Reality check – Some facts about pursuing a career in medicine

 

Before becoming an accomplished physician, Dr. Matt Boente, MD, had to undergo some serious challenges as a student. This is true for most, if not all, who have taken up medicine. In this blog, Dr. Boente shares some interesting facts.

Image source: medium.com 

1. Medical school takes a lot of time and resources.

If you really want to be a doctor, you must understand that a lot will be expected from you. Time in studies alone takes many years, with your college degree, medical school, and residency taking up most of your life as a student. You might want to pursue several specializations to keep you equipped with the latest knowledge and practices in your chosen field, shares Dr. Matt Boente, MD. Also, learning to be a doctor comes with a hefty price. The good news is that you have a shot at applying for scholarships if you are deserving enough.

2. Doctors aren't the highest paid in the workforce.

Many students take up medicine with a vision to attain the status of a "rich doctor," which is an influence of the idealized image portrayed in Hollywood movies, as well as mainstream TV dramas. The truth is, the average annual income of a doctor is about $200,000. Considering that the average American needs to spend around $160 each day to survive, you might find that you will get enough to pay for your daily survival and set a modest portion aside for your wants, notes Dr. Matt Boente, MD. If you're in it for the money, you have to realize that there are far higher-paying careers than medical practice.

Image source: petersons.com

3. Heartaches are a part of it all.

As a doctor, it is both a duty and a privilege to have a stake in saving people's lives. However, even with the most advanced technologies available, there will still be times when lives are lost under your watch. You will feel responsible for the loss, as most good doctors are. If you are not strong enough, it might eat you up inside. You will have to make peace with the fact that you cannot save them all, especially if you are in a tough area of expertise, like where cancer specialists are in.

Dr. Matt Boente, MD, is a member and an officer at various medical groups, including the American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American College of Surgeons, American Society of Clinical Oncology, NRG/Gynecologic Oncology Group, the International Gynecologic Oncology Society and the Society of Gynecologic Oncology. For more about his practice, visit this page.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Outlining the key competencies of doctors

Image
  What does it take to be a doctor? That seems to be a question that has no straight answer, considering that, as the world evolves, so do medicine and medical practices. Dr. Matt Boente, MD, however, attempts to shed light on the matter by sharing a number of key competencies that good doctors have. Image source: sgu.edu 1. Talent Without any exceptions, doctors need to be talented enough, particularly with a high intelligence quotient, in order for them to perform the duties and responsibilities that are expected of them. Doctors don’t go through a number of stringent processes for no reason. Earning an undergraduate degree, passing the MCAT, getting into medical school, and residency training, all serve as instruments that are designed to produce only the best minds in society. 2. Lifelong learning According to Dr. Matt Boente, MD, doctors are able to survive not only because of their ability to take in knowledge from the books they have read in their training, but because
Read more

Cubs update: What a canceled season looks like

Image
The past couple of weeks saw the world slow down as the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide continues to climb. Major sporting events are either suspended indefinitely or canceled. The MLB decided its best to cancel the season for everyone’s health and safety. Image source: wrex.com Image source: bleacherreport.com On March 8, the Cubs held their annual training in Wrigley Field in preparation for Opening Day, which was supposed to take place a few weeks following the annual training session. Two Cubs employees tested positive for COVID-19. The team did not have the results until March 23 and 24. The Cubs believe the training session on March 8 contributed to the exposure of the two to the highly-contagious virus since there was nothing indicative of it during the session, notes Dr. Matt Boente MD, an ardent supporter of the Chicago Cubs. Julian Green, the spokesperson for the Chicago Cubs, first talked with the Chicago Sun-Times about the COVID-19 positive case
Read more

A look at economics and the healthcare system

Image
  There is arguably no other industry today as strained as the healthcare industry. Amid the current global health crisis, healthcare professionals all over the country and the world have given their all to help the afflicted. However, even with the advancements in science and technology, the healthcare system continues to face difficulties. Image source: bhopalfracturehospital.com To give a clearer picture of the logistics the healthcare system struggles with, Dr. Matt Boente MD offers a quick glimpse of health economics needed to ensure that medical establishments like hospitals are kept running, patients are charged fairly, and healthcare workers are compensated adequately. The healthcare industry focuses on treating patients by utilizing assets from several sources along the way. From medical research and education to clerical and pharmaceutical to logistics, utilities, and more. The economics of healthcare is quite immense. There are professionals called health economists who d
Read more