What should I do if I have a slight interest in medicine?

Question

Right now I am pursuing a degree in Archaeology but I am also interested in Medicine, I've always loved those doctor shows like ER, House, Greys anatomy etc... Should I just study on my own and satisfy my curiosity or take it further. I find it fascinating but ironically, the whole surgery part and internal part kind of grosses me out, but other than that I like the rest, learning about how the body works and illnesses etc... and such. What should I do?

Answer 1

well you have to decide if its just curiosity or if its really something you would want to do. you cant just have a slight interest in medicine and expect to get and go through medical school successfully.

Answer 2

I think you ask an excellent question. I am a practicing Orthopaedic Surgeon in the USA. I also hold a PhD in Physics, so I totally understand your ambivalence.

My first remark is that you can certainly study Medicine because it's interesting, but it'd become really difficult to practice Medicine if you really don't appreciate the beauty of taking care of sick/injured people.

Virtually every physician I studied with, even those who never entered clinical medicine eventually understood that the human body is the most beautful/brilliant piece of art that's ever existed. After taking a few courses in Medical School, I think you'll find that the things which may appear gross at first glance will one day allow you to directly intervene in the illness of a patient or the suffering of that patient's family.

Medical School can be quite expensive, so before you matriculate, I do hope you strongly consider whether you simply want to learn medicine out of curiousity/interest or whether you genuinely want to attain this wealth of knowledge and put it either into clinical use or as a scientist in the advancement of our understanding of diseases.

I do wish you well, and I wish I could tell you the answer, but only you can figure this one out. The uneasiness most of us had when we first stepped into the Anatomy Lab and touched/smelled our first cadaver went away pretty quickly. If you're particularly keen on surgery as a specialty, then you'll find it a great privilege to study the organs of the human body and the novelty will wear off pretty quick. I hope that this doesn't discourage you from pursuing a career in a noble profession.

Answer 3

Please realize that the reality of medicine is so far from ER, House, Grey's Anatomy that it's not even funny.

Your basis for deciding to study medicine should NOT be based upon these shows, or any shows for that matter. What would you put on your application essay for why you are interested in medicine? I think you need to get some experience in the medical field and understand how it really is.

Answer 4

Study homeopathy on line. You can become a doctor and there is no surgery.

Answer 5

Talk to different physicians about their jobs and ask them if you can shadow them for a day to see what they exactly do.