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- Mar 5, 2004
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Having a difficult time deciding whether family medicine is right for you? I had an extremely difficult time with this decision as well. So did a number of students I spoke with at the national convention a week ago.
The issues I delt with were:
1) EGO, choosing a less competitive specialty
2) Liking some other fields
3) Salary, much less than some specialties
It turns into an easier decision when you take away the academic mindset of medical school. At least where I went to medical school, which is one of the top university programs in the country in family medicine, there was still a "why would you want to do that attitude in other rotations." Thats all BS. The truth of the matter is that when you are practicing in the community there is not that feeling. Most patients are greatful and almost all specialists are greatful to you for referrals. It is a different happy world on the other side.
The issue of liking a couple other specialties a lot, intrigued me for a while, but I know myself enough to know that repetitive tasks will bore me within 5 years for sure. Family is the most diverse and eclectic form that medicine has to offer. You may be suprised by the variety of careers FPs pursue. At my residency program many residents go on to ER, urgent care, hospitalist, private practice, OB fellowship, SM fellowship, academic positions. The options are vast for FP trained physicians.
Salary is a highly considered these days with medical students when choosing a specialty. The bottom line is that medicine will afford you a good living, but no one will become extremely rich unless the practice good business skills. The good news also is that medicare isn't as quick to drop reimbursement for primary care as it is for specialties.
Ask yourself this question, "If money was not a consideration and all medical specialties paid the same which field would you go into?" It can help to point you in the right direction.
Good luck and dont forget Family medicine is now the #2 most recruited specialty
The issues I delt with were:
1) EGO, choosing a less competitive specialty
2) Liking some other fields
3) Salary, much less than some specialties
It turns into an easier decision when you take away the academic mindset of medical school. At least where I went to medical school, which is one of the top university programs in the country in family medicine, there was still a "why would you want to do that attitude in other rotations." Thats all BS. The truth of the matter is that when you are practicing in the community there is not that feeling. Most patients are greatful and almost all specialists are greatful to you for referrals. It is a different happy world on the other side.
The issue of liking a couple other specialties a lot, intrigued me for a while, but I know myself enough to know that repetitive tasks will bore me within 5 years for sure. Family is the most diverse and eclectic form that medicine has to offer. You may be suprised by the variety of careers FPs pursue. At my residency program many residents go on to ER, urgent care, hospitalist, private practice, OB fellowship, SM fellowship, academic positions. The options are vast for FP trained physicians.
Salary is a highly considered these days with medical students when choosing a specialty. The bottom line is that medicine will afford you a good living, but no one will become extremely rich unless the practice good business skills. The good news also is that medicare isn't as quick to drop reimbursement for primary care as it is for specialties.
Ask yourself this question, "If money was not a consideration and all medical specialties paid the same which field would you go into?" It can help to point you in the right direction.
Good luck and dont forget Family medicine is now the #2 most recruited specialty
