Medical specialties with less patient interaction?

[Tortaspie]

I was wondering what medical specialties don't require as much patient contact. I want to be a vet but the debt to income ratio is ridiculous. What about a radiologist? I heard they don't have a ton of patient interaction plus I really like the high tech equipment they get to use. I'm not totally socially awkward or anything like that I would just prefer to not have to talk to patients all day (I guess I am contradicting myself because vets have to talk to people).

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[The Buff OP]

Why? Go do something else, people do not deserve to have someone who does not wish to see them.

 

[Tortaspie]

Why? Go do something else, people do not deserve to have someone who does not wish to see them.

Yeah well it's not like that because I actually like people. I just have aspergers so I am not the most outgoing person in the world. Obviously if I wanted to go into a career like that then I want to help people. I'm not going to waste years of my life if I don't want to help people.

 

[allantois]

RAP
radiology, anesthesiology, pathology
nothing wrong with not wanting too much interaction with patients.

 

[The Buff OP]

RAP
radiology, anesthesiology, pathology
nothing wrong with not wanting too much interaction with patients.

You are one of them. I can understand pathology, but wanting to go to medical school and hate seeing patients, daqfuq.

 

[The Buff OP]

Yeah well it's not like that because I actually like people. I just have aspergers so I am not the most outgoing person in the world. Obviously if I wanted to go into a career like that then I want to help people. I'm not going to waste years of my life if I don't want to help people.

I'm not totally socially awkward or anything like that I would just prefer to not have to talk to patients all day

LOL you just contradicted yourself.

Try something else than medicine, I'm pretty sure you have heard that if you are going into medicine for the money, that is a bad choice.

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

LOL you just contradicted yourself.

Try something else than medicine, I'm pretty sure you have heard that if you are going into medicine for the money, that is a bad choice.

When did he say he was going into Medicine for the money? Not wanting to interact with patients doesn't necessarily mean he wants cash.

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

I just have aspergers so I am not the most outgoing person in the world.

Uh.......are you on two different accounts?

 

[The Buff OP]

When did he say he was going into Medicine for the money? Not wanting to interact with patients doesn't necessarily mean he wants cash.

I have seen it too many times, okay. They go from seeing how much debt they will get from vet school, PT school, etc and then they see they won't earn much, so they turn to medicine.

 

[The Buff OP]

Uh.......are you on two different accounts?

hmm maybe?
:troll:

 

[Tortaspie]

Uh.......are you on two different accounts?

Two different accounts? I don't know who flehunseos is but that isn't me.

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

I have seen it too many times, okay. They go from seeing how much debt they will get from vet school, PT school, etc and then they see they won't earn much, so they turn to medicine.

Okay, I think I understand what you're getting at. I'm motivated to go into Medicine for a variety of reasons, but having a good paying job is certainly high on the list. I'm not expecting to drive a Ferrari, but I know that even with school debt, Medicine is one of the only careers fields left where securing an upper-middle class lifestyle is not unreasonable. I think things only begin to be problematic when people make money their primary incentive.

 

[Tortaspie]

I have seen it too many times, okay. They go from seeing how much debt they will get from vet school, PT school, etc and then they see they won't earn much, so they turn to medicine.

Talk all the **** you want. I don't care because you are wrong. Vet school isn't my only interest. I'm about to graduate with a degree in MLS so I have interests in lab work including microbiology, histology, and hematology as well. You should go elsewhere and give your valuable opinions.

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

Talk all the **** you want. I don't care because you are wrong. Vet school isn't my only interest. I'm about to graduate with a degree in MLS so I have interests in lab work including microbiology, histology, and hematology as well. You should go elsewhere and give your valuable opinions.

I'm also going into healthcare and I don't really like making small talk with strangers.........or anyone actually. The only problem is that I am quite good at it, and people seem to find me interesting.

 

[Tortaspie]

I'm also going into healthcare and I don't really like making small talk with strangers.........or anyone actually. The only problem is that I am quite good at it, and people seem to find me interesting.

That's kind of how I am. Being a vet is just different to me because the people aren't the patients. I like talking about animals, and I could probably talk about animals for hours. It's not that I don't like people I just wouldn't want to directly treat them.

 

[Gregor Wiesmann]

That's kind of how I am. Being a vet is just different to me because the people aren't the patients. I like talking about animals, and I could probably talk about animals for hours. It's not that I don't like people I just wouldn't want to directly treat them.

