Too old to practice?

[Kimak]

After a long career in database administration, I am considering a return to college with the hope of medical school admission, and an anethesiology residency thereafter.

Some of you may choke or laugh at this point, but I am 42.
(Argghh). I was a good engineering student in college, but became a mom at 21. I never finished college.

Since it's been over 10 years on most of my credits, I will need to start over with a 4 year degree. Hmmm, 46 for an undergrad degree, 50 for a med school degree, 54-55 before residency is complete...

Can any practicing anethesiologists respond: will I simply be considered too old to be a viable practioner? Even with stellar grades, MCAT scores, recommendations, relevant volunteer experience, there may be a tacit block in the minds of medical
staff on hiring an older person.

My motivation: My family on both sides tends to have long (late 90's, early 100's) lifespans, with active health into the early 80's.
Why not pursue a meaningful careeer before I retire at 70?

Information technology work is fascinating, but fairly irrelevant in the end. Medicine is always relevant in that a human being's life is directly impacted, usually in a positive way. The prospect of being a person trusted to hold a patient's life in a state of painlessness during a medical prodecure seems utterly meaningful
(although the techniques might become routine over time, the outcome is vastly meaningful). I also have a great interest in chronic pain management, after seeing the tremendous difference this made in my husband's life after a severe back injury.

Long post, but short question - Am I just too old to be taken seriously even if I can pump out the right scores?

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[DrDre']

You should allow no one to make up your mind!

You have to decide if you are willing to go through all that is entailed, given your age and "station" in life.

My good friend was 44 when she started med school. I have a friend that just finished up his cardiology fellowship at around 48. He is starting at an ungodly salary on track for partnership.

Med school admissions at most schools are not "afraid" of older students now. In fact, they embrace them more and more frequently.

If you show how hard you can work in 3rd and 4th year of med school, and your letter writers communicate this, residencies should have an open mind.
Now, on the other hand, it is possible a given private practice group may have reservations. On the other hand, they many not care at all, or be so desperate, they don't consider it.

If you are flexible with living and environment, I am sure you can make your way if you make the commitment.


Devil's advocacy: make damn sure you want it and that you know how long and annoying the road can be.

I am but a lowly M2 (at the age of 32) and sometimes I wonder if I should have stuck with my first good job. But, I love the study of medicine and it will be worth it in the end.

I was in AK this summer for the first time. I am thinking of ending up there. It is tough to get into UW from AK so if you do go through with it, make sure to apply to a ton of med schools!

Best of luck, PM me if you want.

 

[UTSouthwestern]

At the medical school here, there is a 76 year old 4th year medical student: Retired colonel, corporate lawyer, and business owner. Just wanted to prove he could do it but is now looking to complete his residency as well. His choice is likely to be FP but he wants to try anesthesia if he can. I'm not too sure how many programs will look at a 76 going on 77 year old resident in all honesty.

That being said, you are far from that age group and if you have the stamina, by all means go for it. Realize that many people will treat you as if you are already an attending when you are on your third year clinical rotations. 😀

 

[Califlower]

I think you should also factor in mental and emotional age with the physical age. Although physically you may be in your forties, I think your ambition and focus on goals, strive to advance yourself and all that good stuff mirrors the youth of a twenty-something. Life begins at 60! So that sounds like a good time for you to start practicing. Congratulations and good luck in your roads ahead!

 

[ny skindoc]

You are not too old by any means to embark on this course but I would suggest that you examine fully the financial implications of your plans.You might be several hundred thousand dollars in debt by the time you are ready to practice at age 56! an age when many anesthesiologists are making plans to retire if they have not already done so.You will have ~14 years to pay off your loans just in time to retire- Good Luck!.(If you are independently wealthy then this issue does not apply to you)
Its hard to imagine that someone who is 4 years away from starting med school has so clearly chosen Anesthesiology as a specialty.If you truly love this field then an alternate idea would be to become CRNA.These individuals practice in a similar fashion to most anesthesiologists with far less training and make a very high incomes.In an increasing number of states they perform anesthesia without the need for a supervising anesthesiologist.This goal could be finished in half the time. If you still want to go through med school knowing the physical and emotional demands which will be placed on you by all means go ahead-your dedication and maturity will make you highly employable.

