Meaningful Work?

[moosepatrol77]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was watching Inside Bill's Brain the other day on Netflix and started thinking about my overall contribution to society. This guy is working towards clean water, sewage treatment, polio, and HIV elimination with me just jacking around on the internet. I love being a pathologist and enjoy my work, but I often contemplate if I'm doing enough to make the world a better place than how I found it. I realize I'm monumentally lucky by being in the US, owning my house, and living very comfortably in good health. It's crazy to me that people are still dying of diarrhea in the 21st century and I feel a little complicit as a doctor who isn't working to alleviate suffering among the most vulnerable.

Maybe I'm being too existential, but does anyone else think about this stuff? I realize I can't do the heroic doctors without borders stuff as a pathologist, but I wish I could do more for people that need it.

 

[Zarniwoop]

The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning. It's to keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually you'll be dead.
-- Mr Peanutbutter

 

[Dro133]

Only an MS4, so established pathologists may have better/more realistic ideas, but here are a few ways I can think of to help...

- get involved with research? For example, looking for imaging features/molecular markers to better guide treatment selection for a variety of cancers...I feel like that would be a big contribution to society. If you're not heavy into research, I'm sure there are groups out there that could use a pathologist for annotating images...
- There must be a shortage of qualified pathologists serving developing countries, no? On the interview trail I've met academic pathologists who spend some of their time remotely diagnosing biopsies from developing countries via digital path.
- Help out by donating money rather than time. I recommend the book "The Most Good You Can Do" by Peter Singer for an interesting discussion on this.

 

[Guest8]

Don't feel too bad comparing yourself to Bill Gates. He's in a slightly better financial situation than us in regards to how much he can help the world. Agree with those above - donate money to good causes. Partners in Health, Doctors without Borders, etc. See if you can do telepath for developing countries. But in the end keep in mind that things are pretty dark - everyone that has ever lived has died or will die. We're all shoveling **** against the tide and nobody's going to save them all. So remember to enjoy yourself as well.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Go to a rural area, make good money as a pathologist, start businesses and employ as many people as you can. You are a 1 percenter* and this is what you are supposed to do.

*Not to be confused with a 1 percenter motorcycle club

 

[Unty]

Depends if rural area will pay you well as a pathologist. Some rural places still pay you average salary despite a small caseload.

 

[WEBB PINKERTON]

Cost of living is cheap so average salary goes farther. Use your money to start businesses, rental properties etc. You can live like a king and make millions yearly.

 

[D1b()4]

Cost of living is cheap so average salary goes farther. Use your money to start businesses, rental properties etc. You can live like a king and make millions yearly.

The cost of living is not that much lower unless you are comparing with major metropolitan areas (e.g. LA, NYC, Seattle). There are plenty of urban areas where the cost of living is very comparable to rural areas. You are also limiting yourself to suboptimal dating pool, healthcare, and other services. It only makes sense to go rural if you get a much better salary.

 

[LADoc00]

I love the optimism of the original post. Reminds me of my kindergarten aged daughter.

Dont worry, that feeling WILL pass. You will end up embittered, staring over at 9+ billion humans, endless homeless camps, crowded misery and suffering, relentless bureaucratic attacks that will render you with no more volition than collared dog at the park being taken for a forced walk.

Unless you have the power to bring down a comet or something to end it all, I doubt there is much you can do to "make the world a better place."

But yah, be the way you are for as long you as possibly can, that's what I tell my daughter.

 

[moosepatrol77]

Only an MS4, so established pathologists may have better/more realistic ideas, but here are a few ways I can think of to help...

- get involved with research? For example, looking for imaging features/molecular markers to better guide treatment selection for a variety of cancers...I feel like that would be a big contribution to society. If you're not heavy into research, I'm sure there are groups out there that could use a pathologist for annotating images...
- There must be a shortage of qualified pathologists serving developing countries, no? On the interview trail I've met academic pathologists who spend some of their time remotely diagnosing biopsies from developing countries via digital path.
- Help out by donating money rather than time. I recommend the book "The Most Good You Can Do" by Peter Singer for an interesting discussion on this.

I had been reading on The Most Good You Can Do. There's some interesting ideas there and I enjoyed how he was putting some numbers to what can turn into a very qualitative discussion.

 

[gbwillner]

The universe is a cruel, uncaring void. The key to being happy isn't a search for meaning. It's to keep yourself busy with unimportant nonsense, and eventually you'll be dead.
-- Mr Peanutbutter

This is pretty hilarious right here. I should have watched this show for more than 1 episode I could not get through.

 

[octopusprime]

I love the optimism of the original post. Reminds me of my kindergarten aged daughter.

Dont worry, that feeling WILL pass. You will end up embittered, staring over at 9+ billion humans, endless homeless camps, crowded misery and suffering, relentless bureaucratic attacks that will render you with no more volition than collared dog at the park being taken for a forced walk.

Unless you have the power to bring down a comet or something to end it all, I doubt there is much you can do to "make the world a better place."

But yah, be the way you are for as long you as possibly can, that's what I tell my daughter.

SMOD 2020

 

[CDX-2]

I was watching Inside Bill's Brain the other day on Netflix and started thinking about my overall contribution to society. This guy is working towards clean water, sewage treatment, polio, and HIV elimination with me just jacking around on the internet. I love being a pathologist and enjoy my work, but I often contemplate if I'm doing enough to make the world a better place than how I found it. I realize I'm monumentally lucky by being in the US, owning my house, and living very comfortably in good health. It's crazy to me that people are still dying of diarrhea in the 21st century and I feel a little complicit as a doctor who isn't working to alleviate suffering among the most vulnerable.

Maybe I'm being too existential, but does anyone else think about this stuff? I realize I can't do the heroic doctors without borders stuff as a pathologist, but I wish I could do more for people that need it.

I think pathologists play a valuable role in healthcare, and that you're already making a contribution to patients' management, even with the reduced patient contact. I don't see any need / obligation for you to pursue other benevolent tasks in your time outside of work...