Can Future Doctors Really Create Change in the Medical Profession? How?

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rmkhemraj

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As future doctors, we all enter this field with the goal of helping people—but what if we could do more? What if we could redefine what it means to be a physician, and create lasting changes in the medical profession? Whether it’s rethinking how we deliver care, tackling burnout, or shifting the patient-doctor relationship, there’s so much potential for us to lead the next wave of innovation in healthcare.

I'd love to hear your thoughts: What changes do you think are needed? And how do you see yourself contributing to the future of medicine?

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It's all covered here if you enroll. Well, just about.

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We also have a subforum on Healthcare topics which could use more discussions.
 
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It's all covered here if you enroll. Well, just about.

And read

We also have a subforum on Healthcare topics which could use more discussions.
Thank you for the suggestions, I am more interested in the conversation of the possibility of change in the medical system
 
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Thank you for the suggestions, I am more interested in the conversation of the possibility of change in the medical system
Let's start here. Understand the system where you are allowed to make change.


Secondly, your most important goal as a 1st year medical student is to PASS YOUR CLASSES. You will be much less effective to ask for change if you fail your classes.

Note the generational context and that asking others who have succeeded in life to change the rules will be difficult.


Discuss.
 
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“Don’t talk about it, be about it.”
You can start making changes in any number of ways on lots of different levels. I’ve participated in several multidisciplinary, multi institutional studies that lead to conclusions that changed practice and set the new standard of care. I regularly work with super specialized teams that make the impossible possible. These aren’t my projects, but I played my small part and it lead to great things.
Not everyone is in a position to do that. You can start your work hyper locally, or maybe work with politicians to change laws, raise awareness, run for office yourself, join the board of health, volunteer your time and expertise, lecture at the local college or maybe just give a presentation at the local high school(s) about whatever, etc. Look for problems and then find out who is also looking at that problem and join them. Remember the opener above. If you want to be a force for change, go be one.
 
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I’m on the legislative board for my state’s chapter of a certain specialty organization. You’d be surprised at how much you can get done by just sharing your story and calling your congressman.

Most of us probably hate politics, but I think our generation is going to have to be political. The only reason family medicine (for example) still exists as a specialty is that some awesome FM attendings went and lobbied Congress HARD for the past 10 years.

Also, like others said, be the change. I had a really hard time finding doctors to help me when I was a premed, so I’m going to make sure I help out the premeds in my area. And that will help the healthcare system in my area because I’ll be helping underserved individuals become physicians.

Etc etc

OH- I think Samuel Shem pretty much nailed it in his recent book. Basically, we’re all going to have to unionize. Not just physicians, but all healthcare workers. There’s no other way to compete with these mega corporations.

As far as toxicity in medical training…… I think we’re just gonna have to wait for all the boomers to retire. Sorry guys. Most of y’all are cool, but too many of you have convinced yourselves that 36+ hour shifts are ok. I don’t think we can fix that issue until those hardcore docs retire and the youngsters have more power in academics.
 
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Figure out a way to change our sick care system into better preventative health.
Chronic illness, obesity, and increasing rates of cancer are destroying America and nothing we are doing seems to be changing that. Problem #1 and the elephant in the room.
 
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