MD Lost all motivation and interest in medicine - need specialty recommendations

[Cute_Boy_4_u_69]

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Hello

I have bolded the important points, for those who don't like reading walls of texts

I am a M3

Entered med school with a lot of drive to do well, to do right by patients, and a wide variety of fields such as EM, Rad-Onc, cardiology, ophtho, gen surg seemed interesting to me

After several clinical rotations I have found myself disinterested in most patients, most disease processes, most pharmacological and surgical therapy. I would say my IM rotation is the straw that snapped the camels back, as I finally began to understand what American healthcare is like. American healthcare as a physician is difficult to describe to pre-meds and pre-clinical med students, easy to understand once you're in it, and I lack the eloquence to even try to put my feelings into words. But I am sure other M3/4s, residents, fellows, and attendings know what I am talking about. I thought I would be interested in surgery but even pre-reading Pestana's is a chore. I can't find myself excited about the usual causes of fever on various post-operative days.

At this point I need to just finish, do a residency (preferably shortish), and start making $ to pay off my loans and prepare an exit strategy from American medicine. Possible ideas include being a bush pilot in Alaska (can pick up locums gigs over there or a set 2 on/2 off schedule, I'm sure), emigrating to somewhere like Australia / Dubai (where doctors do doctor work, nurses do nurse's work, and there aren't nearly as many administrative leeches), cruise ship medicine (seems like a pretty cush gig.. Senior officer's quarters, a cabin steward who cleans your room each day, excellent dining for free) or a different career altogether.

What fields have a relatively short training period and/or a required knowledge base that doesn't take hours and hours of reading after work?

I know this sounds lazy and unmotivated and I probably have underlying mental health issues contributing to the burn-out I am feeling. I just need some light at the end of this tunnel.

 

[Dr. Doctor MD]

Hello

I have bolded the important points, for those who don't like reading walls of texts

I am a M3

Entered med school with a lot of drive to do well, to do right by patients, and a wide variety of fields such as EM, Rad-Onc, cardiology, ophtho, gen surg seemed interesting to me

After several clinical rotations I have found myself disinterested in most patients, most disease processes, most pharmacological and surgical therapy. I would say my IM rotation is the straw that snapped the camels back, as I finally began to understand what American healthcare is like. American healthcare as a physician is difficult to describe to pre-meds and pre-clinical med students, easy to understand once you're in it, and I lack the eloquence to even try to put my feelings into words. But I am sure other M3/4s, residents, fellows, and attendings know what I am talking about. I thought I would be interested in surgery but even pre-reading Pestana's is a chore. I can't find myself excited about the usual causes of fever on various post-operative days.

At this point I need to just finish, do a residency (preferably shortish), and start making $ to pay off my loans and prepare an exit strategy from American medicine. Possible ideas include being a bush pilot in Alaska (can pick up locums gigs over there or a set 2 on/2 off schedule, I'm sure), emigrating to somewhere like Australia / Dubai (where doctors do doctor work, nurses do nurse's work, and there aren't nearly as many administrative leeches), cruise ship medicine (seems like a pretty cush gig.. Senior officer's quarters, a cabin steward who cleans your room each day, excellent dining for free) or a different career altogether.

What fields have a relatively short training period and/or a required knowledge base that doesn't take hours and hours of reading after work?

I know this sounds lazy and unmotivated and I probably have underlying mental health issues contributing to the burn-out I am feeling. I just need some light at the end of this tunnel.

Emergency medicine
-One of the shortest residencies in existence
-Excellent compensation
-One of the least hours of work per week
-Shift work, no continuity of care
-Can take vacations as needed, lots of flexibility
-Reading is important in all fields, but as a generalist in the ED you're going to get damn good at stabilizing patients and don't have to worry as much about knowing every single rare disease like specialists have to.

 

[Save a life]

Hello

I have bolded the important points, for those who don't like reading walls of texts

I am a M3

Entered med school with a lot of drive to do well, to do right by patients, and a wide variety of fields such as EM, Rad-Onc, cardiology, ophtho, gen surg seemed interesting to me

After several clinical rotations I have found myself disinterested in most patients, most disease processes, most pharmacological and surgical therapy. I would say my IM rotation is the straw that snapped the camels back, as I finally began to understand what American healthcare is like. American healthcare as a physician is difficult to describe to pre-meds and pre-clinical med students, easy to understand once you're in it, and I lack the eloquence to even try to put my feelings into words. But I am sure other M3/4s, residents, fellows, and attendings know what I am talking about. I thought I would be interested in surgery but even pre-reading Pestana's is a chore. I can't find myself excited about the usual causes of fever on various post-operative days.

At this point I need to just finish, do a residency (preferably shortish), and start making $ to pay off my loans and prepare an exit strategy from American medicine. Possible ideas include being a bush pilot in Alaska (can pick up locums gigs over there or a set 2 on/2 off schedule, I'm sure), emigrating to somewhere like Australia / Dubai (where doctors do doctor work, nurses do nurse's work, and there aren't nearly as many administrative leeches), cruise ship medicine (seems like a pretty cush gig.. Senior officer's quarters, a cabin steward who cleans your room each day, excellent dining for free) or a different career altogether.

