Options

[Saluki]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Some people recognizing the maldistribution of physicians have advocated a program requiring students to serve for four years in an underserved area before going on to their specialty areas... Both to alleviate the shortage and to weed out those who are going into medicine for money or prestige. I'm not saying that I advocate this program, but if it were to happen, where would you practice?

 

[DrCarin]

Originally posted by mashce
Some people recognizing the maldistribution of physicians have advocated a program requiring students to serve for four years in an underserved area before going on to their specialty areas... Both to alleviate the shortage and to weed out those who are going into medicine for money or prestige. I'm not saying that I advocate this program, but if it were to happen, where would you practice?

I probably wouldn't go at all. And by that, I mean... I would definitely reconsider my career choice. Not because I don't love medicine, but because an additional 4 years before I could really start working would not be something that would fit in with my life plans. I want to have kids at some point, and I don't want to be 40 when I have my first!!

However, maybe they could come up with some sort of plan to help push physicians into the more sparse areas... where they help pay of school loans, or something along those lines. I just cannot imagine that we could force everyone to do something like that... 4 years is a long time to essentially have to put your life on hold right out of medical school.

 

[Mike59]

I would practice in the inner city serving the hispanic community. I am doing my best to learn as much spanish as I can before school starts, and I see no better way of reaching out to an underserved branch of society than embracing its culture, language and health care needs. 🙂 If this program was introduced, it would not change my mind about medicine at all. I would do it for 7 years, 10 years, whatever the program wanted. Seeing that I'll graduate med school at 26, I don't see such a service requirement as being such a big deal. What better way to "help people" (as so many premeds say it) than serve those who need it the most?

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by DrCarin
However, maybe they could come up with some sort of plan to help push physicians into the more sparse areas... where they help pay of school loans, or something along those lines.

By the way, have you been living under a rock? There are several programs that provide low interest loans and tuition reimbursement to students who choose to work in underserved areas of the country (especially in my state of TX). Unfortunately, these programs aren't solving the problem fast enough.

 

[DrCarin]

Originally posted by Mike59
By the way, have you been living under a rock? There are several programs that provide low interest loans and tuition reimbursement to students who choose to work in underserved areas of the country (especially in my state of TX). Unfortunately, these programs aren't solving the problem fast enough.

uhh yeah thanks for asking- a rock known as St. Louis. Sorry- I'm not up on the rural medicine because I don't plan to practice it nor do I live in anything resembling a rural area. and there are plenty of people in need where I already am. Try not to be such a jackass.

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by DrCarin
uhh yeah thanks for asking- a rock known as St. Louis. Sorry- I'm not up on the rural medicine because I don't plan to practice it nor do I live in anything resembling a rural area. and there are plenty of people in need where I already am. Try not to be such a jackass.

I've never lived in a city with less than 4 million people myself- It has nothing to do with living in a rural area or not. It's called "being aware of current issues in the field you're going into".

 

[Sweet Tea]

Kids, play nice. 🙂

 

[DrCarin]

Originally posted by Sweet Tea
Kids, play nice. 🙂

🙂 hehe, i AM playing nice... we just need to realize that everyone has different experiences!!

 

[SouthernGirlie]

Originally posted by Mike59
It's called "being aware of current issues in the field you're going into".

yeeeeouch

There are more diplomatic ways to say that, but I do agree with Mike.

 

[tms]

true dat, Mike!

There are quite a number of programs available. Indian health, national health (which serves rural AND urban areas), etc.

Most of this is covered during interviews when the financial aid office gives their presentation.

Welcome to wherever you are.

 

[DrCarin]

Originally posted by SouthernGirlie
yeeeeouch

There are more diplomatic ways to say that, but I do agree with Mike.

sorry guys- I missed the memo where you were the perfect medical school candidates.

I personally happen to do clinical pediatric epilepsy research, and we DO see and serve many people from rural areas everyday because we have the only ped epilepsy center in the state.

how much do you guys know about being a seriously ill patient?? not as much as i do i would bet- but i don't hold that against anyone nor do i feel that it means you cannot be a good doctor. we all have different experiences that have lead us to medicine, and i'm sorry if you feel so poorly about yourselves that you feel the need to put others down. i won't resort to that level. how many people here know all of the nuances of rural medicine anyway??? not so many, i bet.

 

[SouthernGirlie]

Originally posted by DrCarin
i'm sorry if you feel so poorly about yourselves that you feel the need to put others down. i won't resort to that level

um... does anyone else see the irony in that? 🙄

 

[Saluki]

Different people have different experiences and different gifts. To set up a pediatric epilepsy clinic is a fine thing, and I'm sure it does serve rural people, there just isn't a shortage of people willing to do that kind of work. If someone is gifted for research and will find an important new treatment for breast cancer or epilepsy, that's wonderful. Let's just all be happy. If everyone wanted to practice in rural Nebraska or everyone wanted to be pediatric oncologists, we'd all be pretty unhappy....This thread is turning kind of ugly, and I just started it to find out where people would be most interested in serving....

 

[Maple]

There is no need to beat up someone who doesn't know as much as you do.🙁 and yeah...I'm addressing this to you Mike59. I think you were out of line in replying to Dr.Carin. You ought to apologize to her..