Hope for the future of medicine?

[lymphohystiocytosis]

I agree with you. I was more referring to @lymphohystiocytosis.

Oh no, the chief of the SDN cynics thinks I'm ignorant for thinking SDN cynics are somewhat out of touch with reality!

We don't need to get into this fight. Some people see the 'real' face of medicine in third year and hate it and feel abused and disenfranchised. Some people (like me) go through third year and love it despite its problems. You'll be happy doing what you're doing, I'll be happy doing what I'm doing. But I do think SDN dramatically over-represents the dissatisfied elements of our population.

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[PL198]

LOL THE RIGHT REASONS. Nothing like passing judgement on someone for the exact same end result. I don't care if someone chooses to be a doctor because a doctor saved their entire direct family, or because they think the MD after their name will get them made betchez. <- lol

If they are good at their job, the end result is the same.

 

[boogaloo]

I meant the school admins and my parents.

Also, I don't think I can realistically get into Rads, tbh. PMR, Path, Psych are possible I guess.

PM&R is a possibility, but it's slowly getting more competitive and you need good social skills. A bunch of my friends from college went into rads (still competitive, IMO) and path, but I think those specialties cater to people who can memorize a lot of things efficiently.

Oh no, the chief of the SDN cynics thinks I'm ignorant for thinking SDN cynics are somewhat out of touch with reality!

We don't need to get into this fight. Some people see the 'real' face of medicine in third year and hate it and feel abused and disenfranchised. Some people (like me) go through third year and love it despite its problems. You'll be happy doing what you're doing, I'll be happy doing what I'm doing. But I do think SDN dramatically over-represents the dissatisfied elements of our population.

Probably, but that's what you should expect when you give people the ability to voice their frustrations anonymously and without repercussions (most of the time). Some of the crap I complain about or say on here doesn't really bother me in real life, but it feels good to say or exaggerate how I feel sometimes--like how third year is just a time in your life where the nurses and scrub techs gain permission to treat you like you're sub-human (it really hasn't been that bad).

 

[Arkangeloid]

Bc you said you had Asperger's. Part of clinical medicine is dealing with stuff that isn't science all the time, unlike say Pathology or Radiology.

Eh, I don't mind non-sciency things, but I do mind spending too long talking to people.

PM&R is a possibility, but it's slowly getting more competitive and you need good social skills. A bunch of my friends from college went into rads (still competitive, IMO) and path, but I think those specialties cater to people who can memorize a lot of things efficiently.

Why would PMR be getting more competitive?

LOL THE RIGHT REASONS. Nothing like passing judgement on someone for the exact same end result. I don't care if someone chooses to be a doctor because a doctor saved their entire direct family, or because they think the MD after their name will get them made betchez. <- lol

If they are good at their job, the end result is the same.

Guilty as charged.

 

[DermViser]

Eh, I don't mind non-sciency things, but I do mind spending too long talking to people.

Yes, and residencies like Pediatrics and IM involve more talking - taking a history, yada yada. It's 3 years of that before you can get to do a more focused subspecialty.

Why would PMR be getting more competitive?

Lifestyle. It's not as if there's a sudden interest in musculoskeletal complaints.

 

[Mad Jack]

Oh no, the chief of the SDN cynics thinks I'm ignorant for thinking SDN cynics are somewhat out of touch with reality!

We don't need to get into this fight. Some people see the 'real' face of medicine in third year and hate it and feel abused and disenfranchised. Some people (like me) go through third year and love it despite its problems. You'll be happy doing what you're doing, I'll be happy doing what I'm doing. But I do think SDN dramatically over-represents the dissatisfied elements of our population.

Hey now, he is definitely not the chief of the SDN cynics. That title definitely goes to BLADEMDA.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Lifestyle. It's not as if there's a sudden interest in musculoskeletal complaints.

On that same note, do you think Psych will get more and more competitive in the future because of a focus on lifestyle?

 

[postbacpremed87]

On that same note, do you think Psych will get more and more competitive in the future because of a focus on lifestyle?

I think there will be a slight to moderate increase in its competitiveness, but not enough to fill the demand gap. There is a huge shortage and it takes a unique personality.

 

[circulus vitios]

The money is still good, I think. Unless you have an HPY/MIT/Stanford education, you don't have a realistic shot of making $200k/year+ with any sense of stability or lifestyle. Medicine still offers that.

