The Medicine Path, Is There Any Time?

[TheSilentKnight]

Alright guys, I’m well aware of the sacrifices one makes when in pursuit of medicine. It is a lifestyle. It is simply not a “work life balance”. You’re life is medicine and you spend countless hours pursuing this dream of one day saving, and helping the lives of others.

But do you guys ever think about other paths? Do you ever think about the time you would rather be spending doing other things? For instance, if pursuing pharmd, I will be making six figures and I can take up/continue my hobbies of surfing, hunting and music. With medicine, I will have to sacrifice these hobbies that bring me such joy in life.

I’ve seen a pharmacist and his wife (pharm tech) live a very comfortable life, cabin on the lake, house close to the beach, business on the side of his job (owns an apartment building). These things cannot simply happen when taking medicine into account.

No 2 day hunting trips. No surfing for the perfect wave all day, no extra time with friends etc. You’re life is narrowed down into medicine, and one other hobby (most likely something to do with health, since that is crucial), and a significant other.

Have you guys thought about pharm D? A pharmacy manager makes 120-150k. And you have an option (if you contain an entrepreneur spirit, to own your own independent pharmacy). And you can have businesses on the side. You can have time to play - build your own cabin on a beachside property, surf, hunt and bow hunt.

These things will be stripped away and life will revolve around medicine.


Have you guys thought about this? PLUS more one spent with family etc

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[JMilo]

If you only want to become a doctor to "live comfortably", don't. If you think you would be happier as a pharmacist, become a pharmacist.

 

[ciestar]

I’ve thought about PharmD, but three years at a retail pharmacy made me run far, far away.
The market is super saturated.

 

[21Rush12]

I know plenty of doctors who live quite well and spend great time away from work and with family.

However, they’re internists and nephrologists, not surgeons.

 

[mimelim]

Alright guys, I’m well aware of the sacrifices one makes when in pursuit of medicine. It is a lifestyle. It is simply not a “work life balance”. You’re life is medicine and you spend countless hours pursuing this dream of one day saving, and helping the lives of others.

But do you guys ever think about other paths? Do you ever think about the time you would rather be spending doing other things? For instance, if pursuing pharmd, I will be making six figures and I can take up/continue my hobbies of surfing, hunting and music. With medicine, I will have to sacrifice these hobbies that bring me such joy in life.

I’ve seen a pharmacist and his wife (pharm tech) live a very comfortable life, cabin on the lake, house close to the beach, business on the side of his job (owns an apartment building). These things cannot simply happen when taking medicine into account.

No 2 day hunting trips. No surfing for the perfect wave all day, no extra time with friends etc. You’re life is narrowed down into medicine, and one other hobby (most likely something to do with health, since that is crucial), and a significant other.

Have you guys thought about pharm D? A pharmacy manager makes 120-150k. And you have an option (if you contain an entrepreneur spirit, to own your own independent pharmacy). And you can have businesses on the side. You can have time to play - build your own cabin on a beachside property, surf, hunt and bow hunt.

These things will be stripped away and life will revolve around medicine.


Have you guys thought about this? PLUS more one spent with family etc

Yes, I've thought about it. But, I stopped someone's heart today, then I juiced up the blood flow to it, then I restarted it ala Dr. Frankenstein. And when you get to do that and things like that every day the cabin on the lake doesn't really matter all that much.

#FirstCAB #TrainingWheelsComingOff

Oh ya, I got home at 5pm, played some Hearthstone, watched BBT with my wife, studied for a little and then got on SDN to answer some PMs. Maybe it isn't a cabin on the lake, but then again I'm still 'just a resident'.

 

[longhaul3]

Not sure where you get the idea that doctors can't have any hobbies and have no free time. (Come to think of it, probably from reading the pre-MD forum here).

There's a reason our profession is the butt of all the golf- and fishing-related jokes. You would probably not get a lot of hunting in during your training but depending on specialty you can enjoy a great quality of life.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

This almost sounds like an advertisement for pharmacists. If you've made your decision, go for it. But if you have not, I can tell you that everybody makes time for the people and things they love. Nobody would be a doctor otherwise. I am arguably in one of the least lifestyle friendly subspecialties, and I have time for hobbies, friends, and family. You just learn to prioritize and utilize your time well.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

Watching my friends from college haul in 6 figure salaries while I'm still living like a college student is pretty darn frustrating, I will agree.

But medicine is a great field and once you're an attending you really don't work the 80 hour weeks. Also as an MS1/2 you're busy as hell but on your own schedule. I grind it out all week then go camping/fishing for a couple nights every 1-2 months.

Also medicine basically guarantees better than any other profession you can always make ~180k...even in the most low paying of specialities.

 

[freedoctor17]

Idk why everyone thinks becoming a doctor is the end of the rest of your life. I know a doctor who works 2 weeks and then gets 2 weeks off. They work odd/later shifts though but there ya go that's half of every month to enjoy with family and continue with hobbies lol. Idk how many people can actually do that but it definitely shows your work schedule can be flexible.

 

[getdown]

You can work as much or as little as you want as an attending. You want to make gobs of money and have a cabin by the lake? Work in the midwest/south and take everyone's calls and shifts. You want to have a life and enjoy it? work part time or per diem but know you're not going to make that much. It's a trade off. You want to make bank and do nothing all day? Go to business school and be a hospital administrator.

 

[getdown]

Idk why everyone thinks becoming a doctor is the end of the rest of your life. I a doctor who works 2 weeks and then gets 2 weeks off. They work odd/later shifts though but there ya go that's half of every month to enjoy with family and continue with hobbies lol. Idk how many people can actually do that but it definitely shows your work schedule can be flexible.

