Soon to be Post Bacc Needs Advice on How to Respond to Brother About WHY??

[DrArete]

Next month, just a few days shy of my 30th birthday, and after already having spent well over 200 grand on my undergrad and grad school, I will be starting a post bacc.

So, just yesterday I got an email from my brother with links to three articles that, to put it nicely, were not too positive, one from the WSJ, the NYT, and from Forbes.

I have some ideas about how I'll respond, but I would like to know yours.

Thanks!

the WSJ article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120942599600151137.html

the Forbes article: http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/05/physicians-training-prospects-lead-careers-cx_tw_0505doctors.html

the NYT article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/h...ssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

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[darkjedi]

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[DrArete]

Two of those articles talked mostly about money and time management. For me going into medicine is not about the money or the loans, otherwise I wouldn't give up a career in a lucrative industry. I see my colleagues constantly work 60-80 hour weeks, so it' not like I'm leaving behind something that's much better in terms of time commitment.

As the other two articles mostly talked about primary care, which I don't plan to do, I think the WSJ one was the most relevant and best written article. It was also probably the least negative one and showed a trend that young doctors are shifting medicine into a less intense atmosphere. No one ever said being a doctor was easy, and I think most of us know that as we contemplate going down this road. That said it's also very important for everyone considering medicine to understand that it's not a perfect industry to be in and that every industry has its fatal flaws.

Well put.

Although, something to consider, is that you just said you are not plan to do PC. Well, neither do I. But apparently, that is what is most needed.

I am interested in how the environment for physicians is changing, and am thinking about what it may be like ten years down the road.

Also, my brother is a jerk, and is probably just trying to troll me, but I am trying to formulate a well thought out response rather than lower myself to his level and respond by pointing out how much it sucks to do X, Y, or Z in other industries. I.E. positive arguments, not negatives ones.