Thread: Is it even worth becoming a doctor anymore?

If you are a college freshman, do things right from the first day and get into a top US school. Do research, do community medicine, get the full experience before deciding what kind of medicine you will be doing. I think with this kind of experience and opportunity, being a doctor is great. But you will have loans and a long education to get through.

In the Caribbean, you still have those loans and long education but none of the benefits of a US education. Plus you are fighting an uphill battle getting a decent residency sometimes.

My conclusion? I think it is well worth being a doctor through a US school. In the Caribbean schools, not so much.

In response to your first question - No. But in response to your last question - No.

[Serious]For a freshman, you have more of an idea about the profession and your hopes than I did at that time. The thing that really put me onto medicine was experience. I worked in an ER and gained valuable insight into the field. I spoke to my own physician about his experience and anyone else that would talk to me. Hopefully, you take some time in making your decision and try to gain some clinical experience in the process. As for the current state of medicine, most FP, OB, Hospitalists I speak to are uncertain about healthcare's future in the US.[/Serious] But forreal, I regret this decision to go into medicine every day of my life, just like they told me I would.

The FP's I know are mostly community level docs - 2 are clinic based, 1 is urgent care, 1 is locum around the country - and they are all utterly despondent about their future. No money coming in, costs are rising and recruiters can't find them better positions. Plus, Kaiser pays 2 PA's to handle the workload of a FP MD, driving down salaries even more. 2 of these docs are doing their MBAs together... looking for an escape. All are above 40 yrs. old.

Originally Posted by Kronos

The FP's I know are mostly community level docs - 2 are clinic based, 1 is urgent care, 1 is locum around the country - and they are all utterly despondent about their future. No money coming in, costs are rising and recruiters can't find them better positions. Plus, Kaiser pays 2 PA's to handle the workload of a FP MD, driving down salaries even more. 2 of these docs are doing their MBAs together... looking for an escape. All are above 40 yrs. old.

Simple they just can do 3 years of Ophthalmology they will convalidate the year of intership and then to make ALOT of money and work very litle and not even worry if the guy/patient is going t die. Andbest part you start at 9am and you go to your house about 430 or 5 and STILL make 500k a year.

I just saw that. AMAZING son Ophthalmology is the thing to do.
Besides is cool.
glasses anyone?

Originally Posted by IMG SURVIVOR

Simple they just can do 3 years of Ophthalmology they will convalidate the year of intership and then to make ALOT of money and work very litle and not even worry if the guy/patient is going t die. Andbest part you start at 9am and you go to your house about 430 or 5 and STILL make 500k a year.

I just saw that. AMAZING son Ophthalmology is the thing to do.
Besides is cool.
glasses anyone?

which is exactly why it is one of hardest specialties to get into. It'd be great if everyone could just get into a "hot speciality" like that but realistically it just wont happen to everybody. I'm just not one of those of extremely smart people so most likely I'll end up in the carribean med schools and I'll probably end up getting a residency in internal medicine which is where most of the reimbursement problems are these days.

The career you chose is worth as long as you have your heart and soul into it.

Originally Posted by Genossa maximillian

The career you chose is worth as long as you have your heart and soul into it.

I will tell that to the Ophthalmology PD lets hope that do the trick

Originally Posted by coolkidd123

I'm just not one of those of extremely smart people so most likely I'll end up in the carribean med schools and I'll probably end up getting a residency in internal medicine which is where most of the reimbursement problems are these days.

med school is not about smart people. You may not have to be smart to get INTO a Caribbean med school, but you will have to work extremely hard to graduate from one and get an Internal Medicine residency. You could probably work half as hard and still be able to get into a US med school. You don't have to be just smart to get into med school, you have to be hard working to get in.

Just be sure that you truly like to help people.
You can be antisocial and be a __ __ will not post the specialty but there is one for each type of personality.