 

[gtb]

I echo the comments suggesting the CRNA route as a possible alternative to an anesthesiology career. Only because I imagine you could be up and working in less than the time it might take to begin medical school. I'm not sure of the exact CRNA route, but I believe you first obtain a BSN (3 years, 9 months) followed by a year of extra training to complete the nurse anesthetist(sp?) part. For the anesthesiology route it's a certain 4 years of premed, 4 years of medical school, 4 years of residency. Speaking as a 40 year-old MS3 doing a surgery rotation, the med school route is very, very, long.

Best of luck with your decision, you're definitely not too old to get started.

 

[DrSmiles]

We have a 50+ female medical student at our school. I really admire her perseverance. However, with one point of view, she does often mention that she has to work much harder than some of her younger peers. She feels that it is harder to retain the info from lectures and physically, she can't pull all-nighters before exams. She is hanging in there though, and I know she will be a great doc one day.

 

[carpe diem]

To OP,

I believe there are still some schools probably MD and DO that will admit students without a degree ( we had at least 1 or 2 in my class) so the 4-year pre-med prerequisite is not an absolute....hey, it may save you a year or two if you go to school year round to finish pre-reqs.

For encouragement, I began med school at age 39 and took my organic chemistry, biochem and everything else that counted as my prereqs ( except for a "newer" genetics course that I retook since the field had changed so much since my genetics course in 1982) in the early to mid 1980's. Now, I had been in the health care field since grad in 1987 and did have to re-study many subjects (about 1 year's work of 4hr/day study) to refresh for the MCAT, but I really did not have to repeat any prerequisite courses. Well, I finished an MPH program in between there too, but my point is that the journey may not be quite as long as you think. And in 14 years, you'll still be 56 whether you're finishing residency or whether you are working in the information technology field. Especially if family or s.o. and friends support you then you cannot afford not to do it if your heart is leaning that way.

Best wishes.

 

[DrDre']

If you decide to entertain the CRNA route, be sure to get all the info. After the BSN, I believe all or nearly all programs REQUIRE two years of criticial care nursing then you can apply for CRNA training. I thought CRNA training was 2-2.5 years but I may be wrong. It might still save time and a bonus would be you would make some money in the middle of your training.

I thought about mid level practitioners as a possible career goal as I was a little older than the typical (31) but I decided that I wasn't going to go half way. I think it is important to decide what you want and need. I need autonomy. I did not like to check with someone before I do something.
Of course, CRNA or PA in a small town or rural area(AK) you may have nearly complete autonomy.

I never pull all-nighters and never have whether I was 18 or 31. It isn't necessary in med school. Work steady every day and you don't have to cram the week before.

Good luck with your decision,
Keep us posted,

 

[CougRN]

CRNA is a viable route if you truly want to do anesthesia. It requires a 4 year BSN degree, a minimum of 1 year of critical care experience but most schools expect 2-3 years, and then 27-36 continuous months of anesthesia training depending on the school you go to.

 

[OldManDave]

Hey, not only can it be done as a nontrad w/ a family - it has been done time & time again. I am a 1st year resident at Dartmouth, a recent graduate of KCOM (2003), married (8.5 years) & have a gorgeous 8.5 month daughter. Matter of fact, I can even point you toward an entire organization that devotes itself to the needs of the nontradational premedical & medical student & residents: The National Society for Nontraditional Premedical & Medical Students, Inc. .

Please drop by our website & check us out. Not only are we interested in nontrad members; but we also welcome traditionally aged parties interested in what we have to offer. The only stipulation for anyone wishing to participate is that they conduct themselves in a mature & professional manner - this is closely monitored, expected & enforced.

Please visit our website: OldPreMeds