 

[Sephiroth]

I think there will be a slight to moderate increase in its competitiveness, but not enough to fill the demand gap. There is a huge shortage and it takes a unique personality.

I've wondered about this too. People on here seem to talk up psych due to the relative ease to practice independently and take or decline to take whatever insurance you want. And it's interesting that you say that about the type of personality, because I'd say you're right, but I've also noticed a large chunk of psychiatrists are foreign. The one I'm seeing now is, and he's good for the most part, but I wonder if people with more serious/personal problems would have a strong preference for someone with a more similar cultural background. It also will depend on reimbursement. Given the greater public concern for mental health in light of increased occurrence of these violent attacks, there may be more widespread call to put more into it (cuz right now access really does suck).

 

[Arkangeloid]

I've wondered about this too. People on here seem to talk up psych due to the relative ease to practice independently and take or decline to take whatever insurance you want. And it's interesting that you say that about the type of personality, because I'd say you're right, but I've also noticed a large chunk of psychiatrists are foreign. The one I'm seeing now is, and he's good for the most part, but I wonder if people with more serious/personal problems would have a strong preference for someone with a more similar cultural background. It also will depend on reimbursement. Given the greater public concern for mental health in light of increased occurrence of these violent attacks, there may be more widespread call to put more into it (cuz right now access really does suck).

Incidentally, this is why multiple people have told me to avoid Psych, because Americans do not like Indians, and will not see an Indian psychiatrist if they can avoid it.

 

[circulus vitios]

Incidentally, this is why multiple people have told me to avoid Psych, because Americans do not like Indians, and will not see an Indian psychiatrist if they can avoid it.

Uhhh, I think they dislike the accent more than they dislike the nationality...and that really applies to any ESL clinician.

 

[Sephiroth]

Incidentally, this is why multiple people have told me to avoid Psych, because Americans do not like Indians, and will not see an Indian psychiatrist if they can avoid it.

I don't know how true that is, but i guess trying to think like a stereotypical white american that might have this sentiment, is your accent very Indian or do you have an american accent? And is your name really Indian, or a bit more anglicanized (or do you go by a nickname like Sal or something)?

 

[Psai]

Hey now, he is definitely not the chief of the SDN cynics. That title definitely goes to BLADEMDA.

BladeMDA earned that right.

 

[circulus vitios]

Hey now, he is definitely not the chief of the SDN cynics. That title definitely goes to BLADEMDA.

No, I think Consigliere is the worst.

 

[Arkangeloid]

I don't know how true that is, but i guess trying to think like a stereotypical white american that might have this sentiment, is your accent very Indian or do you have an american accent? And is your name really Indian, or a bit more anglicanized (or do you go by a nickname like Sal or something)?

Zero accent, but my name is about as Indian as it gets lol.

 

[DermViser]

Hey now, he is definitely not the chief of the SDN cynics. That title definitely goes to BLADEMDA.

And as a full-fledged attending he has EARNED the right to be very cynical esp. with the specialty he's in.

 

[DermViser]

Incidentally, this is why multiple people have told me to avoid Psych, because Americans do not like Indians, and will not see an Indian psychiatrist if they can avoid it.

Makes no sense. Why would the race of the clinician wanted be different in Psych vs. say Internal Medicine or Peds?

 

[DermViser]

Oh no, the chief of the SDN cynics thinks I'm ignorant for thinking SDN cynics are somewhat out of touch with reality!

We don't need to get into this fight. Some people see the 'real' face of medicine in third year and hate it and feel abused and disenfranchised. Some people (like me) go through third year and love it despite its problems. You'll be happy doing what you're doing, I'll be happy doing what I'm doing. But I do think SDN dramatically over-represents the dissatisfied elements of our population.

I have no reason whatsoever, to be cynical. Realistic yes, cynical no.

 

[Mad Jack]

And as a full-fledged attending he has EARNED the right to be very cynical esp. with the specialty he's in.

Oh he definitely has every right to be cynical. Anesthesiology, as a field, became really depressing really fast.

In regard to yourself, I don't think you're a cynic so much as a realist

 

[PL198]

Makes no sense. Why would the race of the clinician wanted be different in Psych vs. say Internal Medicine or Peds?

Well this I sorta understand. I think psych is the most personal, so connecting with your patient on an ethnic level even probably means more than medicine where I think most patients would feel if they know the material, then they are fine with whatever ethnicity the physician is. Not saying I agree, but I can see where some would come from to say this. As something gets more and more personal(I'd call psych more abstract and personal than medicine), I think some patients would want a closer and closer match in terms of their physician.

