physicians will work beyond the traditional
retirement date. The pattern of an average
physician can be portrayed in a linear fashion
as follows:
. . . .
...
College
Medical School
Residency
Practice
65
Post-practice
(4 years)
(4 years)
(3-6 years)
(about 38 years)
(5 plus years)
It is imperative for every premedical student to
have a genuinely realistic view of a
medical career, in order to avoid
disillusionment at a later date. However, it is
challeng-
ing to obtain such a perspective. Bear in mind,
that the response of individual physicians
largely depends on the nature of the specialty
and on their own professional success (or
the lack thereof). Each field has its own
demands in terms of working hours per week
(range: 45–65), the frequency of night
calls (from none to heavy), and stress due to the
nature of one's responsibilities (from none to
very intense).
The best picture of what might lie ahead, can
come from, in addition to reading,
autobiographical accounts written by physicians
(see Bibliography, page 686), personal
visits to hospitals (both wards and emergency
rooms), as well as speaking to physicians,
(both satisfied and dissatisfied), from a wide
range of specialties.
When practicing physicians reach the last phase
of their professional career, many
options are available; thus, they can slow down
the pace of their activities, yet retain a
professional link to medicine. Some older
physicians found a second career in some
medical-associated activity following
retirement. This can include administrative work
for insurance companies, local government, etc.
Thus, medicine can offer a life of finan-
cial security and respect as well as a deep
sense of accomplishment that continues until
retirement and even beyond.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
__________________________________________
As noted, medicine can be a most attractive and
fulfilling profession, but before one
seriously embarks upon the journey to become a
physician, it is most essential to fully
recognize the potential obstacles that lie
ahead and that need be overcome. These can be
briefly summarized as follows:
· a lengthy and vigorous period of
premedical education as an undergraduate.
· an intensely competitive medical
school admission process to secure a place.
· a lengthy and most challenging program
of medical education and training.
· a need to pass standardized national
exams as a medical student to graduate.
· a formidable challenge to select an
appropriate residency training area appoint-
ment at a suitable medical teaching
facility.
· a multiyear arduous period of graduate
clinical responsibility as a resident.
· a possible need to secure a fellowship
for advanced subspecialty training.
· a need to pass specialty examinations
to qualify for "board" certification.
· a need to secure recertification at
later intervals in one's career.
· a need to overcome obstacles
associated with establishing a practice.
In addition to the aforementioned hurdles, the
fact is that physicians face potentially
long working hours, stressful situations, and a
need to cope with governmental or man-
aged care bureaucratic obstacles. It is
therefore not surprising that reliable surveys sug-
gest that a significant number of doctors have
serious doubts about recommending their
profession to others, including members of
their own family.
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