Why are people choosing to pursue a career in medicine? (3 Viewers)

[iStudent]

hence 2nd part of my post bro, associated intellectual material Is very enjoyable

What did you mean by intellectual material? If by "intellectual" you mean intellectually stimulating - then I'd disagree. As far as I can see, a lot of the content involves learning facts and memorising. (that's not to say the course is boring though, since learning about the human body is quite interesting!)

 

[hayabusaboston]

What did you mean by intellectual material? If by "intellectual" you mean intellectually stimulating - then I'd disagree. As far as I can see, a lot of the content involves learning facts and memorising. (that's not to say the course is boring though, since learning about the human body is quite interesting!)

Intellectual material. What it sounds like man. The associated material you have to learn. I said nothing about it being stimulating I just enjoy reading about it.

 

[Schmeag]

What did you mean by intellectual material? If by "intellectual" you mean intellectually stimulating - then I'd disagree. As far as I can see, a lot of the content involves learning facts and memorising. (that's not to say the course is boring though, since learning about the human body is quite interesting!)

The intellectually stimulating part comes in after you have learnt the theory, which forms the basis of your 'logical reasoning'.

 

[BenSmithy]

There are way better options out there than Medicine if this [money] is what you want.

I hear countless other people say this too, but they never seem to give any concrete examples? Some Medical professionals who I know are earning $300,000. Heck, I've heard that some senior guys rake in $500,000+.

For most other professions, the max ceiling is about $200k, and those salaries are reserved for the top-end senior guys. Most Entry and middle-level workers would be happy just to surpass $100k.

What are the "way better options than medicine to get money"?

 

[turntaker]

I hear countless other people say this too, but they never seem to give any concrete examples? Some Medical professionals who I know are earning $300,000. Heck, I've heard that some senior guys rake in $500,000+.

For most other professions, the max ceiling is about $200k, and those salaries are reserved for the top-end senior guys. Most Entry and middle-level workers would be happy just to surpass $100k.

What are the "way better options than medicine to get money"?

entrepreneurship

 

[iStudent]

entrepreneurship

You still need money to get started tho...

And it's not like medicine excludes you from starting your business (e.g. say, opening your own practice)

 

[turntaker]

You still need money to get started tho...

And it's not like medicine excludes you from starting your business (e.g. say, opening your own practice)

time is money and medicine takes 10 years to do

 

[Kolmias]

1. Prestige.
2. Money.
3. Forum has high Asian population. Considered high prestige and respected career in that culture.

 

[BenSmithy]

entrepreneurship
[in reply to: I hear countless other people say this too, but they never seem to give any concrete examples? Some Medical professionals who I know are earning $300,000. Heck, I've heard that some senior guys rake in $500,000+.

For most other professions, the max ceiling is about $200k, and those salaries are reserved for the top-end senior guys. Most Entry and middle-level workers would be happy just to surpass $100k.

What are the "way better options than medicine to get money"?]

Oh ok. So that's one. Where are the "many other ways"?


There is so much pressure to make the most of the "incredible opportunity and talent I have" (i.e. Getting a 99.90 ATAR). Not a day goes by without someone asking what I'm going to be doing (and I reply with maths) and their jaw drops and they exclaim "DO MEDICINE! DO DENTISTRY! BECOME A SURGEON! Anything medically related dammit! You should make the most of the tremendous opportunity you have."


All my family+friends (they aren't asian btw) hold the mentality that "if you can do medicine and get high marks, then DO IT". They see it as a privilege to study something that leads to a high paying and secure career, and would look down upon a maths degree as a waste of talent and hard work and label it as a blown opportunity that most people dont ever get in their lives.

 

[Queenroot]

Oh ok. So that's one. Where are the "many other ways"?


There is so much pressure to make the most of the "incredible opportunity and talent I have" (i.e. Getting a 99.90 ATAR). Not a day goes by without someone asking what I'm going to be doing (and I reply with maths) and their jaw drops and they exclaim "DO MEDICINE! DO DENTISTRY! BECOME A SURGEON! Anything medically related dammit! You should make the most of the tremendous opportunity you have."


All my family+friends (they aren't asian btw) hold the mentality that "if you can do medicine and get high marks, then DO IT". They see it as a privilege to study something that leads to a high paying and secure career, and would look down upon a maths degree as a waste of talent and hard work and label it as a blown opportunity that most people dont ever get in their lives.

Why not law with that mentality?

 

[Riproot]

Oh ok. So that's one. Where are the "many other ways"?