What fields have a relatively short training period and/or a required knowledge base that doesn't take hours and hours of reading after work?

I know this sounds lazy and unmotivated and I probably have underlying mental health issues contributing to the burn-out I am feeling. I just need some light at the end of this tunnel.

I understand you feel burned out and disinterested but can you be a bit more specific. Tell me a little more and I might be able to suggest some ideas.

If you want less reading and residency, I’d say all 3 year residencies would fine. I don’t think most psychiatrists, ER doc, family medicine docs, peds, etc spend hours and hours reading after work. People have lives outside of work. You’re always going to have to read before you take boards or if there is major guidelines shift in practice but in general there is no reason to spend countless hours reading.

 

[atomi]

Psychiatry.

 

[Goro]

Hello

I have bolded the important points, for those who don't like reading walls of texts

I am a M3

Entered med school with a lot of drive to do well, to do right by patients, and a wide variety of fields such as EM, Rad-Onc, cardiology, ophtho, gen surg seemed interesting to me

After several clinical rotations I have found myself disinterested in most patients, most disease processes, most pharmacological and surgical therapy. I would say my IM rotation is the straw that snapped the camels back, as I finally began to understand what American healthcare is like. American healthcare as a physician is difficult to describe to pre-meds and pre-clinical med students, easy to understand once you're in it, and I lack the eloquence to even try to put my feelings into words. But I am sure other M3/4s, residents, fellows, and attendings know what I am talking about. I thought I would be interested in surgery but even pre-reading Pestana's is a chore. I can't find myself excited about the usual causes of fever on various post-operative days.

At this point I need to just finish, do a residency (preferably shortish), and start making $ to pay off my loans and prepare an exit strategy from American medicine. Possible ideas include being a bush pilot in Alaska (can pick up locums gigs over there or a set 2 on/2 off schedule, I'm sure), emigrating to somewhere like Australia / Dubai (where doctors do doctor work, nurses do nurse's work, and there aren't nearly as many administrative leeches), cruise ship medicine (seems like a pretty cush gig.. Senior officer's quarters, a cabin steward who cleans your room each day, excellent dining for free) or a different career altogether.

What fields have a relatively short training period and/or a required knowledge base that doesn't take hours and hours of reading after work?

I know this sounds lazy and unmotivated and I probably have underlying mental health issues contributing to the burn-out I am feeling. I just need some light at the end of this tunnel.

Get thee to your school's counseling center.

 

[doc05]

Just graduate and don't do a residency. Use your remaining time to do some networking and find a career outside of clinical medicine.

 

[Lnsean]

Hello

I have bolded the important points, for those who don't like reading walls of texts

I am a M3

Entered med school with a lot of drive to do well, to do right by patients, and a wide variety of fields such as EM, Rad-Onc, cardiology, ophtho, gen surg seemed interesting to me

After several clinical rotations I have found myself disinterested in most patients, most disease processes, most pharmacological and surgical therapy. I would say my IM rotation is the straw that snapped the camels back, as I finally began to understand what American healthcare is like. American healthcare as a physician is difficult to describe to pre-meds and pre-clinical med students, easy to understand once you're in it, and I lack the eloquence to even try to put my feelings into words. But I am sure other M3/4s, residents, fellows, and attendings know what I am talking about. I thought I would be interested in surgery but even pre-reading Pestana's is a chore. I can't find myself excited about the usual causes of fever on various post-operative days.

At this point I need to just finish, do a residency (preferably shortish), and start making $ to pay off my loans and prepare an exit strategy from American medicine. Possible ideas include being a bush pilot in Alaska (can pick up locums gigs over there or a set 2 on/2 off schedule, I'm sure), emigrating to somewhere like Australia / Dubai (where doctors do doctor work, nurses do nurse's work, and there aren't nearly as many administrative leeches), cruise ship medicine (seems like a pretty cush gig.. Senior officer's quarters, a cabin steward who cleans your room each day, excellent dining for free) or a different career altogether.

What fields have a relatively short training period and/or a required knowledge base that doesn't take hours and hours of reading after work?

I know this sounds lazy and unmotivated and I probably have underlying mental health issues contributing to the burn-out I am feeling. I just need some light at the end of this tunnel.

Perfect fit for EM tbh like the other poster said. EM offers so much flexibility for you to pursue other interests...you can go to west coast, east coast, middle of nowhere and still be viable for jobs. You see patients in short spurts...no continuity...none of that IM bs stuff.

 

[Tenk]

Emergency medicine fits the bill and allows for a large amount of travel. One of my buddies who is single and a class below me is posting pictures from a different continent like every single month. We work hard, play hard. Even better, you won’t need to worry about contemplating all this philosophical crap in the ED because quite frankly you won’t have time! Then when your shift is done it’s truly done. Collect your check and go!

 

[radsisrad]

Telepsych is a great gig if you don't need to earn 400k/yr to be satisfied.