Absolutely not. It's becoming increasingly difficult to justify the time and expense associated with becoming a physician, especially when you compare this career path to other health care professions (CRNAs, DNPs, DDS, in particular).
Declining reimbursement, steady erosion of autonomy, ridiculous claims of "equivalence" between midlevels and physicians, a notoriously bad medical malpractice climate, horrendous inefficiencies in patient care, crappy (but mandatory) EHR systems, idiotic legislators dictating how medicine is practiced, constant sleep deprivation during medical school and residency, mountains of student debt, the rising tide of greedy corporations (biotech companies, big Pharma, hospital conglomerates)...the list goes on and on.
Essentially, there's no way in hell I would have become a physician again. The end doesn't justify the means anymore. I would have gone to dental school, subspecialized (if possible), and stayed in the same city where I grew up (a place where dentists have always done very well).
I don't advise people to go to medical school anymore. If college students ask for my advice these days, I tell them to either go to dental school or go into nursing with the intent of becoming a CRNA or DNP. With very few exceptions, it's just not worth it to become a physician anymore. Too much sacrifice to be labeled as "equivalent" to individuals with a fraction of your training and lower barriers to entry.
The practice climate for physicians in the U.S. is crappy (and getting worse every year). And this is precisely why I'm packing my bags soon to practice abroad, where the enormous sacrifice involved in becoming a physician is actually appreciated.
Goodbye, U.S.A. This is what happens when the practice environment becomes hostile towards physicians in general--eventually physicians will simply leave to practice elsewhere.
