Change of career.

[RangerDanger830]

As some of you already know I obtained a B.S. and M.S. in Biology. In the not too recent past I have also managed to become a Doctor of Education. It wasn't until this last year when I started teaching Biology at a private college that I realized teaching is not for me. However, I do not want to go back to a lab either. The teaching was fun, I loved it. However, the massive amounts of paperwork and required extracurricular activities were not so fun. It ruined it for me. Working in a lab I only really had two main jobs. My first job was DNA analysis, that gets old fast. My second job I mass produced insulin via bacterial mediums with recombinant DNA.

I have decided to pursue a lifelong dream and become an M.D. I recently was accepted in a very good medical school and would lie if I said I wasn't a little nervous about it. What I know I am going to expect is a year of didactic studies for my freshman year. My second year is entirely clinicals. My third year is almost entirely research. Then my fourth year I get to choose from 16 topics and I will obtain a Master's in that field. I was told I could skip that part but since my job is paying for medical school and giving me a small salary I say why not add another degree on. Pending how I feel when the time comes of course.

I am going into emergency medicine. I know we have a few doctors on here and I was just wondering what are the first three years going to be like for me? Is it hard relatively speaking? What was residency like for you?

[RangerDanger830]

I would like to add that it is perfectly ok to send me a message, I know some of you to include me are paranoid about revealing too much of your personal lives.

[Euroholic]

What is a bs and ms? That like a uni degree?

[jnewton86]

What is a bs and ms? That like a uni degree?

Bachelors of science.

Masters of science.

Respect for going after what you want man. Never settle, make it happen

[PrettyPlease?]

Have you spent much time in an ED and/or shadowing/working with Emergency Medicine Physicians?

[RangerDanger830]

The only time I've actually spent in the ER was for a few weeks of clinicals in my paramedic class which I've been doing for two years. That's actually what helped me get accepted. I love being a paramedic which is originally what got me into the whole medicine field.

[king6 II]

My suggestion is research all the medical fields before you commit to just one. From what I understand you can get burned out pretty quick in emergency medicine. There are so many other fields out there, oncology, hematology, radiology and so on and so on. The only downside is some of the specialties is you can spend upwards of 8 to 10 years in training. I was pre med for like 10 minutes, and I was honest enough to say I was only interested in the financial gain of being a doctor which was not a good reason so I moved on.

[Chauffeur]

My suggestion is research all the medical fields before you commit to just one. From what I understand you can get burned out pretty quick in emergency medicine. There are so many other fields out there, oncology, hematology, radiology and so on and so on. The only downside is some of the specialties is you can spend upwards of 8 to 10 years in training. I was pre med for like 10 minutes, and I was honest enough to say I was only interested in the financial gain of being a doctor which was not a good reason so I moved on.

Just wanted to second this statement.

I'm not a doctor, but I work in emergency medicine so I work closely with many ER docs. Most of them seem to really enjoy what they do and they're quite good at it, but there are also quite a few who are really burned out.

Obviously, burn out can occur in any line of work, especially high stress jobs, but it almost seems like some of these doctors didn't really know what they were getting into. Or maybe the long/odd hours have just taken their toll.

Since you're a paramedic, you're probably very aware of the widespread abuse of our healthcare system. This systemic issue probably plays a large role in the burnout of ER doctors...or ALL doctors for that matter.

As long as you're prepared to witness this abuse on a daily basis I think you'll be just fine. It's when people allow it to bother the hell out of them that they become jaded and burned out.

Personally, if I were to do things over again and go the MD route, I'd still pick emergency medicine as my specialty. There's no escaping the abuse of our healthcare system if you work in medicine, might as well balance out the BS with some critical emergencies to keep things exciting.

[Hazard]

Orthopedics always interested me..... That's why i got I to it. Emergency medicine is nuts..... Very rewarding field

[PrettyPlease?]

Orthopedics always interested me..... That's why i got I to it. Emergency medicine is nuts..... Very rewarding field

Oh man Ortho was so boring and monotonous to me.