HealthConcerns about med schools

[Anthodite]

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Does anyone know if any med schools have physical requirement that requires lifting or strenuous exercise?

I can stand for a bit, but I cannot do tasks like lifting patients or equipment anymore due to struggling with my health this past year leading me to quit my healthcare career before it started (currently waiting on a billion lab tests after my yearly physical).

I don’t want to claim a disability yet before getting bloodwork back. But since I apply for the 26-27 cycle I thought I might as well rule out any potential schools that are not accommodating or strongly focused on physicality.

I’m just scared I have to rethink medicine as a career because I do not think I can ever do heavy lifting or standing for hours without getting tired with brain fog.

 

[Goro]

Heavy lifting, no
Stading in surgery for a long time? Maybe
Staying awake for a long time in residency? Required

 

[Moko]

Heavy lifting, no
Standing in surgery for a long time? Maybe
Staying awake for a long time in residency? Required

I agree with this. To add: a classmate of mine in medical school received accommodations during their rotations so they could take intermittent breaks to sit down. This was most relevant for their surgery rotation.

When I am the attending on a teaching team, I will occasionally receive emails from the clerkship director informing me that a student needs specific accommodations due to an unspecified condition. These emails are sent to ensure that students with disabilities and/or other conditions are not unfairly penalized when they need to leave early for an appointment or take occasional breaks. These actions may otherwise be misinterpreted as lacking enthusiasm or worse.

In terms of residencies, if you are unable to work for long periods of time (even with accommodations) without developing brain fog, that will significantly limit which specialties and programs you can apply to. Something else to consider. Just my thoughts.

 

[Anthodite]

I agree with this. To add: a classmate of mine in medical school received accommodations during their rotations so they could take intermittent breaks to sit down. This was most relevant for their surgery rotation.

When I am the attending on a teaching team, I will occasionally receive emails from the clerkship director informing me that a student needs specific accommodations due to an unspecified condition. These emails are sent to ensure that students with disabilities and/or other conditions are not unfairly penalized when they need to leave early for an appointment or take occasional breaks. These actions may otherwise be misinterpreted as lacking enthusiasm or worse.

In terms of residencies, if you are unable to work for long periods of time (even with accommodations) without developing brain fog, that will significantly limit which specialties and programs you can apply to. Something else to consider. Just my thoughts.

Thanks for the insight! It’s a relief to know there are others out there in the same position as me who are able to get accommodations and how they don’t disclose them in details. I will definitely keep my clinical supervisor in the loop this time around because I did get write ups for taking too many breaks or seeming tired.

I think I can live with not being able to be a surgeon or do fast-paced life/death situations, there’s so many fields out there I’m sure I’ll find something to love. I’ll definitely let my limitations guide me considering what to apply for residency programs.

Anyways thanks so much for sharing!!

 

[Hollow Knight]

With the limitations you described I see no reason why you can’t be a primary care physician, rheumatologist, allergist, etc.

Surgery would be tough. But even that is more a cultural thing, you could probably get help as an attending with some of the more physical stuff if you survived residency. I know surgery residents who work 120+ hours a week though (in 2025)

The thing is, even the “easier” fields (FM, IM, peds) require you going through a residency where you may work 28-36 hour shifts. You may work 36+ hour shifts as a medical student (we do at my school). I’m not trying to discourage you, it’s just something to think about. I think it’s silly, but I can’t say no. I smile and drink coffee and get through it, but I don’t have any medical conditions.

theoretically if you went to a not-toxic medical school and then a not-toxic residency with a night float system (as opposed to Q3 call) you’d be absolutely fine. Just make sure you prioritize that when applying to schools and residencies. Psych in particular is super chill

 

[gyngyn]

Medical schools are required to let applicants know their Technical Standards. You can usually find them on their webpage.
They may include mental, social, emotional and physical components. You may be required to attest to the possession of these qualities or capabilities.
In order to receive reasonable accommodations, you will need to divulge the disability (and any documentation of previous accommodations) to the office that handles these affairs.

 

[esob]

The chair of trauma surgery at my med school used a motorized wheelchair and still operated. You can do whatever you feel comfortable doing, but it is also essential to consider how your choice of specialty might impact your quality of life.

 

[cj_cregg]

Thanks for the insight! It’s a relief to know there are others out there in the same position as me who are able to get accommodations and how they don’t disclose them in details. I will definitely keep my clinical supervisor in the loop this time around because I did get write ups for taking too many breaks or seeming tired.

I think I can live with not being able to be a surgeon or do fast-paced life/death situations, there’s so many fields out there I’m sure I’ll find something to love. I’ll definitely let my limitations guide me considering what to apply for residency programs.

Anyways thanks so much for sharing!!

I do want to clarify a bit- the process of getting accommodations does require a diagnosis of some sort. While that diagnosis isn't disclosed to your school unless you want it to be, you have to have a condition, you have to have a qualifying disability for your doctor to be able to request those formal accommodations to which you are entitled through the ADA and your school's office for students with disabilities.

That said - while you are in the process of figuring out what's going on, I would hope you could just have a conversation with the clerkship director explaining you are dealing with health issues, still in the process of being worked up, but having difficulty with XYZ activities, and you'd be happy to get a note from your doctor to verify that if needed. I think most reasonable folks would be understanding.