Thanks man!
Why not DO:
I knew I didn't want to be a generalist, and looking at match statistics If I matched I knew it was either PEDS, FP, IM or If I was above the average and scored well in USMLE then it was either GEN SURG., DIAG. RAD., or ER MED. The only I could consider was ER MED, mostly because you can't beat the off time of only working 14 days a month or less. I am the type of guy that likes to work hard and rest hard too. Problem with this one, wife was not ok with overnight shifts and there is no workaround this one, unless you are 10+ years in. I value highly what my wife has to say since we are in this together, so this was a no go.
Why not MD:
First, I went into taking the MCAT with the mindset of doing podiatry. This was my first time taking it and I was shooting for a 500 because that is what I needed. Not bragging, but I feel confident I could score a 508 by approaching the exam with a better strategy. Realistically, I don't think I could get above a 508 no matter how many times I take it. Anything higher than that, probably just luck. I digress.
Anyways, the point is with MD even though the field of specialties could have been wide open, it was ortho or bust for me. Again, looking at the match I couldn't confidently tell you I was going to be motivated to do the amount of research, pubs and get the USMLE scores to go with getting a residency spot. And if I was ever good enough for a spot, then I had to get through that monster of residency (considering amount of years too). Combine these two... and something very important in my life was going to have to give. Personally not worth it for me, but definitely for others smarter, more talented or that are just like me but are willing to give up way more in life than I envisioned for myself.
Why Podiatry:
I always knew if it wasn't ER MED, I 100% wanted to do surgery at some level. Podiatry allows me the opportunity to do surgery and be a specialist which is what I wanted. If I ever did ortho, I would have no doubt done a fellowship. I like the idea of being the best at what I do, and have confidence in saying it. For me medicine is so vast and complex, that it is more practical to invest all your time, effort and money at being great at something than just average at a few things. I've looked at surveys and listened to many physicians, and most will tell you: their quotient of happiness and satisfaction greatly increased when they felt they were doing the best job at what they were doing and felt they did it the most efficiently, and I can relate to this. Of course there is always outliers.
I love what podiatry offers, I literally shadowed 7 different podiatrists and they were all different. One guy was literally what we hear on these forums: what was your sugar this morning? how is your family? while clipping toenails, next door over in 10min or less. Then another podiatrist (younger guy), was literally seeing post op after post op after post op...a little ingrown toenail and wound care here and there, and 2.5 days per week in the OR, and yearly medical trip to provide surgical intervention for under-served kids outside the U.S. And with the rest of the doctors, I saw everything in between. I guess being "just a podiatrist" doesn't bother me because I don't plan on measuring my future income with MD's, but rather against my ability to pay my loans and provide for my family. At the end of the day I decided to go into this profession because I saw that there was a need, and I thought I could fill that need being happy and great at it. Now I am just hoping I become more altruistic as the years go by.