A goofy question possibly

[Round4]

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I am physical education major not becuase it's easy but I have a passion for sports and coaching sports. I coach AAU basketball team during the summers. Well my question is: Would one think it could be possible to be a Dr and a high school basketball coach? I have a deeper desire to be a Dr than a teacher, and if your only a coach and not a teacher well you will starve. If I couldn't balance the two it wouldn't bother me a whole lot but if I could that would be cool. I'm not sure of the typical Dr's day, so if anyone can please enlighten me. thanks in advance

 

[boaz]

The typical doctor's day doesn't allow for much time to do sports coaching. Also, during the training years (med school + residency + fellowship) there will be NO time for it, and by the time you're done your interest in it may have disappeared. However, once you're a practicing physician you'll have time on your days off if it's a true passion. But keep in mind that it's going to be more like a hobby than a simultaneous career.

 

[Mobius1985]

I agree that during the med school/training years you won't have much time to coach and your schedule will not be flexible enough to squeeze it in regularly. After your residency training is done, certain types of specialty might be very amenible to a regular coaching schedule, like shift-work docs (ER med, hospitalist, intensivist, neonatology). You might also be interested in being a family physician who specializes in sports medicine (additional certification training after completing a family practice residency) who does not do general care, just consultations. We have a guy like this in my home town who is very successful, affiliated with some orthopedists, sets his own hours, and has little on-call responsibility.

 

[ArkansasRanger]

Depending on your specialty and other commitments you may could have time to coach a community league or assist with a school's program. That's years down the road most likely.

If you want to be a doctor focus on that. You can always play later.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Be a doctor and coach your son/daughter's little league team. There just won't be enough time to be a good coach and doctor both on professional type levels.