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Why I Do It

I do it because I’m wired for it. I’m a medical doctor because I like the challenge of problem-solving and I enjoy the privilege of providing advice and comfort to patients.

During my medical school interviews, I gave the standard applicant spiel about wanting to help people. I was sincere, but I was both naive and idealistic. It was my residency training that gave me a more relistic view of the practice of medicine in America. I wrestled with cynicism. What resident doesn’t? The patient population that we serve as residents, while filled with many grateful, deserving patients, tends to have a disproportionate number of people with an unhealthy sense of entitlement. Couple that with our lack of power to set up healthy boundaries with those patients (i.e. being able to fire them for inappropriate behavior) and we all end up somewhat cynical.

What keeps me going back to work each day?  Well, there is one practical reason.  If I didn’t go to work I would default on my mountain [no exaggeration] of student debt and end up bankrupt. 

What else?  I honestly enjoy the mental challenge of family medicine.  I like preventive care.  I like the reward of finding cancer early.  I like guiding new parents through the unknown.  I enjoy being the doctor that my patients want to come talk to before they decide to follow a specialist’s advice.

Would I do it all again?  Yes, without hesitation.