Well I don't know, it sounds like you kind of have your heart set on Veterinary school. The money will come if you do what you really enjoy.........my friend's dad is a vet, and although they aren't "rich", he has provided a very good quality of life for his family. I guess you need to ask yourself which one you would regret not doing?

 

[Spinach Dip]

Go to vet school.

At least your patients will look good naked.

 

[Turnitoff]

Try shadowing different specialties, so you can get an idea of how much patient interaction for each.

I was wondering what medical specialties don't require as much patient contact. I want to be a vet but the debt to income ratio is ridiculous. What about a radiologist? I heard they don't have a ton of patient interaction plus I really like the high tech equipment they get to use. I'm not totally socially awkward or anything like that I would just prefer to not have to talk to patients all day (I guess I am contradicting myself because vets have to talk to people).

 

[IslandStyle808]

If you are not very into speaking to people then being in medical school or even veterinary school (yep still need to talk with people) may not be right for you. The vast majority of fields in medicine involve speaking with people and if you are not able to tolerate this, then you will be cutting the amount of fields to choose from by more than 70%. You will still need to interact with colleagues as well even in the most non-patient oriented fields (nurses, med techs, rad techs, etc.). The professional fields for the most part involve speaking with people and students are trained to do so.

If want to know if medicine is a field you would enjoy, the best thing to do is shadow a doctor. This will show you whether you are okay with people. Who knows you maybe better than your think. However, don't do it unless you are okay with patient contact.

 

[Catalystik]

radiology, anesthesiology, pathology
nothing wrong with not wanting too much interaction with patients.

Also, neonatology (subspecialty of pediatrics), where I guarantee you'll never have to talk to your patients. It's high tech, earns a good living, and can be shift work if you prefer.

 

[The Buff OP]

Talk all the **** you want. I don't care because you are wrong. Vet school isn't my only interest. I'm about to graduate with a degree in MLS so I have interests in lab work including microbiology, histology, and hematology as well. You should go elsewhere and give your valuable opinions.

hahaha.

 

[The Buff OP]

Also, neonatology (subspecialty of pediatrics), where I guarantee you'll never have to talk to your patients. It's high tech, earns a good living, and can be shift work if you prefer.

Unless that one day happens when they talk back to you.

 

[touchpause13]

This seems like a stupid plan
Medical school requires lots of interaction with patients, I wouldn't go this route if you don't like being around patients

 

[mimelim]

Do not go to medical school if you are only going to be happy going into a couple of different subspecialties. That is a recipe for disaster. Medicine is a people profession. Yes, there are a handful of MDs that don't have much patient interaction, if any. But, they are a very small minority and even they for the most part of to interact with a lot of people. This is a people profession. You have interact with the hospital, partners, consultants, patients, nursing staff, etc. If you don't like working with people, this is going to be a very hard profession for you.

 

[Mad Jack]

You are one of them. I can understand pathology, but wanting to go to medical school and hate seeing patients, daqfuq.

I'm okay with it. There's room in medicine for all types. May not be the best or easiest thing to do with one's life, but rads/anesthesia/path are fine options for antisocial types. I've met more than a few pathologists that outright hate dealing with patients completely.

 

[The Buff OP]

Do not go to medical school if you are only going to be happy going into a couple of different subspecialties. That is a recipe for disaster. Medicine is a people profession. Yes, there are a handful of MDs that don't have much patient interaction, if any. But, they are a very small minority and even they for the most part of to interact with a lot of people. This is a people profession. You have interact with the hospital, partners, consultants, patients, nursing staff, etc. If you don't like working with people, this is going to be a very hard profession for you.

This seems like a stupid plan
Medical school requires lots of interaction with patients, I wouldn't go this route if you don't like being around patients

Right on, bros!

P.S. I know you are a female TP =p

 

[The Buff OP]

I'm okay with it. There's room in medicine for all types. May not be the best or easiest thing to do with one's life, but rads/anesthesia/path are fine options for antisocial types. I've met more than a few pathologists that outright hate dealing with patients completely.

Hey buddy, how are you?

 

[Mad Jack]

Hey buddy, how are you?

Good. Hell, spring break starts in like, two and a half hours, so I'd say great lol. How're things going on your end?

