Had to take time off between 3rd and 4th year to help my family. What do?

[LikeAStone]

Long story short, I am (was) an enrolled medical student in a US medical school. One of my parents had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers a little less than a year ago. **** hit the fan as far as finances, living situations, etc.

I thought it would be the best thing to take time off between third and fourth year to spend time with my Dad while he's still my Dad, and help my family get things settled. It would obviously be rather impossible if I decided to do this between graduating and internship, and I don't even know how it would work while in residency.

I'm not going into something overly competitive (Internal Medicine), but I want to keep the option of specializing after, just in case.

So what should I do with my time now that I'm here with my family? I made plans originally to do an observership with a doctor, but I just found out he wanted to charge me $60/hr for the privilege of following him around and doing research for him. Yes, he wants to charge me for doing research for him. This will amount to about $12,000 over 6 months, which is like tuition money. I am trying to negotiate with the guy, especially since Johns Hopkins charges about $100/week, but I want to figure out what options I have now that I'm kinda getting screwed by this doc.

I don't have research experience and wanted some during this down time, but it will be difficult to arrange on such short notice.

Are there any options open for me? I am in California.

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[Stellar Clouds]

Find a different IM doc who isn't an a**hole and doesn't charge you for the "privilege" of following him around and doing work for him. That seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Just contact others in local hospitals, explain your situation, and I'm sure you'll have no problem finding someone who will let you follow them around for free.

 

[munchymanRX]

Long story short, I am (was) an enrolled medical student in a US medical school. One of my parents had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers a little less than a year ago. **** hit the fan as far as finances, living situations, etc.

I thought it would be the best thing to take time off between third and fourth year to spend time with my Dad while he's still my Dad, and help my family get things settled. It would obviously be rather impossible if I decided to do this between graduating and internship, and I don't even know how it would work while in residency.

I'm not going into something overly competitive (Internal Medicine), but I want to keep the option of specializing after, just in case.

So what should I do with my time now that I'm here with my family? I made plans originally to do an observership with a doctor, but I just found out he wanted to charge me $60/hr for the privilege of following him around and doing research for him. Yes, he wants to charge me for doing research for him. This will amount to about $12,000 over 6 months, which is like tuition money. I am trying to negotiate with the guy, especially since Johns Hopkins charges about $100/week, but I want to figure out what options I have now that I'm kinda getting screwed by this doc.

I don't have research experience and wanted some during this down time, but it will be difficult to arrange on such short notice.

Are there any options open for me? I am in California.

Protip: he doesn't want you shadowing him. you'd have a miserable experience if you went through with it.
I'd do some research in the interim. Call around or look for job postings at research institutions.

 

[88845]

Long story short, I am (was) an enrolled medical student in a US medical school. One of my parents had been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers a little less than a year ago. **** hit the fan as far as finances, living situations, etc.

I thought it would be the best thing to take time off between third and fourth year to spend time with my Dad while he's still my Dad, and help my family get things settled. It would obviously be rather impossible if I decided to do this between graduating and internship, and I don't even know how it would work while in residency.

I'm not going into something overly competitive (Internal Medicine), but I want to keep the option of specializing after, just in case.

So what should I do with my time now that I'm here with my family? I made plans originally to do an observership with a doctor, but I just found out he wanted to charge me $60/hr for the privilege of following him around and doing research for him. Yes, he wants to charge me for doing research for him. This will amount to about $12,000 over 6 months, which is like tuition money. I am trying to negotiate with the guy, especially since Johns Hopkins charges about $100/week, but I want to figure out what options I have now that I'm kinda getting screwed by this doc.

I don't have research experience and wanted some during this down time, but it will be difficult to arrange on such short notice.

Are there any options open for me? I am in California.

What the f*ck?

 

[CDI]

I made plans originally to do an observership with a doctor, but I just found out he wanted to charge me $60/hr for the privilege of following him around and doing research for him.

For $60/hr you can get a board-certified IM locum tenens to cover your practice. I wonder if this doctor will even show up...

 

[evilbooyaa]

Don't pay someone to shadow them. There are tons of IM docs that would be happy to have a student shadow and do scut work for them for free.