Comments on: Medical Specialty Outlook: What does the future hold? http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/ A nonprofit educational organization Wed, 16 May 2012 04:32:57 -0400 hourly 1 By: Terry http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-9973 Terry Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:23:02 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-9973 Awesome Rick. Loved your story. Awesome Rick. Loved your story.

]]> By: Frank Means http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-6481 Frank Means Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:39:31 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-6481 Neurology. Neurology.

]]> By: Dave B http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-5829 Dave B Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:56:08 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-5829 James, I am 39 YO, with an Engineering degree and an MBA in Information Systems and I am in pretty much the same boat as Rick. I have a job but had to take a 20% pay-cut after I got laid off from one of the big financials in 2009. Technology is ever-changing and continuous education (read hard core studying) is required to be competitive and you are competing with people anywhere from 18 to 65. And most importantly, in my profession we do not have an AMA which was lobbying until 2006 saying there are too many Doctors in America, effectively keeping the supply LOW (capitalized on purpose) and demand HIGH. I will start Medical School (we from Technology background tend to capitalize, unnecessarily) in 2012 with scholarship, based on my MCAT score and GPA of pre-med courses. Yes, I had to take them as after high school I did not take any Physics, Chemistry (Gen and Org), and Bio. Anyone looking for a career change from a similar background, please go ahead and Just Do It. If you can make various communication protocols talk to each other, or develop custom software using multiple languages, you can certainly do THIS. Rick - Good Luck to you. James - Stop being a condescending A'Hole. James,
I am 39 YO, with an Engineering degree and an MBA in Information Systems and I am in pretty much the same boat as Rick. I have a job but had to take a 20% pay-cut after I got laid off from one of the big financials in 2009.
Technology is ever-changing and continuous education (read hard core studying) is required to be competitive and you are competing with people anywhere from 18 to 65. And most importantly, in my profession we do not have an AMA which was lobbying until 2006 saying there are too many Doctors in America, effectively keeping the supply LOW (capitalized on purpose) and demand HIGH.
I will start Medical School (we from Technology background tend to capitalize, unnecessarily) in 2012 with scholarship, based on my MCAT score and GPA of pre-med courses. Yes, I had to take them as after high school I did not take any Physics, Chemistry (Gen and Org), and Bio. Anyone looking for a career change from a similar background, please go ahead and Just Do It. If you can make various communication protocols talk to each other, or develop custom software using multiple languages, you can certainly do THIS.
Rick – Good Luck to you.
James – Stop being a condescending A’Hole.

]]> By: Dr. Epione http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-5828 Dr. Epione Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:41:58 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-5828 I don't know how it is in the US, but in Argentina's main public university it's very, very hard to become an MD. The career is long (6 years + internship + residency) the teachers terribly demanding, not to mention the gruelling bureaucracy. Also, there's a meager budget so we've got no central heating and struggle to obtain even the most basic supplies (not to mention high-tech equipment). Once you finally do manage to graduate, the healthcare system is oversaturated, the hospitals falling to pieces, with only some acceptable exceptions. There's a horrible asymmetry in the attention the patients get according to their social status. It's no coincidence either that the students who actually complete their studies and earn a title are mostly those better off financially. Even highly respected physicians don't make the six digit sums that any ordinary doctor gets in the US. I would estimate their yearly earnings in a third of that figure. And before you say that's because we're underqualified, let me tell you we've got several Nobel prizes, and world-wide acclaimed physicians. I doubt people get into med school here merely because of greed. I don’t know how it is in the US, but in Argentina’s main public university it’s very, very hard to become an MD. The career is long (6 years + internship + residency) the teachers terribly demanding, not to mention the gruelling bureaucracy. Also, there’s a meager budget so we’ve got no central heating and struggle to obtain even the most basic supplies (not to mention high-tech equipment).
Once you finally do manage to graduate, the healthcare system is oversaturated, the hospitals falling to pieces, with only some acceptable exceptions.
There’s a horrible asymmetry in the attention the patients get according to their social status. It’s no coincidence either that the students who actually complete their studies and earn a title are mostly those better off financially.

Even highly respected physicians don’t make the six digit sums that any ordinary doctor gets in the US. I would estimate their yearly earnings in a third of that figure.

And before you say that’s because we’re underqualified, let me tell you we’ve got several Nobel prizes, and world-wide acclaimed physicians.

I doubt people get into med school here merely because of greed.