There is so much pressure to make the most of the "incredible opportunity and talent I have" (i.e. Getting a 99.90 ATAR). Not a day goes by without someone asking what I'm going to be doing (and I reply with maths) and their jaw drops and they exclaim "DO MEDICINE! DO DENTISTRY! BECOME A SURGEON! Anything medically related dammit! You should make the most of the tremendous opportunity you have."


All my family+friends (they aren't asian btw) hold the mentality that "if you can do medicine and get high marks, then DO IT". They see it as a privilege to study something that leads to a high paying and secure career, and would look down upon a maths degree as a waste of talent and hard work and label it as a blown opportunity that most people dont ever get in their lives.

if your heart is not in it PLEASE DONT DO IT

Like
It is honestly one of the most taxing things you can do; physically and mentally/emotionally
I know so many people across the country either studying med now or recently graduated that have had their lives completely destroyed by doctors and the way medical schools are run
If your heart isn't in it 100% and you could see yourself doing something/ANYTHING else, then don't do it
It's not worth it

But if, like me, you couldn't even consider doing anything else
You need to learn to suck it up until you're old enough to change the system
(But by then I'm sure I'll be inside my own asshole or have completely given up on changing anything; like all the doctors I know now ^.^ )

 

[cosmo 2]

sounds like medical schools are really fucked

is there any reason at all why medicine needs to be as taxing as it is as a degree

i recognise the necessity for doctors to be competent in their field (particularly surgeons) but given the sheer number of horrible doctors i have been to that we seem to be fine with letting practice medicine in this country it seems like our standards aren't working

 

[enoilgam]

i recognise the necessity for doctors to be competent in their field (particularly surgeons) but given the sheer number of horrible doctors i have been to that we seem to be fine with letting practice medicine in this country it seems like our standards aren't working

For what anecdotal evidence is worth, Ive had the same experience to be honest. Ive been to many GPs and never found one Ive liked and in terms of specialists, Ive only ever really liked one or two. Most Doctors Ive seen fall into the asshole category.

 

[cosmo 2]

not just assholes they don't just emanate any sense of competence, at least at the level 10+ years of training is supposed to confer

it doesnt really seem like their jobs (in the case of GPs) are that hard all they do is stare at their computer screens (possibly punching your symptoms into a database), hand you a script and send you out the door as fast as possible

is it really necessary for doctors to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the human anatomy, medicine and medical conditions in the information age? i mean 50 years ago sure but it seems like the level of training required isnt in accordance with the present state of technology, available information and diagnostic tools

honestly seems like the hurdles people have to pass through in order to qualify to practice medicine are mainly a form of artifical employment protectionism and featherbedding

 

[cosmo 2]

great either or situation there buddy

 

[iStudent]

not just assholes they don't just emanate any sense of competence, at least at the level 10+ years of training is supposed to confer

it doesnt really seem like their jobs (in the case of GPs) are that hard all they do is stare at their computer screens (possibly punching your symptoms into a database), hand you a script and send you out the door as fast as possible

is it really necessary for doctors to possess an encyclopedic knowledge of the human anatomy, medicine and medical conditions in the information age? i mean 50 years ago sure but it seems like the level of training required isnt in accordance with the present state of technology, available information and diagnostic tools

honestly seems like the hurdles people have to pass through in order to qualify to practice medicine are mainly a form of artifical employment protectionism and featherbedding

I think they use the computer to check the current best treatment/dosages rather than checking symptoms

 

[cosmo 2]

yeah so do i

its funny though to say otherwise and they basically dont ever look at u anymore

 

[Havox]

yeah so do i

its funny though to say otherwise and they basically dont ever look at u anymore

If you've come across a doctor that doesn't examine well or take a good history then you should be suspect. That being said, it's often difficult from the patient perspective to realise what a good history/examination or set of investigations for a particular presenting symptom is without a medical degree. A lot more goes on in the background than just what you see, if we're looking on a computer, we're probably rechecking your known medical history, previous exam findings, investigation results or triple checking a treatment regime which are often in flux with current guidelines. In my practice, I'll check a treatment regime or dosing with guidelines even if I know it off by heart. I teach my students/juniors only to learn the emergent drug dosing and to look up everything else, it's just another layer of safety.

Back to the OP's question:
Why do people choose medicine?
Lotta reasons but the ones who do it for money leave quickly, we don't get paid enough to deal with the shit we have to.

 

[D94]

yeah so do i

its funny though to say otherwise and they basically dont ever look at u anymore

You seem to be alive, so it seems like they did their job.

 

[iStudent]

You seem to be alive, so it seems like they did their job.

Yea lol GPs make their diagnoses in like half a minute it's amazing. But I agree, it can feel like the consultation is rushed (even though they likely covered the important stuff)