the usual go-to) is certainly not stable, and despite what the Wall Street movie might have you think, most are not raking in cash. Entrepreneurship is as vague as any answer you could give. Dentistry is the only option that comes to mind and last I read they were pretty happy.

I feel like they report that every week.

I may one day regret the whole ordeal (only 2 years into medical school and I have had many days where I wonder why the hell I didn't just get an engineering job like my friends), but I know for a fact that if I hadn't decided to go to medical school I would 100% regret it and always wonder "what if..."

I think there was a different expectation of what medicine would be like for a lot of older physicians -- respect, autonomy, high pay, etc.

Now we know that we'll be government slaves making $40k under Reichsfuhrer Obama. Our expectations are low, ergo we will be happier. (Partially kidding).

I wonder what percent of people in law or other professions regret going into their field. Probably those who are unemployed would have an even greater level of regret.

Originally Posted by VisionaryTics

I think there was a different expectation of what medicine would be like for a lot of older physicians -- respect, autonomy, high pay, etc.

Now we know that we'll be government slaves making $40k under Reichsfuhrer Obama. Our expectations are low, ergo we will be happier. (Partially kidding).

I feel like your picture always makes everything you say funnier.

Originally Posted by VisionaryTics

I think there was a different expectation of what medicine would be like for a lot of older physicians -- respect, autonomy, high pay, etc.

Now we know that we'll be government slaves making $40k under Reichsfuhrer Obama. Our expectations are low, ergo we will be happier. (Partially kidding).

Reichsfuhrer, hahaha

The grass is not greener.

Physicians assume they can succeed in ANY field and rightfully so. Yet, if you pollother professionals i wonder how many would say they would choose other careers if they could have been ANYTHING else

Also i wonder if medicine by virtue of training rquirements selects for people who are more likely to be unhappy rgardless of their ultimate career selection

Originally Posted by dr zaius

... but I know for a fact that if I hadn't decided to go to medical school I would 100% regret it and always wonder "what if..."

Exactly!!! I bet the percentage of physicians who this applies to is way higher than 54%. Therefore, many of them would still have entered medicine.

If I could do everything over again, I would definitely have moved to the beach of my own private island surrounded by beautiful half-naked women.

Oh well...hindsight is 20/20 right?

Originally Posted by seelee

If I could do everything over again, I would definitely have moved to the beach of my own private island surrounded by beautiful half-naked women.

Oh well...hindsight is 20/20 right?

You still can. Do-overs don't usually involve winning the lottery though, you'd have to earn that one, haha.

These results are probably heavily influenced by the uncertainty behind the PPACA/healthcare reform. Will be interesting to see if the figures change much when the political dust settles.

Originally Posted by ccmonopolies

...just over half of all physicians (54%) would choose medicine again as a career..., reports MedScape Today.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/761870

These are pretty good #'s.

I'm sure if you polled American workers, lots of jobs would have only 20% who would chose their job again.

Good job docs.

Originally Posted by Valadi

I hate these stats because they mean nothing for the people that read them. If 1 person saw this and decided they would switch careers midway through med school because they think they should have chosen something else I will be surprised.

If advising premeds using this stat, what viable options would you give them that is as rewarding, stable, and lucrative? Banking (the usual go-to) is certainly not stable, and despite what the Wall Street movie might have you think, most are not raking in cash. Entrepreneurship is as vague as any answer you could give. Dentistry is the only option that comes to mind and last I read they were pretty happy.

I wouldn't say they are insignificant, although there can be some selection bias.

I don't think you can make anything of these #'s unless you were to poll other careers and see their #'s. Naive people think other careers have 85-100% career satisfaction.

Originally Posted by JackShephard MD

I wouldn't say they are insignificant, although there can be some selection bias.

I don't think you can make anything of these #'s unless you were to poll other careers and see their #'s. Naive people think other careers have 85-100% career satisfaction.

Significance has nothing to do with it.. There is nothing being tested here..

I totally agree with your second statement. 50% seems fairly decent to me.