What else is out there?

[Lorraine]

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I'm a 3rd year and honestly, I have been contemplating quitting medical school because clinicals and medicine (at least clinically) doesn't seem right for me. What else is out there if I do finish? I do like the prospects of doing academic medicine and teaching med students - anyone know about CDC or otehr federal programs? Medical journalism? I hate to think I have "wasted" 3 years of hard work and money, time, etc. not to mention ?'s that I will have to answer about why I want to quit to mi familia

 

[AJM]

I have several friends who did not do a residency after graduating from medical school, some medical and some non-medical related careers. To tell you the truth, if you are truly considering not doing clinical medicine, you should at least stick it out one more year (4th year is SO much less painful than 3rd year) before you quit, since having the MD degree will make you much more marketable. It will give you more time to really consider what you want to do with your life, apply to firms/companies/organizations, and you would likely be more sought after and be compensated more by having a degree, instead of "just having finished 3 years of med school". Besides, as a 4th year, you will have LOTS of free time, and be able to do the clerkships that you actually might want to do.

Out of my friends not doing clinical medicine, a couple are working as consultants, doing work related to hospital organization and medical insurance policies. A couple of people I know are doing medical research with pharmaceutical companies. One person is doing part consulting and part stand-up comedy (Pfizer and other groups also sometimes hire him to do some medical comedy gigs for physicians). There are lots of options available -- it kind of depends on what you would like to do. You can do research, public policy type stuff, writing/journalism, or other non-medically related things after med school. I don't know much about the CDC, but I think that they might require a residency, or at least an internship (don't quote me on that, though).

 

[DrMom]

I met a hematopathologist and asked her why she chose that specialty and she said that she absolutely hated clinical medicine.

Have you checked out any lab-medicine type specialties? You may find that you like them better.

Nonetheless, I'd recommend that you at least finish school and complete an internship year. It would be such a waste (IMO) to get this far and work this hard and have nothing that you can use.

 

[Lorraine]

Thank you both for your insights and advice. I always feel "guilty" about getting into medicine and not loving it because a lot of my friends were not able to get into medical school. Appreciate again your comments once again! 😀

 

[Rads Resident]

I've been there. Nothing seemed to fit me during the 3rd & 4th years. Additionally (long story short) a previous employer of mine offered me an incredible position with equity in a new compay he started. I jumped for 2 years and was surprised to find that I missed medicine. I took another look at radiology and loved it. As a med student, I didn't understand what rads really is and I suspect most students don't either. I'm in residency now and am so glad I did it. You mentioned clinical medicine was not for you so you might want to look into it yourself.

 

[SwingDoc]

I think one of the great things about earning an M.D. is the enormous number of options (beyond clinical medicine) available. One position you might really enjoy is working for a pharma (or biotech) designing, planning and implementing clinical trials. With an MD you have a great shot at getting this type of position, along with a fantastic salary.

Another cool position and MUCH needed by the biotech and pharma industry is a medical/business liaison. I worked for a small biotech company and saw GREAT directors of marketing and business development strategy come and go because they could not "get" the science the company is trying to advance. These "non-science" types could not communicate with MDs and PhDs at the technical levels necessary in order to successfully do the job. This type of work still has you deep in science, but also working in the fast pace business environment.

Based on my point of view and past experience I think you should finish school and then "try out" some new things. You might love 'em or you might hate 'em, but at least you will be closer to finding what fits.

I actually did it the other way around - I got my undergrad in science, got a business masters - and now am going for the M.D. Personally, I know I will be working for the next, oh say 40 years, so taking some extra time to figure things out leaves me confident I'm doing what I KNOW I want to do.

Best!

 

[Lorraine]

Thanks again for the "new" posts (haven't been able to visit this thread in awhile). I appreciate all the new insights you have all provided. Very lucky indeed that you all have very interesting and novel ideas I have never thought about 😀

 

[phar]

I am also debating the same subject even though i have not started medical school yet... I have been admitted for fall 2003 to both an MD/PHD & PharmD/PHD....I have not yet withdrawn from any school...as i keep on changing my mind.
I don't like blood/surgery and can't stand looking at cadavers...So, i am wondering how i will make through classes like gross anatomy and surgery rotations....But then i chose pharmacy, i feel like i gave up on my dream. My father is pressuring me to pursue pharmacy as he works for phizer and tells all the great opportunities that lie with the pharmd degree....so, i am faced with a difficult decisions....on the hand my dream with its big dislikes and on the other my father....The phd in pharmaceutical studies is just an added component as i partially like doing research work and again my father thinks a phd in pharmaceutical will greatly enhance my knowledge/job...the other phd in medical field was just a added thing on my part though i don't think i will pursue it if i go for the md/phd route....

