Samar's Concern HERE!

[hope2bdoc]

I may have asked this before and sorry if I do. I just want to face a future w/ a career of at least some stability.
I did a public health internship this summer and kind of enjoyed it. I sometimes feel I belong more in Business or IT than the health related professions. Even though I enjoyed the public health field a bit, could I still pursue a medical career and specialize in public health?
Also, the great job security in medicine is one of the biggest reasons making me want to enter medicine. I never hear about any stupid, crappy outsourcing in medicine except for radiology and pathology. Plus, I never hear about the problem w/ layoffs or salary cuts in medicine. I feel these are important factors to have in life. Is it rt if I go into medicine mainly bc of the job security, even w/ a bit of interest in public health?
Also, how competitive is it for a foreign grad to land a public health specialty? I will try for a US med school 1st, but due to sick, anal competition, I may end up in the Caribbean or even India as worst-worst case scenario.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[missa]

Hi there,

Being a doctor is not an easy task, many have gone through medical school and after working for less than a year have quit the profession and gone on to pursue other careers. The only reason most doctors are doctors and continue to develop in their chosen specialty is because they have great interest in the health sciences, enjoy contributing their time in research and helping people in general. Please think wisely of your decision. There are many other career opportunities out there that will enable you to attain higher job security and a stable income, without having to spend almost 24/7 a day working. Whatever you choose to pursue in life, with hard work and perseverance, you'll be able to make it through well enough.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?

You should begin exploring your interest the moment you first
consider a career in the health professions. At some point you will
have to convince someone other than your mother that you are serious
and educated about your career choice. You will have to convince
someone that you have explored your career decision thoroughly and
know why it is a good decision for you. Your decision will have to
be evidence-based and you will have to be able to articulate it very
well.

The physical, emotional and intellectual challenges in the health
professions are immense. They result from the serious issues that an
individual human life can present when you are in a position of
responsibility. The workload is large and with you always, which
requires physical and emotional stamina. The problems faced can be a
complicated mix of the most sophisticated and newest science,
behavioral psychology, intricate politics and thorny ethical and
philosophical considerations. You need to be as certain as you can
be before committing to a life in this arena.

The University and surrounding community offer many opportunities
for exploring your career choice. You have many resources available
to you.Universities, hospitals, clinics, laboratories and medical
centres are accessible to you. Make certain that you make use of
these resources.

How do you know?

How do you know if you are taking a rational approach to exploring
and testing your career choice? Following are some questions to ask
yourself that will help you determine the degree to which your
career decision has advanced.

Is human service important to you?

Why you should ask yourself this question - An effective and
successful health professional is committed to serving others. There
is no way that you can fake this. To explore your thoughts about
this question, answer the following:

• What specific acts can you draw from your life so far that
demonstrate your commitment to service?
• How much time have you spent so far in volunteering your services
to persons who are in need?
• How can you demonstrate that your volunteer efforts have been
motivated out of a genuine desire to help others?
• How can you demonstrate that your efforts on behalf of others have
not taken place because you have heard that you need to have done
volunteer work as a part of an attractive application to a
medical/dental school?
• How can you demonstrate that you do not wait for opportunities to
be of help to arise?
• Can you say that you have experienced the unpleasant, tedious and
emotional aspects of human service? Can you say that you have
experienced these things to a degree sufficient to say that you
accept them?
• What have you done to demonstrate to yourself your acceptance of
the fact that much of the service you provide may not seem to have
an immediate benefit or perhaps no benefit at all?
• Do you offer your service because of how it makes you feel, or
because of how it might make the recipient feel?
• What specific influences can you identify that have caused you to
consider a career in the health professions?
• What role have your parents played in your decision?
• What role have your friends played in your decision?
• Produce a list of articles and books about the health professions
that you have read?
• How have you explored other careers? Why did you reject them?
• How have you discovered what personal strengths you would bring to
the health professions? In what ways do you think you are ideally
suited? What aspects do you think will be most easy for you?
• What have you done to discover what aspects of a career in the
health professions will be a challenge for you?
• What have you done to discover what aspects of life in the health
professions might always be stressful for you?
• List the experienced health professionals with whom you have
discussed your chosen profession.
• What experiences have you had that demonstrate your ability to
work effectively as a member of a health care team?
• What, that you enjoy or cherish, will you have to reduce or give
up in order to pursue a career in the health professions?
• Can you point to aspects of other careers that really appeal to
you or play on a strength you have that you will not be able to
develop because you choose to enter a health profession?
• How important are prestige, money and/or a respected profession to
you?
• Can you demonstrate your understanding of the power of cultural
and social issues in the maintenance of health and the prevention of
disease?

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS DEEPLY BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR CHOICE