What is your motivation in becoming a doctor?

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Hi,

I was just wondering what are some of your motivation in becoming doctors. You will spend 4 years in medical school plus a minimum of 3 years doing residency. That is a total of 7 years. Then you'll be working close to 130 hour work weeks during residency. You will probably never see your family during that time.

What is your real motivation? I have heard so many. I heard helping people, but that is too broad. You can work for the peace crops and help people. Some peopel tell me money, but if you take a look at an entrepreneur they makes a lot more money than a doctor and if he ever takes his company public, he'll make much more.

Please share with me, what is your true motivation for becoming a doctor?

Thanks
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Must be application time...
 
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Members don't see this ad :)
The OP has so many extremist statements, I lost count of 'em.

Do what you love = success
 
I'll give it a try,

my motivation stems from the idea that medicine is a versatile and practical career. To be a physician, or better yet....an American medical physician literally allows you to do anything you wish....let me explain...

1) you will be able to provide security for your family...(this is..when you are married and have kids....your number one motivation to live)

2) you can get into business....(you will earn enough capital to atleast help one get started)

3) You can work as a physician anywhere in Earth ( ie..in case the US sinks into the ocean....or you wish to do medical missions ....or join the flying doctors of Australia...that kind of thing)

4) you will know the value of drugs...treatments....( sorry...you will still not understand medical insurance)

5) you will understand better ....the behavior of others....(hopefully)...you will also meet different kinds of people...the kind of people you only see in TV :)

6) oh..yeah..you can get into research...or teach...if you are ever inspired to do it....

I really can't think of any other career that allows you to do all of these things more easily than a medical career....and of course....you can work for peace corps and help others....goodluck to you if you wish to pursue a medical education! :cool:
 
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I second jabrin99

Is this for an interview question? Say so if it is so that we can give you a more specific answer.
 
An aortic valve replacement op.
 
no, no this is not in terms of an interview question, just a personal question as to your true motivation. So that 10 years from now you won't say "What the heck am I doing this for"?
 
it's a legit question...

1. med school is a pain in the ass. you will memorize tons of info, and remember <1% when you're out.

2. residency is fun so far (one month into it!). However, it's NOT 130 hour weeks, and i do see my family. the new regulations require max 80 hour week averaged over four weeks. a lot, perhaps, but better than the bad old days.

so why do it?

it's actually fun if this is your calling. i am helping people in a very real way every time i go into work. they do show appreciation, and i do feel good about my job.

it's a job that takes a lot of patience, and a lot of reading/learning. one must be a lifelong student of sorts, because the therapies ten years ago sometimes don't apply, and one must keep up with the most recent literature. some see that as a pain in the ass, but really, i find that as a part of the challenge of this job. it's really a calling, not just a 9-5 job. (certainly not a 9-5 job!)

some thoughts from the other side...
 
Can you say
E class Mercedes Benz!!! or how about
5 car garage... or maybe
hot women galore!!!
yeah!!!

when i get that white coat
i will be a hot co-
modity!!

I already am but hotter
 
Originally posted by jabrin99


...To be a physician, or better yet....an American medical physician literally allows you to do anything you wish....let me explain...

3) You can work as a physician anywhere in Earth ( ie..in case the US sinks into the ocean....or you wish to do medical missions ....or join the flying doctors of Australia...that kind of thing)
Click to expand...

If only this were true. Even a true blue "American medical physician" would have to write all the certification exams associated with the MD and their specialty to practice in a country like Australia, the UK and many parts of europe and asia. The exceptions are mainly countries which accept medical missions.

I looked into it -- the same is true for Canadians (so much for commonwealth). Most of us only write the Canadian and US licensing and Board certification exams, meaning that to practice in most other countries outside N.A., we would have to write these types of exams again -- after perhaps many years of staff-hood.
 
1) Chicks
2) Money
3) Power
4) Chicks

-Dr Cox
 
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macdown 1) Chicks
2) Money
3) Power
4) Chicks

-Dr Cox
Click to expand...

YOu mean doctors get more women? seriously
 
It is somthing intulectual that isnt as isolating as reasearch,
It is somthing that can make you plenty of money for your familiy.
You know you are helping people. working on wall street or in business seem to require that you screw others insome way.
To buy low and sell high means somone else must sell low and buy high.
 
You want it for the glory of it.
 
For me, it is a real calling... the kind that nuns get. I think we are all here because we are motivated to be MD/DO's. I think the more important thing is to lose sight on the goal and become disoriented, i.e. what the heck am I working 80 hr weeks for?? My reason for going through these years as premed can't be described in words. It's a calling. It's like an innate sense of reasoning resonating from within... crazy, huh?

That being said, I also like the idea of money (lotsa money), having prestige... but "more chicks" I don't know. Does that work in the other direction? Would I have a plethora of gorgeous, gold-digging men on my tail as a doctor? :love: Bring'em on! :clap:
 
kind of scaring me, some of the responses so far. why do i want to become a doctor? it's intellectually challenging, you get to meet new people all the time, and you get to (hopefully) make those people feel better when they get hurt.

just my thoughts anyways. if i wanted to make money i would have done something else.

working on wall street or in business seem to require that you screw others in some way.
Click to expand...

that's a little pessimistic, i think. although i understand where you're coming from.
 
Originally posted by Califlower
Would I have a plethora of gorgeous, gold-digging men on my tail as a doctor? :love: Bring'em on! :clap:
Click to expand...

I'd worry more about the sex deprived interns :laugh:
 
my reasons....

1.)I want to play God.

2.)I love situations where stress is at a max. Surgery is for me, it's got to be neurosurgery. I have a meticulous nature that can only be subdued by neurosurgery. Helping people? That's number three.
 
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It is nice being in a profession where helping others actually helps you. Work ethic, scholarship, altruism, and capitalism are not all mutually exclusive. Learning cool stuff, improving the lives of others, and making damn good money turn me on, so this is the field for me.
 
Someone asked me this question the other day, why I get up in the morning to attend summer classes, why pay all this tuition, why not just stay in bed and order pizza. I couldn't answer it, but whatever the case, it's my goal despite not knowing the motivation.
 
Because a bio degree is useless otherwise
 
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Theafoni said:
Someone asked me this question the other day, why I get up in the morning to attend summer classes, why pay all this tuition, why not just stay in bed and order pizza. I couldn't answer it, but whatever the case, it's my goal despite not knowing the motivation.
Click to expand...

Here's a question: why bump an 11-year-old thread?
 
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Whoops thought it was pre-allo. Carry on
 
Theafoni said:
Someone asked me this question the other day, why I get up in the morning to attend summer classes, why pay all this tuition, why not just stay in bed and order pizza. I couldn't answer it, but whatever the case, it's my goal despite not knowing the motivation.
Click to expand...

Notices last post to thread was in 2003....:whoa:
 
130hrs a week whooo that's a lot :rolleyes:
 
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Man I know people that are younger than this thread
 
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HessExpress said:
my reasons....

1.)I want to play God.

2.)I love situations where stress is at a max. Surgery is for me, it's got to be neurosurgery. I have a meticulous nature that can only be subdued by neurosurgery. Helping people? That's number three.
Click to expand...

I bet this guy runs like a PP allergy office or something now. Or maybe derm.
 
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A serious question demands a serious answer

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