]]> By: James http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-93 James Tue, 22 Feb 2011 16:58:59 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-93 Rick, Congratulations. I think I'll laugh, too. You've proved to the SDN world that you're a professional student. With all 4 of your degrees, one would hope that by now you would have figured out that the phrase "medical school" contains no proper nouns and requires no capitalization. But I suppose a "doctor" in international business doesn't have much need for English. Also, will you please post a link to your dissertation? "Giving, Getting and Using Infomration as the modifiers and dependent variables." I love it already and am dying to read it as soon as possible. James, MSII Rick,

Congratulations. I think I’ll laugh, too. You’ve proved to the SDN world that you’re a professional student. With all 4 of your degrees, one would hope that by now you would have figured out that the phrase “medical school” contains no proper nouns and requires no capitalization. But I suppose a “doctor” in international business doesn’t have much need for English. Also, will you please post a link to your dissertation? “Giving, Getting and Using Infomration as the modifiers and dependent variables.” I love it already and am dying to read it as soon as possible.

James, MSII

]]> By: christne http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-92 christne Sun, 07 Nov 2010 14:00:31 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-92 Only for those who are not doctors or even in any medical field can say that doctors are there only for the money. Its not as if ANYONE can be a doctor--there is so much competition and high expectations for this field. And going in to a career knowing that after 4 years undergrad there is still 4 more years of medical school and then at least 2-5 years more of residency...would certainly deter anyone who wasn't truly in love with the profession running for the hills. So being a doctor is so much more than the money. Those who end up being ones know all the sacrifices that go along with it. Money is like the very tip of the iceberg, but honestly you're way below water most of the time. Only for those who are not doctors or even in any medical field can say that doctors are there only for the money. Its not as if ANYONE can be a doctor–there is so much competition and high expectations for this field. And going in to a career knowing that after 4 years undergrad there is still 4 more years of medical school and then at least 2-5 years more of residency…would certainly deter anyone who wasn’t truly in love with the profession running for the hills. So being a doctor is so much more than the money. Those who end up being ones know all the sacrifices that go along with it. Money is like the very tip of the iceberg, but honestly you’re way below water most of the time.

]]> By: Orville Adamik http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-91 Orville Adamik Fri, 15 Oct 2010 05:11:08 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-91 Hello, great blog! I've used this technique a number of times already and i've had great success. All dentists should take note of this. Fast with a good end result, what more could you ask for? Thanks. Hello, great blog! I’ve used this technique a number of times already and i’ve had great success. All dentists should take note of this. Fast with a good end result, what more could you ask for? Thanks.

]]> By: Rick http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-90 Rick Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:36:00 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-90 Ok, I'll give everyone a big roaring laugh, I just turned 60 and I also just got accepted to Medical School; I have a Business/Pharmacy Degree, Engineering Technology Degree, Masters in International Management and a Doctorate in International Business; my dissertation was on Sales Behaviors using Empathy as the independent variable and Giving, Getting and Using Infomration as the modifiers and dependent variables. Why did I at 60 choose to do what I'm doing, well, it wasn't all about money, but yes, that had a role in my decision, it was basically the fact that with all my educational background, I couldn't find a decent job after I sold my own company of 12 years. Anyway, I've always had the desire to become a physician, and I even know what I want to specialize in; Internal Medicine; because there will be so many older people to take care of in the next 10-15 years. Thanks for allowing me to post this response. Ok, I’ll give everyone a big roaring laugh, I just turned 60 and I also just got accepted to Medical School; I have a Business/Pharmacy Degree, Engineering Technology Degree, Masters in International Management and a Doctorate in International Business; my dissertation was on Sales Behaviors using Empathy as the independent variable and Giving, Getting and Using Infomration as the modifiers and dependent variables.

Why did I at 60 choose to do what I’m doing, well, it wasn’t all about money, but yes, that had a role in my decision, it was basically the fact that with all my educational background, I couldn’t find a decent job after I sold my own company of 12 years.

Anyway, I’ve always had the desire to become a physician, and I even know what I want to specialize in; Internal Medicine; because there will be so many older people to take care of in the next 10-15 years.

Thanks for allowing me to post this response.

]]> By: MD one day soon http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-89 MD one day soon Fri, 08 Jan 2010 15:25:34 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-89 "The reason why primary care docs get payed so little is because they do so little" Dave, I laughed out loud when I read that. You are a moron. “The reason why primary care docs get payed so little is because they do so little”

Dave, I laughed out loud when I read that. You are a moron.

]]> By: Dr. Nick http://studentdoctor.net/2007/01/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-88 Dr. Nick Tue, 13 Oct 2009 02:07:05 +0000 http://studentdoctor.net/blog/2007/01/25/medical-specialty-outlook-what-does-the-future-hold/#comment-88 For those who are saying people shouldn't be going into medicine for the money - you're absolutely right. But you can't be naive either... Eventually we all must make decisions about what kind of life we want for ourselves. If you want a family and/or any kind of meaningful life outside of the hospital, specialties like general surgery start looking less and less attractive. For those who are saying people shouldn’t be going into medicine for the money – you’re absolutely right. But you can’t be naive either… Eventually we all must make decisions about what kind of life we want for ourselves. If you want a family and/or any kind of meaningful life outside of the hospital, specialties like general surgery start looking less and less attractive.

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