DISCLAIMER: If you're a philanthropic, self sacrificing doctor (or MD2B) no need for you to read this.
But if you are a monetarily struggling med student/resident with a desire to take care of people but-at-the-same-time be able to live the lifestyle you deserve, given your extreme, self-sacrificing time/money/emotional/relationship investment,
PLEASE READ ON.
Another disclaimer:
I DIDNT MAKE THE RULES. I'M JUST PASSING ON REALITY.....REALITY THAT YOUR MED SCHOOL/RESIDENT ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES WON'T DIVULGE.
Whats the reality?
Specialization in medicine pays more.
ALOT more.
This isnt a FEEL GOOD thread.
Its a thread, if you're a med student, that I hope you'll at least keep in the back of your mind when you select a specialty.
Truth is IT PISSES ME OFF that I'm writing this.
Cuz I recognize the value of primary care medicine.
I recognize the priceless value of going to one primary care dude, a dude who's pager when he's on call never stops going off.....a dude who's known you for 5, 10, 15, TWENTY years....GEEZUM PETES I've got a buddy who's a pediatrician and when the dudes on call, I'm tellin' ya, its like at least six pages an hour.
But said pediatrician buddy doesnt get reimbursed fairly for his sacrifice. Nor does most INTERNAL MED/FAMILY MED/PEDIATRICIAN/GERIATRICIAN colleagues.....or any other branch of primary care I unknowingly excluded....
I'M TELLIN' YA, THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
And I wish it were different.
But it isn't.
So back to reality.....
I know what its like to be a med student....(unknowingly) naive, idealistic, liking every rotation, gravitating to what I "LIKE"....
I'm respectfully asking you to take a step back from what you LIKE as a med student.
And examine your affinity to whatever specialty objectively and pragmatically, realizing youre gonna probably spend 30 years doing what you've selected, and collecting money for your work. Money you've earned, and money you DESERVE.....(uhhhh....yeah, I know about the concept of ENTITLEMENT....and how, at least if you've ever sought self-help-therapy, how BAD entitlement is....but in this elongated, sacrificing-your-twenties profession, I BEG TO DIFFER. YA GOTTA BE ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF REIMBURSEMENT AFTER SACRIFICING YOUR TWENTIES, DONTCHA THINK? DID THE PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT TELL US ENTITLEMENT IS BAD SPEND THEIR TWENTIES REPORTING TO SOMEONE ELSE? DID THEY TAKE NIGHT CALL? WERE THEY FORCED TO WORK AFTER BEING UP ALL NIGHT?
Here's where you've gotta taka leappa faith, and listen to someone who's been practicing private-practice medicine for more than a decade:
You are engulfed in THE EXPERIENCE now.
WHAT ABOUT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? TEN YEARS?
Will you be happy then?
Of course noone has a crystal ball.... but this is a pragmatic, kinda money-oriented thread....
....and what I can guarantee is.....that after your med student/resident life is over your priorities will change or at least be redirected...
you'll probably get married....have kids....
that s hit costs money!
RETURN TO CURRENT DAY...
Gas is 4 buks a gallon.😱
College students are standing in food camp lines....
Mid-income families are having a hard time making ends meet...
SO...UHHHH......JET......WHATS THE POINT OF ALL YOUR BULL HERE?
My point, med student friends, is I want you to THINK FIVE TO TEN YEARS AHEAD. AND SOME OF THE VERY COOL AREAS DON'T PAY YOU MUCH. AND SOMEDAY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW FROM YOUR CURRENT LIFE, YOUR INCOME IS GONNA MATTER.
No matter how much you try and explain it away right now.
This isnt a plug for anesthesia.
Its a plug for you to consider a medicine subspecialty.
While you still can......interventional rads, interventional cardiology, derm, orthopedics, GI, rad/onc, path, spine......
I didnt make the rules.
Choose wisely.
But if you are a monetarily struggling med student/resident with a desire to take care of people but-at-the-same-time be able to live the lifestyle you deserve, given your extreme, self-sacrificing time/money/emotional/relationship investment,
PLEASE READ ON.
Another disclaimer:
I DIDNT MAKE THE RULES. I'M JUST PASSING ON REALITY.....REALITY THAT YOUR MED SCHOOL/RESIDENT ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES WON'T DIVULGE.
Whats the reality?
Specialization in medicine pays more.
ALOT more.
This isnt a FEEL GOOD thread.
Its a thread, if you're a med student, that I hope you'll at least keep in the back of your mind when you select a specialty.
Truth is IT PISSES ME OFF that I'm writing this.
Cuz I recognize the value of primary care medicine.
I recognize the priceless value of going to one primary care dude, a dude who's pager when he's on call never stops going off.....a dude who's known you for 5, 10, 15, TWENTY years....GEEZUM PETES I've got a buddy who's a pediatrician and when the dudes on call, I'm tellin' ya, its like at least six pages an hour.
But said pediatrician buddy doesnt get reimbursed fairly for his sacrifice. Nor does most INTERNAL MED/FAMILY MED/PEDIATRICIAN/GERIATRICIAN colleagues.....or any other branch of primary care I unknowingly excluded....
I'M TELLIN' YA, THAT IS NOT RIGHT.
And I wish it were different.
But it isn't.
So back to reality.....
I know what its like to be a med student....(unknowingly) naive, idealistic, liking every rotation, gravitating to what I "LIKE"....
I'm respectfully asking you to take a step back from what you LIKE as a med student.
And examine your affinity to whatever specialty objectively and pragmatically, realizing youre gonna probably spend 30 years doing what you've selected, and collecting money for your work. Money you've earned, and money you DESERVE.....(uhhhh....yeah, I know about the concept of ENTITLEMENT....and how, at least if you've ever sought self-help-therapy, how BAD entitlement is....but in this elongated, sacrificing-your-twenties profession, I BEG TO DIFFER. YA GOTTA BE ENTITLED TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF REIMBURSEMENT AFTER SACRIFICING YOUR TWENTIES, DONTCHA THINK? DID THE PSYCHOLOGISTS THAT TELL US ENTITLEMENT IS BAD SPEND THEIR TWENTIES REPORTING TO SOMEONE ELSE? DID THEY TAKE NIGHT CALL? WERE THEY FORCED TO WORK AFTER BEING UP ALL NIGHT?
Here's where you've gotta taka leappa faith, and listen to someone who's been practicing private-practice medicine for more than a decade:
You are engulfed in THE EXPERIENCE now.
WHAT ABOUT FIVE YEARS FROM NOW? TEN YEARS?
Will you be happy then?
Of course noone has a crystal ball.... but this is a pragmatic, kinda money-oriented thread....
....and what I can guarantee is.....that after your med student/resident life is over your priorities will change or at least be redirected...
you'll probably get married....have kids....
that s hit costs money!
RETURN TO CURRENT DAY...
Gas is 4 buks a gallon.😱
College students are standing in food camp lines....
Mid-income families are having a hard time making ends meet...
SO...UHHHH......JET......WHATS THE POINT OF ALL YOUR BULL HERE?
My point, med student friends, is I want you to THINK FIVE TO TEN YEARS AHEAD. AND SOME OF THE VERY COOL AREAS DON'T PAY YOU MUCH. AND SOMEDAY, MANY YEARS FROM NOW FROM YOUR CURRENT LIFE, YOUR INCOME IS GONNA MATTER.
No matter how much you try and explain it away right now.
This isnt a plug for anesthesia.
Its a plug for you to consider a medicine subspecialty.
While you still can......interventional rads, interventional cardiology, derm, orthopedics, GI, rad/onc, path, spine......
I didnt make the rules.
Choose wisely.
Last edited:
