Comments on: 7 Reasons to Quit Your Residency http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/ A Cynical Look At Medical School and Medical Training Tue, 27 Jul 2010 00:55:44 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Lifesucks http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/comment-page-1/#comment-59916 Lifesucks Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:59:48 +0000 http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/#comment-59916 LifeSucks says: March 31, 2008 at 11:25 pm Hey Hoover, this comment isn’t directed toward this particular article. Rather, I’m simply commenting on the site. I wandered on to your site today and my jaw kind of hit the floor. Because after sifting through the posts on here I realized I was looking into a mirror. If I had ever started a blog it would be just like yours with similar articles and feelings (maybe not as neatly organized). About junior year into medical school I also realized I didn’t like anything. Oh, if you asked me what specialties I didn’t want to do I’d have spit out my answers like pediatrics and Ob/Gyn in a millisecond. Had you asked me what I was interested in though, I probably would have just given you a blank stare. Anyways, last year I tried to escape my plight by applying for EM but I didn’t match. So after sitting out a year I find out I’m now set to begin medicine come July. But you want to know the problem? I hated my medicine core and sub-internship. I expect things to be exponentially worse in residency. I often thought about quitting during 4th year of medical school but I’m one of the 50% you mentioned in one of your other posts. I’m too old and owe too much money. I guess it’s time for me to get the Paxil and Zoloft ready. I hope lots of undecided pre-meds see your site before they take the plunge because it really is very difficult to turn the ship around. LifeSucks says:
March 31, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Hey Hoover, this comment isn’t directed toward this particular article. Rather, I’m simply commenting on the site. I wandered on to your site today and my jaw kind of hit the floor. Because after sifting through the posts on here I realized I was looking into a mirror. If I had ever started a blog it would be just like yours with similar articles and feelings (maybe not as neatly organized).

About junior year into medical school I also realized I didn’t like anything. Oh, if you asked me what specialties I didn’t want to do I’d have spit out my answers like pediatrics and Ob/Gyn in a millisecond. Had you asked me what I was interested in though, I probably would have just given you a blank stare.

Anyways, last year I tried to escape my plight by applying for EM but I didn’t match. So after sitting out a year I find out I’m now set to begin medicine come July. But you want to know the problem? I hated my medicine core and sub-internship. I expect things to be exponentially worse in residency. I often thought about quitting during 4th year of medical school but I’m one of the 50% you mentioned in one of your other posts. I’m too old and owe too much money.

I guess it’s time for me to get the Paxil and Zoloft ready. I hope lots of undecided pre-meds see your site before they take the plunge because it really is very difficult to turn the ship around.

]]> By: jinglebells http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/comment-page-1/#comment-51153 jinglebells Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:21:31 +0000 http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/#comment-51153 Hi, So MedicineSucks, are you a resident at the moment? And what country are you in? I am a second year medical student, 19yrs old, and about 20,000 New Zealand dollars in debt to the government (student loan). I have suddenly realised that I did not give "adequate thought" as to whether to pursue medicine or not, partly because my first year was competitive for medicine entrance, so i had to be focussed on getting in. When I finished school i was really interested in arts, and now that feeling is coming back and sometimes I want to jump off the boat and swim over to law and a BA. However I feel those subjects arent as worthwhile, because I know I can help people with medicine, on the flipside though, I know I would love to study those subjects. I enjoy medicine at the moment, but there is definately the possibility I would enjoy another path just as much or more. Do you think that I should take into account the increased workloads when being a junior doctor? And are there any specialities that are better suited to having a more balanced lifetsyle (excluding GP because I am not interested in that at this stage)? Also, naive question ahead: what does a pathologist DO in the hospital? Thankyou Hi,
So MedicineSucks, are you a resident at the moment? And what country are you in?
I am a second year medical student, 19yrs old, and about 20,000 New Zealand dollars in debt to the government (student loan). I have suddenly realised that I did not give “adequate thought” as to whether to pursue medicine or not, partly because my first year was competitive for medicine entrance, so i had to be focussed on getting in. When I finished school i was really interested in arts, and now that feeling is coming back and sometimes I want to jump off the boat and swim over to law and a BA. However I feel those subjects arent as worthwhile, because I know I can help people with medicine, on the flipside though, I know I would love to study those subjects. I enjoy medicine at the moment, but there is definately the possibility I would enjoy another path just as much or more. Do you think that I should take into account the increased workloads when being a junior doctor? And are there any specialities that are better suited to having a more balanced lifetsyle (excluding GP because I am not interested in that at this stage)? Also, naive question ahead: what does a pathologist DO in the hospital?
Thankyou

]]> By: MedicineSucks http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/comment-page-1/#comment-38056 MedicineSucks Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:04:23 +0000 http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/#comment-38056 I think, like LifeSucks, that the vast majority of people who pursue a career in medicine do not adequately think it through before embarking. Even as a resident in an "easy" specialty, such as pathology, I routinely work over 80 hours, close to everyday of the week. I think your website is a very accurate description of what medical school is like. In my experience, medical school was a complete joke. Granted, I did put in a substantial amount of time. But nonetheless, it was "easy". Residency, on the other hand, is a completely different beast altogether. I would go as far to say that comparing medical school and residency is like comparing apples and oranges. Residency is basically medical school with scut work attached. You are expected to maintain and demonstrate an increase in fund of knowledge while performing substantial amounts of "service" work. In my view, the sacrifice is not worth it. You give up a lot of your youth and have to delay a lot of things, such as getting married and starting a family. In addition, you give up making an income for a long time. Granted physicians may make more than the average person per year, but one has to take into account that the income is earned in a more compressed time period, meaning higher income taxes and less money earned. I've devoted a lot of time to this "career" with nothing to show for it. My patience is starting to wear thin now. I'm in a substantial amount of debt, I am still single with limited time for dating. This crap is not worth it. If I could get out and find a non medical related career that would pay around 100k, I would do it in heartbeat. Oh well, I guess all of us are sado-masochists in some fashion. I think, like LifeSucks, that the vast majority of people who pursue a career in medicine do not adequately think it through before embarking. Even as a resident in an “easy” specialty, such as pathology, I routinely work over 80 hours, close to everyday of the week. I think your website is a very accurate description of what medical school is like. In my experience, medical school was a complete joke. Granted, I did put in a substantial amount of time. But nonetheless, it was “easy”.

Residency, on the other hand, is a completely different beast altogether. I would go as far to say that comparing medical school and residency is like comparing apples and oranges. Residency is basically medical school with scut work attached. You are expected to maintain and demonstrate an increase in fund of knowledge while performing substantial amounts of “service” work.

In my view, the sacrifice is not worth it. You give up a lot of your youth and have to delay a lot of things, such as getting married and starting a family. In addition, you give up making an income for a long time. Granted physicians may make more than the average person per year, but one has to take into account that the income is earned in a more compressed time period, meaning higher income taxes and less money earned.

I’ve devoted a lot of time to this “career” with nothing to show for it. My patience is starting to wear thin now. I’m in a substantial amount of debt, I am still single with limited time for dating. This crap is not worth it. If I could get out and find a non medical related career that would pay around 100k, I would do it in heartbeat. Oh well, I guess all of us are sado-masochists in some fashion.

]]> By: Hoover http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/comment-page-1/#comment-16392 Hoover Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:56:39 +0000 http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/#comment-16392 LifeSucks, If you're interested, send me an <a href="http://www.medschoolhell.com/contact/" alt="contact" rel="nofollow">email</a> about writing some stuff for MSH. LifeSucks,

If you’re interested, send me an email about writing some stuff for MSH.

]]> By: LifeSucks http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/comment-page-1/#comment-16365 LifeSucks Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:25:36 +0000 http://www.medschoolhell.com/2007/03/08/7-reasons-to-quit-your-residency/#comment-16365 Hey Hoover, this comment isn't directed toward this particular article. Rather, I'm simply commenting on the site. I wandered on to your site today and my jaw kind of hit the floor. Because after sifting through the posts on here I realized I was looking into a mirror. If I had ever started a blog it would be just like yours with similar articles and feelings (maybe not as neatly organized). About junior year into medical school I also realized I didn't like anything. Oh, if you asked me what specialties I didn't want to do I'd have spit out my answers like pediatrics and Ob/Gyn in a millisecond. Had you asked me what I was interested in though, I probably would have just given you a blank stare. Anyways, last year I tried to escape my plight by applying for EM but I didn't match. So after sitting out a year I find out I'm now set to begin medicine come July. But you want to know the problem? I hated my medicine core and sub-internship. I expect things to be exponentially worse in residency. I often thought about quitting during 4th year of medical school but I'm one of the 50% you mentioned in one of your other posts. I'm too old and owe too much money. I guess it's time for me to get the Paxil and Zoloft ready. I hope lots of undecided pre-meds see your site before they take the plunge because it really is very difficult to turn the ship around. Hey Hoover, this comment isn’t directed toward this particular article. Rather, I’m simply commenting on the site. I wandered on to your site today and my jaw kind of hit the floor. Because after sifting through the posts on here I realized I was looking into a mirror. If I had ever started a blog it would be just like yours with similar articles and feelings (maybe not as neatly organized).

About junior year into medical school I also realized I didn’t like anything. Oh, if you asked me what specialties I didn’t want to do I’d have spit out my answers like pediatrics and Ob/Gyn in a millisecond. Had you asked me what I was interested in though, I probably would have just given you a blank stare.

Anyways, last year I tried to escape my plight by applying for EM but I didn’t match. So after sitting out a year I find out I’m now set to begin medicine come July. But you want to know the problem? I hated my medicine core and sub-internship. I expect things to be exponentially worse in residency. I often thought about quitting during 4th year of medical school but I’m one of the 50% you mentioned in one of your other posts. I’m too old and owe too much money.

I guess it’s time for me to get the Paxil and Zoloft ready. I hope lots of undecided pre-meds see your site before they take the plunge because it really is very difficult to turn the ship around.

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