Is it reasonable to become, a doctor, but also raise a family?

Question

I want to go into a career in the medical field. But I also want a family.
What should I do?
Any other options?

Answer 1

The "medical field" is VERY broad and expanding rapidly. I personally know MANY people that work in the medical fields that make very good incomes and are not physicians. I also know many people who have gone through medical school, done well academically, passed all their boards and have pretty crummy incomes.

I think it largely comes down to the choices that you make. If you go to very costly school and have large loans and don't go into a lucrative field of medicine and/or are practicing in area with very high costs you will be working a tremendous amount of time and not actually making a good income.

OTOH you need not even go to medical school to do some things that only a short time ago only physicians did. Anesthetists are one speciality, another is Physician's Assistants, and third is Certified Nurse Midwives. Technically, even EMTs and Paramedics do more for immeadiate patient care than all but the busiest ER physicians. I could also list the various therapists, technicians, and specializied care giversm but you can search on those.

I also know many fine men and women who are physicians and are very involved in raising their family. They are in all areas of practice, from family medicine to surgery and the most demanding sub-specialities. In general they have to be VERY detail oriented and efficient people with a good head for the "business" of medicine and not just the science & patient care. It is a challenge, but that is the way our health care system in the US is setup and that could change...

If you are in high school I would strongly suggest that you talk to YOUR family physician. Ask him or her what they like about their career and ways that they migh recomend changing things. If you are in the first year or two of college I would recommend that you give serious thought to getting a part time or summer job in a hospital, probably at very low level, to see first hand how the patient transport works and how things get cleaned. It is sort of ringside view into a world that too few medical students see.

There are an amazing variety of people that work in the "medical field" and it will need more.

Answer 2

Easier to raise a family with a doctorate.

You're going to have money.
Get into your own private practice. You can make your own hours.

Answer 3

Yes.

Answer 4

Its gonna take alot of sacrifices, but once you have made those it would be well worth it.