 

[touchpause13]

Good. Hell, spring break starts in like, two and a half hours, so I'd say great lol. How're things going on your end?

My spring break started at 9. Woooooooolloollklkk

 

[The Buff OP]

Good. Hell, spring break starts in like, two and a half hours, so I'd say great lol. How're things going on your end?

My spring break is about to end. 🙁 I got a rough draft (3 of 6 pages)for a research paper due next week and I haven't started working on it.

 

[Mad Jack]

My spring break is about to end. 🙁 I got a rough draft (3 of 6 pages)for a research paper due next week and I haven't started working on it.

Ouch. Enjoy the time you've got left while you can bro, and good luck on the paper!

 

[Inventor of Post-Its]

Keep in mind that while there do exist medical specialties with less patient interaction, good social skills and clinical exposure are an absolute must in order to build up your credentials prior to medical school, interview for medical school, and attend medical school. You can eventually become a pathologist who performs autopsies all day, but you need to be able to interact with patients to get to that point.

 

[Tortaspie]

Well I don't know, it sounds like you kind of have your heart set on Veterinary school. The money will come if you do what you really enjoy.........my friend's dad is a vet, and although they aren't "rich", he has provided a very good quality of life for his family. I guess you need to ask yourself which one you would regret not doing?

I feel like I

Right on, bros!

P.S. I know you are a female TP =p

This is sort of unrelated but if that's what you really look like in real life, yuck. You probably got kibbles n' bits from all those steroids you've been taking 🙂

 

[touchpause13]

I feel like I

This is sort of unrelated but if that's what you really look like in real life, yuck. You probably got kibbles n' bits from all those steroids you've been taking 🙂

Buff OP is chill, calm down

 

[The Buff OP]

I feel like I

This is sort of unrelated but if that's what you really look like in real life, yuck. You probably got kibbles n' bits from all those steroids you've been taking 🙂

Hahaha, good one. What are you like in middle school or something? Cheers.

 

[Tortaspie]

Hahaha, good one. What are you like in middle school or something? Cheers.

Nah, I'm 23. Classic comeback though.

 

[medic86]

 

[Inventor of Post-Its]

Nah, I'm 23. Classic comeback though.

Wow, you sure showed him....that you have the social skills of someone half your age.

You've been petulant and combative throughout this thread, my only consolation is that you probably won't get into med school with that attitude.

 

[The Buff OP]

Ouch. Enjoy the time you've got left while you can bro, and good luck on the paper!

I already got my sources, so it's just fill in the blanks kind of deal (support my thesis with articles).

 

[that redhead]

I have seen it too many times, okay. They go from seeing how much debt they will get from vet school, PT school, etc and then they see they won't earn much, so they turn to medicine.

Turning to medicine for this reason isn't some deplorable act. It doesn't mean you're going into human medicine just for the money, it means you want to be fairly compensated for your time, training, blood, sweat and tears while getting to help people and study medicine. Saying, "Wow, vet med isn't going to pay well" is an astute assessment and people who factor that into their career decisions aren't villains in it in for the money.

And yes, there are people who love the science and diagnostic angle to medicine without necessarily wanting to interact with people. A radiologist sitting in their dark room can still help people without talking to them directly - they read and find things that another non-radiologist might miss which directly contributes to patient care, disease progression/treatment, etc. Pathologists, with zero patient interaction, can provide closure to a family or insight into a particular disease process that might help that person's children lead a healthier life.

 

[Tortaspie]

I have seen it too many times, okay. They go from seeing how much debt they will get from vet school, PT school, etc and then they see they won't earn much, so they turn to medicine.

It's not about the money for me. If I could go to vet school and not worry about paying off 150000 in debt for the next 20 years then I would do it. In fact, I will still probably end up doing it. It's about the debt not the amount of money I am going to make. Who really wants to have that burden? No one.

 

[Tortaspie]

Wow, you sure showed him....that you have the social skills of someone half your age.

You've been petulant and combative throughout this thread, my only consolation is that you probably won't get into med school with that attitude.

Oh I will get in. 🙂

 

[famoussquamous]

I think people are misinterpreting OP to mean "which specialty do I not have to talk to ANYONE" versus which ones can I talk to patients the least. To answer your question OP any specialty where you're not in the clinic all the time would probably be a good bet for you. Although honestly you may be better at just doing research.

 

[wheatthinners]

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