Shift specialties which would allow me to work a few days per month?

[TooMuchResearch]

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Hello everyone. My name is Ed and I am excited that there is such a place for folks interested and pursuing a career in the medical field. I have an unusual (like most folks) situation and I want to pass it by everyone who might have some advice for me.
I am 23 years old, I was an average (mostly unmotivated) student in high school who would excel in the particular subjects I appreciated (Econ, Physics, Debate.) For the most part I was a slacker with an unbalanced high school transcript. I still got into college (CSU Sacramento) and spent a year and a half studying for a Psychology degree. While in school my dad came down with Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus (probably one of the worst cancers to be diagnosed with.) I dropped my second semester classes and effectively joined the workforce in my talent (Computer Programming) while my father processed through a rigorous treatment and then passed away in August of 1999. Even thinking about going back to school was tough. I am just now starting my academic career backup while working demanding 50-hour weeks. I am positioned for a Managerial Economics degree from UC Davis and I have realistically set myself a graduation date of 2005 for that. While the Econ degree is a realistic degree for graduation, I have always been interested in medicine. My father was a D.D.S/PhD., uncle an Orthopedic Surgeon, and an aunt who is a O.B.GYN. It's not just the family lineage of the profession but I ultimately am interested in the courses of med school and subsequent reward of helping people. I have a couple years of volunteering with terminally ill patients with Hospice as well as indigent farm workers who need medical treatment with the Concerned Coalition of Medical Professionals.
My goal is to become a regular ole' Family Practitioner and the school I will be attending for my undergrad degree has one of the best programs, UC Davis. I would love to be able to just apply and get in there but I know that is not realistic.
My question is, does anyone else have similar circumstances? I will be completing all my Med School pre req's after I finish the B.S. in Managerial Economics so its obvious I am not to concerned about time. My goal, if I am able to achieve admission is to be done with med school; on with a practice by the time I am 35. Does this sound reasonable?

Much Thanks!

Ed

Locums EM: Ruining EM for the docs that want the specialty to have a future.

 

[DermViser]

Agree here, when I was choosing what career path to take as an undergrad I knew lifestyle would be a top priority for me. It was by serendipity that I heard about PM&R and after some researching to ensure I was interested in this specialty, I went ahead and applied to medical school with aspirations of going into PM&R. As a 4th year right now, I'm going to be pursuing PM&R.

You're going in at a perfect time. 👍

 

[DermViser]

Locums EM: Ruining EM for the docs that want the specialty to have a future.

How is it "ruining" EM?

 

[pilotjoe]

How is it "ruining" EM?

It's not, most hospitals would rather have an employee as opposed to a locums physician. They (locums) cost more and require more effort ensuring a physician will be there to cover every shift.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

It's funny that med students find locums work so appealing. I guess it appeals to the millennial mindset of part time work and "seeing the world."

Everyone I know views locums as **** work for surgeons who can't get a real job. You have little to no job security, you have to go where you're told, and it's not like they are dying for locums coverage in Boston or NY...

 

[TooMuchResearch]

How is it "ruining" EM?

Just part of the EM CMG Charlie Foxtrot. They're not coming for your specialty yet.

Having a warm body to see patients is not ideal patient care and is not ideal for the survival of physician-run medical groups.

 

[alpinism]

Because locums jobs are usually only there because the hospital couldn't find anyone else to take the job.

They're notorious for being malignant: bad locations, bad working conditions, bad management, bad support staff, bad patient care...

Take your pick.

 

[tco]

Define a "bad location."

If it's the opposite of NYC (which most people love), count me in.