What kind of doctor are you?

Question

I am a junior in high school and I have been thinking about my future a lot.
I keep thinking that I want to major in business and other things, but medicine is truely the only thing that interests me.
I would like to hear from doctors or nurses or other people in the medical business and tell me what they do.
I would also like to know if you are still able to have a social life with your busy career.
And I think that I want to work in a hospital, so I was wondering what types of specialties there are in a hospital. I don't know what it is, but I really think the hospital enviroment seems interesting. Some people hate hospitals but I would love to work in one.
So please tell me what your specialty is and tell me what is like to have a career as a doctor.
thanks!! ♥

Answer 1

I'm an anesthesiologist. It's great fun, because you get to stick needles in people (NOBODY at home lets me do that!) and hang out in the OR all day. I also get to wear pajamas at work - what's not to love?

On a more serious note, I like to keep people comfortable, I like the life and death nature of my job, I like the fact that when a case is done, it's DONE, and I don't have to follow up with that patient for weeks.

I get to see physiology and pharmacology in action, daily. I am involved with all sorts of people, from babies to old folks, healthy and sick, with all manner of ailments.

I now have a practice that lets me home with my family every night (it wasn't always that way, though. I worked a lot of nights to get here!)

If you want a career in medicine, be prepared to work your back side off for little to no pay until you're 30, and then work your back side off for a good salary until you retire. You have to constantly keep up with your education - it never stops.

Here's a podcast that I did on becoming a doctor:
http://www.medicalminutepodcast.com/?p=50
Click Play Now and listen right on your computer.

You can also check out the other shows I did and learn tidbits about all sorts of medical topics. It's aimed at people, not doctors.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do with your life.

Answer 2

I'm a second year General Surgery Resident. I work from 4am to 4pm, 5 days a week!

The first year of Medical School is toughest because it is all about gaining knowledge that you will have to remember.

The second year of Medical School is alot easier because you have adapted to the demands of the program in your first year.

3rd and 4th year of Medical School is basically all clinical in that you do various rotations (Internal Medicine, Cardiology, etc.) and gain practical experience.

There really isn't time for a social life during your Medical School years but I like being an MD and it was all worth it to me!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 3

I'm a surgeon. I do Liver Transplants and Gastrointestinal Surgery. I'm obviously from a different planet from dct..., the guy who was first to answer your question. What he describes as his work schedule I consider a vacation.

Answer 4

i'm an anesthesiologist, and i think that's a great hospital-based specialty. it definitely allows me enough time to spend with my family and to have a realtively normal social life. and most of all, it's fun! no matter what you end up doing, you gotta enjoy it.