Confused?!?!

[curls85]

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😕 Hey all...Ok so I didn't know in what forum to post this thread, I posted to same in the pre-medical...but regardless here goes.
I'm a junior Bioengineering Student. Even before college I knew I wanted to practice medicine. I don't have a family filled with doctors so I havn't had much exposure to "the scene." I'm and EMT so I do get to see some pretty interesting cases, but I'm sure not comparable.
So...to get to my point...I am taking a year off to shadow a few doctors, I have a gyno, osteopathic surg., cardio. surg., family pract, dentist, orthodontist, and oral surgeon. I'll prob. be able to shadow some ER and OR also. My problem is, i know deep down all I want to do is surgery, general surgery. I know that whatever I get into though, I will be happy because altimately I think any specialty will satisfy the reasons why I want to be a doc. My concern...I want a family...If I do surgery...I feel I won't be able to have a life. I understand my profession will be my life, but would I be able to have more?

So for that reason, I am seriously considering dentistry (surgery or orthodontics bc i love kids)...I am not saying its easier...becasue being in the top of the class at Med or Den. school is tough...so my question...do I have to pick family or profession? can I have both? Any thoughts or opinions would be appreciated...thanks for taking the time to read...means a lot 😕

 

[maksidaa]

It's s tough situation. I'm a guy and I still wondered the same things before I chose dentistry. I wanted to do something that involved surgery but i didn't want to go through countless years of schooling, specialty programs and then residencies before i could actually do anything. i also wanted to spend time with my family and kids while they were still kids and i wanted to have a life within the next four or five years. anyways, i picked dentistry b/c of several reasons. it has good hours if you're family oriented. if you want to do surgery, even as a general dentist you can do numerous types of procedures that involve cutting and stitching and things like that. and if you want to specialize as an oral surgeon it's only three more years after dental school which isn't bad. having kids in between or even after means you'll have to make some choices between your career and your family. but i think in dentistry you're afforded more flexibility over your own schedule and how much time you dedicate to both. good luck with your decision and give dentistry a serious look!

 

[maksidaa]

i forgot to add that going into pediatric dentistry might also interest you. there's a very low supply of ped. dent.'s and they are in extremely high demand. a good ped. dent. will always be needed and it will always be lucrative enough that you won't have to work but a few days a week if you don't want to and you can drop the kids off at school, go to work and be done in time to pick them up afterwards.

 

[curls85]

THANKS!!! and good luck