How do you know if medicine is right for you?

The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient that has the disease.

- William Osler

One of my followers asked me "How do I know if medicine is right for me?" It sparked a moment (well more like 10 minutes) of introspection on my part. How did I know? Has that reason changed throughout my educational career thus far? I am going to try my best to break it down for you, and for myself.

I went into medicine for a few reasons:

First, I was a sick baby, and sick child. I grew up in and out of hospitals and doctors offices, and became really close to my healthcare team. I did not grow up in a family of doctors (i.e parents, grandparents), but I did grow up around healthcare professionals that had one goal: to take care of me. Those people and their desire to make ME better, had a profound effect on me.

Second, I LOVE school. I was, and still am obsessed with learning. I always ask questions, look things up, and read, read, READ! To become a doctor, you have to commit to lifelong learning, and that was something that truly appealed to me. I wanted a career where not only was I able to grow in my education, but I was "forced" to by the incredible advances of the field.

Third, as cliche as this seems, I want to help people. Medicine allows me to use skills I have, in science, in health, in people skills, to better someone else's life. The science component of medicine has always interested me, and being able to use what I learn to save another's life makes it all worth it.

I've complied a list of questions you should ask yourself if you are considering medicine. To go into the medical field, I personally believe the answers to most of these questions should be "yes". However, these are not a requirement, just something to think about!

1. Do you want to better yourself and the community around you, by improving health and wellness? Are you willing to look past things that others may be biased against?

~ Medicine is truly about helping others, regardless of personal beliefs, religion, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or financial/personal gain.

2. Are you dedicated to learning, not only for personal benefit, but for using that information to serve others?

~ Medicine requires you to learn an absurd amount of information, and be able to use that information in the care of others in the future.

3. Are you willing to devote an incredible amount of time and energy to your craft?

~ Just a break down: 4 years of undergraduate studies + 4 years of medical school + 3-6 years of residency, makes about 12 years just to become a practicing physician! This does not include the hours of time spent preparing, applying, studying, working and networking, or all of the hours of working post residency. It is a HUGE time commitment!

4. Are you willing to alter some of your other life plans around medical school and a career as a physician?

~ Sometimes, things like marriage and children may have to wait until a certain time in your educational career. This is not a for-sure aspect of medicine, as I have plenty of classmates who have spouses or children, and who are planning to get married while in school. Numerous people, including myself, are in committed relationships. However, balancing life and relationships is much harder in medical than not. It requires dedication and hard work.

Medicine is rewarding, difficult, time consuming, and life changing. How did you know it was right for you? Let me know in the comments!