Positive Role Models Only!

[DrArete]

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I have been spending way too much time lately on SDN and other places, researching different aspects of a medical career.

There is TONS of negativity.

It is especially discouraging to hear people who have gone through the gauntlet, gotten into good schools, done well, matched into ROAD specialties, make bank $$$, and still complain/regret their decision, etc.

How about some positive examples of attendings or senior residents who are happy with their choices and their speciality? Bonus points if they have a personal life, and their children aren't smoking crack, and their 2nd wife isn't sleeping with the pool cleaner.

 

[mspeedwagon]

I think medicine is one of those careers where the older you get, the more you appreciate it. I've pretty much heard every doctor (under 40), complain and state they wish they had done something else (these were doctors at the Harvard and Stanford hospitals so they did pretty well).

However, as you cross the 40 threshold, there is a lot more positivity. My favorite doctors of all time, a pediatric oncologist at the Dana-Farber, just retired and has nothing positive to say about his experience in medicine and how after thirty years of fellowship he still has a lot to learn.

More so than any profession, I have found extremes in medicine. People that entered medicine for the fame and money (and are disappointed), people that entered because they were good at research, but decided to become clinicians for higher pay (and are disappointed), and people that are truly passionate about working with people and constantly learning (and are really, really, happy with their decision. These people would most likely have chosen this career even if they made a lot less money, and we added a few years to the training).

I have been spending way too much time lately on SDN and other places, researching different aspects of a medical career.

There is TONS of negativity.

It is especially discouraging to hear people who have gone through the gauntlet, gotten into good schools, done well, matched into ROAD specialties, make bank $$$, and still complain/regret their decision, etc.

How about some positive examples of attendings or senior residents who are happy with their choices and their speciality? Bonus points if they have a personal life, and their children aren't smoking crack, and their 2nd wife isn't sleeping with the pool cleaner.