In one word.......i am confused!!!

 

[Zeffer]

Consider getting your MBA and doing consulting for biomedical businesses. You might also be able to teach classes at the college level.

 

[GAdasooka]

Don't quit now! You're too close to being done... who said that having an M.D. meant that you HAD to go practice medicine???

There are an infinate amount of opportunities for someone with an M.D...

-teach
-write for a medical journal
-write for a medical tv show (all these shows from scrubs to discovery health have MD writers on staff!)
-work for a law firm that specializes in health issues (not med malpractice!)
-work for a pharm company that develops new drugs or compares drug interactions...

There are so many different things you could do with an M.D... and make money at! The point it- with an M.D. you can do ANYTHING!!! What's another year when it really comes down to it??? I have decided that if I hate my 3rd and4th years I'm either going to go to law school (those law students seem to have a lot of fun- doesn't look so hard) or go into media.

You know, you can add ANY degree to an M.D. and you'll be doing ANYTHING in that field- be it business, law, broadcasting, culinary- whatever.

Hang in there. Hopefully, you will find something you LOVE to do and makes you happy. Making money is difficult enough without the added burden of being unhappy with what you do everyday.

 

[michigan]

phar,
Don't let getting grossed out by surgery/blood/cadavers keep you away from med school! Lots of people feel the same way that you do and get over it really fast once they become acclimated. I hit the floor, out cold watching a small skin lesion removal in an FP office in undergrad, same thing for a spinal tap in the ER as well. Now I am on my surgery rotation and loving it! Surgery is surprisingly clean. If it's not, something is generally wrong. Sure the smells can be bad in medicine, but I've seen even seasoned surgeons get out the peppermint for the mask. I won't advise you on MD or PharmD, but all I can say is that I hated blood, guts, poopy smells, cadavers, etc before and I'm doing fine and so will you if you pursue the MD.

 

[phar]

Originally posted by michigan
phar,
Don't let getting grossed out by surgery/blood/cadavers keep you away from med school! Lots of people feel the same way that you do and get over it really fast once they become acclimated. I hit the floor, out cold watching a small skin lesion removal in an FP office in undergrad, same thing for a spinal tap in the ER as well. Now I am on my surgery rotation and loving it! Surgery is surprisingly clean. If it's not, something is generally wrong. Sure the smells can be bad in medicine, but I've seen even seasoned surgeons get out the peppermint for the mask. I won't advise you on MD or PharmD, but all I can say is that I hated blood, guts, poopy smells, cadavers, etc before and I'm doing fine and so will you if you pursue the MD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING! It is great to have a medical student perspective.

 

[FZISHN]

Posted by phar-

rotations....But then i chose pharmacy, i feel like i gave up on my dream. My father is pressuring me to pursue pharmacy as he works for phizer and tells all the great opportunities that lie with the pharmd degree....

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Phar-
Your father works for "phizer"? Does he also help support you? Or do you do that all on your own? (10 grand in loans from Harvard is excellent-you must be amazing).

 

[phar]

Originally posted by FZISHN
Posted by phar-

rotations....But then i chose pharmacy, i feel like i gave up on my dream. My father is pressuring me to pursue pharmacy as he works for phizer and tells all the great opportunities that lie with the pharmd degree....

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Phar-
Your father works for "phizer"? Does he also help support you? Or do you do that all on your own? (10 grand in loans from Harvard is excellent-you must be amazing).

the guy i ran away from...will help me??? However, i still believe that you must keep in contact with your parents..... Every heard of ran aways who keep in contact(phone) with thier biological parents? I made my final decision(medical school) to despise my biological parent advice.
However, i also love my foster mother.... And none of my parents/foster mother ever supported me both financially or emotionally....However, every once in a while their advice is good.

DON'T ever assume everybody out there is like you.


What is your point FZIHIN?. GET A LIFE!!!!

 

[FZISHN]

Congrats Phar-

As usual, a coherent and logical argument.

Go Harvard!