You should also specify that you're a hospitalist and that's generally the schedule since not every specialty has the opportunity to work like that.

 

[freedoctor17]

You should also specify that you're a hospitalist and that's generally the schedule since not every specialty has the opportunity to work like that.

Sorry that was meant to say I "know" a doctor lol not I a doctor.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

I won’t lie. Sometimes I’m still torn about what to do. Part of my wants to finish up my PhD (when I finish it) and just work with that and my MPH. But I’ve already invested 2 years of my life in med school...and I do genuinely love the kinds of thing I will be doing 3rd and 4th year and beyond.
I think my issue is more with my age than anything.

 

[Goro]

Alright guys, I’m well aware of the sacrifices one makes when in pursuit of medicine. It is a lifestyle. It is simply not a “work life balance”. You’re life is medicine and you spend countless hours pursuing this dream of one day saving, and helping the lives of others.

But do you guys ever think about other paths? Do you ever think about the time you would rather be spending doing other things? For instance, if pursuing pharmd, I will be making six figures and I can take up/continue my hobbies of surfing, hunting and music. With medicine, I will have to sacrifice these hobbies that bring me such joy in life.

I’ve seen a pharmacist and his wife (pharm tech) live a very comfortable life, cabin on the lake, house close to the beach, business on the side of his job (owns an apartment building). These things cannot simply happen when taking medicine into account.

No 2 day hunting trips. No surfing for the perfect wave all day, no extra time with friends etc. You’re life is narrowed down into medicine, and one other hobby (most likely something to do with health, since that is crucial), and a significant other.

Have you guys thought about pharm D? A pharmacy manager makes 120-150k. And you have an option (if you contain an entrepreneur spirit, to own your own independent pharmacy). And you can have businesses on the side. You can have time to play - build your own cabin on a beachside property, surf, hunt and bow hunt.

These things will be stripped away and life will revolve around medicine.


Have you guys thought about this? PLUS more one spent with family etc

I was just chatting with a Dean of a Pharmacy school and he mention that "the Pharmacy world is imploding"....meaning, there are now too many Pharm schools and not enough people to fill them. Which implies that the Pharm world is getting glutted. If Medicine is not one's thing, there are always the allied health fields.

 

[Doctor-S]

We find spare time for other things, including quality time with friends, family, recreational pursuits, entertainment, and posting on SDN. 😉

Good time management skills and prioritization are key.

You make time for you.

[Learning how to set reasonable boundaries and knowing when to say "no" is a healthy "life" skill, too.]

 

[HomeSkool]

One of the worst things about medicine is all the misinformation that finds its way to premeds. "OMG doctors only ever sleep two hours at a time!" "Doctors have a 90% divorce rate!" "They work 20 hours a day, seven days a week!" "They have to give up all their hobbies!" "They're so overworked they look like freaking Gollum all the time!"

Here's the truth:
- Med school is tough, and it places significant strains on your time. I still found time to play video games and take my kids to the park at least once a week.
- Residency is very tough, and it places even more significant strains on your time. I still found time to watch movies with my wife and play with my kids.
- Life as an attending is much better than it was as a med student or resident. That doesn't mean I don't work hard. But I still find time for date night, home improvement projects, day trips, family time, pleasure reading, TV, and basically everything else I want to do. I even found time for a master's program.

Most of the people who go out of their way to scare premeds have never set foot in a medical school.

 

[TheSilentKnight]

I was just chatting with a Dean of a Pharmacy school and he mention that "the Pharmacy world is imploding"....meaning, there are now too many Pharm schools and not enough people to fill them. Which implies that the Pharm world is getting glutted. If Medicine is not one's thing, there are always the allied health fields.

All I hear about pharmacy is that the market is flooded. But if you really wanted a pharmacy job you’d get yourself one. People making barriers for themselves. And if you’re good at what you do, then you won’t be replaced.

Pharmacy is glutted? As in, it is a dying profession? Probably not in my lifetime as a 23 year old?

 

[Goro]

All I hear about pharmacy is that the market is flooded. But if you really wanted a pharmacy job you’d get yourself one. People making barriers for themselves. And if you’re good at what you do, then you won’t be replaced.

Pharmacy is glutted? As in, it is a dying profession? Probably not in my lifetime as a 23 year old?

glut
ɡlət/
verb
past tense: glutted; past participle: glutted

1. supply or fill to excess.
   "the factories for recycling paper are glutted"
   synonyms: overload, cram, cram full, overfill, oversupply, saturate, flood, inundate, deluge, swamp, congest;
   informalstuff
   "the factories are glutted"

We're not going to tell you what you want to hear.

 

[Goro]

One of the worst things about medicine is all the misinformation that finds its way to premeds. "OMG doctors only ever sleep two hours at a time!" "Doctors have a 90% divorce rate!" "They work 20 hours a day, seven days a week!" "They have to give up all their hobbies!" "They're so overworked they look like freaking Gollum all the time!"

Here's the truth:
- Med school is tough, and it places significant strains on your time. I still found time to play video games and take my kids to the park at least once a week.
- Residency is very tough, and it places even more significant strains on your time. I still found time to watch movies with my wife and play with my kids.
- Life as an attending is much better than it was as a med student or resident. That doesn't mean I don't work hard. But I still find time for date night, home improvement projects, day trips, family time, pleasure reading, TV, and basically everything else I want to do. I even found time for a master's program.

Most of the people who go out of their way to scare premeds have never set foot in a medical school.

And some of the worst advice comes from people who not only have never set foot on a med school campus, they never should, except as a standardized patient.