DISQUS

AK · 1 year ago

Have you ever actually had brain surgery yourself? Do you know what atrocities you are actually doing? Do you actually think it helps people?

It is for the 200K salary figure - you got it.

Does electroconvulsive shock therapy actually work? Or does it make you more docile?

Why don't you actually get some ECT and then tell us if what you're doing is actually productive and it helps you huh?

diamondtearz · 1 year ago

I actually avoid arguments with patients. Your comments are not even remotely relevant but I'll let them stand and be read for what they are.

Annie · 9 months ago

So DiamondTearz,
What does it come down to when making the choice? I myself am about to take USMLE step 2 and will be applying for the next match, and am trying to figure out where, how, and what to apply for, right now it feels like a buffet in which I'm trying to pick the things that I might like the flavor of, any advice?

Thanks!

diamondtearz · 9 months ago

@Annie- It's a very tough choice! The realization that you're going to be doing whichever one you choose every waking moment for the rest of your life comes into play. One approach that's helpful is to think back to the rotations that you enjoyed and look at the temperament of the attendings and team there. You also want to weigh the lifestyle, where that specialty is going to go with the upcoming healthcare changes etc. Look at post-residency call schedules, how you'll fit a family into all of it etc. Ask physicians with personalities similar to yours what they love and hate about their day-to day and how they would change it. When I was younger I used to look at the salaries and that played a role. In the end, if you're locked away in a place that you don't want to be with 30 more years to go the money is a poor consolation prize.

If it's not a topic that you are passionate about and have a curiosity about, then reading tons of stuff about it will be pure punishment and the discipline to do it everyday forever will not be there.

As for me I took a nontraditional approach, or idiotic depending on who is telling the story. I went into Psychiatry but right now I'm programming. I have a strong belief that distributing medical information will empower patients to make better decisions and that the internet is the way to do this. I also believe in the power of games and other interactive media to changer behavior patterns and have therapeutic benefits. At some point I will find a way to make all of that into a package.

Medstudent · 7 months ago

Have you ever attended med school, AK? What you can't comprehend is that even with a 200K salary, it still takes years upon years to pay back med school loans - so yeah, I would say a good number of us are doing it to help people rather than for the money.


Also, it's not as if physicians ever force people to have brain surgery. Patients COULD always opt out...be a little more grateful for the quality of health care available to you.