Would you apply to medical school if you had an immune issue?

[OpheliasWings]

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Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to post here and get some input from someone outside of the box. I am a non-traditional student, about to finish out my bachelors degree in Psychology. I was originally a pre-nursing student then decided I wanted to apply to medical school to become a pediatrician. Last Spring at this time I had an unexpected spleen removal surgery and have since been on high alert about my health and lack of immunity. I was assured by my surgeon that I could go into any line of work I wanted to as long as I was cautious and stayed up to date on my vaccines every 5 years.
The problem is that I feel that being a med student and eventually a doctor would put me at a huge risk of infection being around ill people in a hospital setting all the time. Perhaps this is common sense or perhaps it's just my self preservation setting in, but I wanted to get opinions from others.
Would any of you go into medicine knowing that you would be at a higher risk of infection?
I have also considered going into pediatric physical therapy as an alternative route. I figure that it would give me a different option where I could help people, but reduce my risk of being in a high risk environment all the time.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions on alternative career paths in the medical field?
Thanks in advance!
Sonseria

 

[PlaqueBuster]

There are many things you can do in medicine that have limited contact with people (i.e. radiology). Your condition will not hinder your career. Now, during medical school the long hours spent on studying, stress and lack of sleep may affect your condition in one way or another, but if you are seriously interested in medicine then go for it and don't think about this.

 

[Goro]

How badly do you want to be a doctor? I have students who have had transplants and are on immunosuppressive meds. One once developed an opportunistic infection and lost a year here.

So yeah, there are risks, but you can get exposed to bad things just by walking down the street or going to Sam's Club.

Just doing some quick PubMed research tells me you're nowhere in as risky territory as the students I referred to are.

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to post here and get some input from someone outside of the box. I am a non-traditional student, about to finish out my bachelors degree in Psychology. I was originally a pre-nursing student then decided I wanted to apply to medical school to become a pediatrician. Last Spring at this time I had an unexpected spleen removal surgery and have since been on high alert about my health and lack of immunity. I was assured by my surgeon that I could go into any line of work I wanted to as long as I was cautious and stayed up to date on my vaccines every 5 years.
The problem is that I feel that being a med student and eventually a doctor would put me at a huge risk of infection being around ill people in a hospital setting all the time. Perhaps this is common sense or perhaps it's just my self preservation setting in, but I wanted to get opinions from others.
Would any of you go into medicine knowing that you would be at a higher risk of infection?
I have also considered going into pediatric physical therapy as an alternative route. I figure that it would give me a different option where I could help people, but reduce my risk of being in a high risk environment all the time.
Any thoughts? Any suggestions on alternative career paths in the medical field?
Thanks in advance!
Sonseria

 

[Mad Jack]

You would be far from the most immunologically compromised person to ever enter medicine. I've had coworkers that were on chemotherapy that worked all the way through it, coworkers with HIV, and hell, look at this guy: http://www.cff.org/LivingWithCF/InTheSpotlight/PreviouslyFeatured/Chuck-Fox.cfm

If you don't know anything about CF, let's just say that the life expectancy (totally aside from the infection risk) would put most people with the disease off of going to medical school, but the infection risk makes the job damn near deadly, particularly when coupled with the stresses of residency. If he could do it, so can you. Don't let a little thing like a missing spleen hold you back.

 

[DesertPT]

Cross-posted in non-trad forum, just for everyone's information.

 

[WingedOx]

I work with someone who's been on immunosupressants for years. There are a few patients this person has to be careful around, but you don't see all that many "sick" people in Neuro to create problems in this situation.

 

[OpheliasWings]

You would be far from the most immunologically compromised person to ever enter medicine. I've had coworkers that were on chemotherapy that worked all the way through it, coworkers with HIV, and hell, look at this guy: http://www.cff.org/LivingWithCF/InTheSpotlight/PreviouslyFeatured/Chuck-Fox.cfm

If you don't know anything about CF, let's just say that the life expectancy (totally aside from the infection risk) would put most people with the disease off of going to medical school, but the infection risk makes the job damn near deadly, particularly when coupled with the stresses of residency. If he could do it, so can you. Don't let a little thing like a missing spleen hold you back.

Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate you taking the time to offer a supportive post in regards to my question. It's good to see that there are others that have been determined enough to overcome their health hurdles to become doctors. Thank you for sharing the article, that is really encouraging. I had a really awesome surgeon last year that removed my spleen, he was my age and a board certified vascular surgeon. He was very supportive and told me that I could do anything I wanted for a living as long as I took care of myself, made sure that I was cautious with what I did, and stayed up to date on my vaccinations. I had another individual on one of the other boards call me a hypochondriac for being concerned about my health. I'm the farthest thing from, however I do have a family and don't want to croak because I decided to pursue medical school. I think that it's a very valid question as to whether or not individuals who are immune compromised can safely pursue a medical career. So thank you for being supportive!

 

[OpheliasWings]

How badly do you want to be a doctor? I have students who have had transplants and are on immunosuppressive meds. One once developed an opportunistic infection and lost a year here.

So yeah, there are risks, but you can get exposed to bad things just by walking down the street or going to Sam's Club.

Just doing some quick PubMed research tells me you're nowhere in as risky territory as the students I referred to are.

Thank you, I appreciate the input.

 

[OpheliasWings]

I work with someone who's been on immunosupressants for years. There are a few patients this person has to be careful around, but you don't see all that many "sick" people in Neuro to create problems in this situation.

Thanks for the post. I appreciate the input. My husband has been trying to convince me that I won't be spending as much time as I think around insanely contagious people and since I have not interest in pursuing a life as a hospitalist that being a run of the mill pediatrician is not going to kill me. But I don't know anyone personally that has Cancer, AIDS, or any other auto immune disorder that I could speak with, much less one that is in medical school or is a practicing physician. I figured it was worth posting on the forum to get some input from others that are in the field. Thanks for your time.

 

[OpheliasWings]

There are many things you can do in medicine that have limited contact with people (i.e. radiology). Your condition will not hinder your career. Now, during medical school the long hours spent on studying, stress and lack of sleep may affect your condition in one way or another, but if you are seriously interested in medicine then go for it and don't think about this.

Thank you. I appreciate your input. Thank you for having a positive perspective and opinion!