 

[DermViser]

Well this I sorta understand. I think psych is the most personal, so connecting with your patient on an ethnic level even probably means more than medicine where I think most patients would feel if they know the material, then they are fine with whatever ethnicity the physician is. Not saying I agree, but I can see where some would come from to say this. As something gets more and more personal(I'd call psych more abstract and personal than medicine), I think some patients would want a closer and closer match in terms of their physician.

Most patients just want a psychiatrist who is a good & active listener, and helps them to be able to overcome whatever they have: anxiety, depression, adjustment disorder etc.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

Hey now, he is definitely not the chief of the SDN cynics. That title definitely goes to BLADEMDA.

I don't think BLADE is even top 5 most cynical on only the anesthesia forum. There are definitely more cynical people on that forum, who also contribute a lot less useful stuff than BLADE.

Would be kind of interesting to make a "who is the most cynical on SDN?" thread though.

 

[DermViser]

I don't think BLADE is even top 5 most cynical on only the anesthesia forum. There are definitely more cynical people on that forum, who also contribute a lot less useful stuff than BLADE.

Would be kind of interesting to make a "who is the most cynical on SDN?" thread though.

PandaMD /endquestion.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

PandaMD /endquestion.

Seeing his posts/blog get more and more bitter was really depressing. I liked that guy.

 

[DermViser]

Seeing his posts/blog get more and more bitter was really depressing. I liked that guy.

Very true. My understanding is that he was an Emergency Medicine physician, so I wasn't too surprised. Burnout is rampant in that specialty, and not just bc of the hours either.

 

[Mad Jack]

I don't think BLADE is even top 5 most cynical on only the anesthesia forum. There are definitely more cynical people on that forum, who also contribute a lot less useful stuff than BLADE.

Would be kind of interesting to make a "who is the most cynical on SDN?" thread though.

It's not that he's the most cynical, it's that he's the best at being cynical while also not being unbearable IMO. That's a very hard thing to pull off.

Most cynical? That's a much harder thing to decide.

 

[NontradCA]

No, I think Consigliere is the worst.

At least tag them together so they can **** on medicine together. Cynics, assemble.

 

[Lucca]

Very true. My understanding is that he was an Emergency Medicine physician, so I wasn't too surprised. Burnout is rampant in that specialty, and not just bc of the hours either.

Have you read Agraphia? I have been since high school even though it's updated rather infrequently.

It's amazing to go back to the very beginning and see a young, naive, immature medical student become jaded and serious as he goes from MedSchool--->Academic Trauma 1 ---> Rural/Suburban Attending. Some of the stories are truly moving, some are just bitter and sad, and some are hilarious. I don't think the writing is as interesting to read as Panda's but it's definitely good. He seems to be, ultimately, happy with his job though so good on him for that.

edit: This post has always stuck with me when I'm volunteering or shadowing in the ED.

 

[DermViser]

I would be worried about US school tuition getting higher and higher not correlated to inflation and how residency slots have not expanded even though schools are graduating more MD's. You could cuts corners by taking the filler Gen Ed courses in community college, getting an undergrad degree that offers good employment while you enter med school, cut your undergrad debt to zero if you can and consider closer med schools or whatever school has the most generous fin aid package. Whatever happens in med school take your choice of residency seriously considering current population statistics. Many specialties are getting hotter each year such as Geriatrics and Rehabilitation medicine because there are more elderly people and not enough specialists that specialize in this age group. I bet psychiatrics specializing in depression and in the geriatric group will also grow. Ortho, Oncology and Optho specializing in cataract surgery will always remain popular if there are more elderly people. Not to say never ever do pediatric if that is what you love, you do keep in mind if a country has less children, you may have to consider moving to a rural area.

I think these are very important questions many 1st year med students are not doing because of lack of information.

 

[Sephiroth]

I would be worried about US school tuition getting higher and higher not correlated to inflation and how residency slots have not expanded even though schools are graduating more MD's. You could cuts corners by taking the filler Gen Ed courses in community college, getting an undergrad degree that offers good employment while you enter med school, cut your undergrad debt to zero if you can and consider closer med schools or whatever school has the most generous fin aid package. Whatever happens in med school take your choice of residency seriously considering current population statistics. Many specialties are getting hotter each year such as Geriatrics and Rehabilitation medicine because there are more elderly people and not enough specialists that specialize in this age group. I bet psychiatrics specializing in depression and in the geriatric group will also grow. Ortho, Oncology and Optho specializing in cataract surgery will always remain popular if there are more elderly people. Not to say never ever do pediatric if that is what you love, you do keep in mind if a country has less children, you may have to consider moving to a rural area.

I think these are very important questions many 1st year med students are not doing because of lack of information.

Get a degree in biomedical engineering (or a different engineering if you can still manage to fit in the med school prereqs), move to texas to work, get in-state status, enjoy having what, 7?, in-state medical schools all with really low tuition and cheap COL. And you also have BCM which I believe gives some preference to Texas residents.

 

[Lucca]

Get a degree in biomedical engineering (or a different engineering if you can still manage to fit in the med school prereqs), move to texas to work, get in-state status, enjoy having what, 7?, in-state medical schools all with really low tuition and cheap COL. And you also have BCM which I believe gives some preference to Texas residents.

*Strong* preference to in state students. Regardless, everyone accepted there is just as competitive as their OOS counterparts.

In a couple of years Dell will open in Austin as well.

 

[anbuitachi]

My advisor (director of cardiology at a big school) told me to think of it like this. The future of medicine is going to get worse/much tighter, but the next generations of doctors will have it even worse! So at least your life won't be the as bad as theirs

 

[DermViser]

My advisor (director of cardiology at a big school) told me to think of it like this. The future of medicine is going to get worse/much tighter, but the next generations of doctors will have it even worse! So at least your life won't be the as bad as theirs

I highly recommend NP, PA, or Dentistry if that's the case.

 

[punkedoutriffs]

Did the "future" of medicine ever carry hope? Any old timers want to chime in?

 

[WestCoastNative]

Not sure if going into medicine is as horrible as you guys make it out to be or if SDN is just full of gunners that are trying to lessen the competition absolutely as much as possible.. I mean if all this is actually true that what can possibly justify going into medicine? Damn.. is it really getting this bad?

 

[DermViser]

Not sure if going into medicine is as horrible as you guys make it out to be or if SDN is just full of gunners that are trying to lessen the competition absolutely as much as possible.. I mean if all this is actually true that what can possibly justify going into medicine? Damn.. is it really getting this bad?

It really must be that horrible, since you considered it necessary to bump up and resurrect a thread whose back and forth on the topic ended back in May and failed to notice many of the people answering were med students and residents who have no nefarious motive to lessen the competition to get into med school considering they're already past that stage.

 

[WestCoastNative]

It really must be that horrible, since you considered it necessary to bump up and resurrect a thread whose back and forth on the topic ended back in May and failed to notice many of the people answering were med students and residents who have no nefarious motive to lessen the competition to get into med school considering they're already past that stage.

Feel better?

 

[FIREitUP]

Ok, now that the exam's over, I'll elaborate on what I meant.

Back in college, we were all hotshots. So naturally, we go into med school thinking we're still going to still be hotshots. Except not everyone can achieve that. Some people shine, and other people suffer.

If you shine, medicine is worth it I think. But if you suffer, it's really not. Especially when you could have shined somewhere else.

this is surprisingly a really good post. poor ark

 

[DermViser]

this is surprisingly a really good post. poor ark

Surprisingly he did have some good, introspective posts interspersed among some bad ones.

 

[Psai]

Surprisingly he did have some good, introspective posts interspersed among some bad ones.

BISHES MANG

 

[DermViser]

BISHES MANG

You mean going HAM on bishes mang.

 

[Lysinee]

The future of medicine doesn't look too bright.

Guess I should stop dreaming of buying a M5 or AMG series car, and have to settle for a cheaper CTS-V.

 

[PL198]

M5s costs 100K+, there aren't many doctors that can realistically afford that. inb4 another person that thinks someone that makes 250K a year can have a million dollar house and 100K car and save a decent amount of money for retirement

 

[Lawgiver]

yeah it sucks. please get out before you start and convince as many of your peers to do the same. engineering is where its at.

 

[anbuitachi]

M5s costs 100K+, there aren't many doctors that can realistically afford that. inb4 another person that thinks someone that makes 250K a year can have a million dollar house and 100K car and save a decent amount of money for retirement

wtf i wont be able to buy a lamb?