Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Should medical students consider lifestyle when choosing a specialty?

Michael Kirsch, MD
Education
October 5, 2014
Share
Tweet
Share

A medical student recently asked my advice on her decision to pursue a career in dermatology. It was about 25 years ago when my own parents encouraged me to pursue this specialty. What was their deal? Perhaps, they anticipated future developments in the field and were hoping for free Botox treatments? As readers know, I rejected the rarefied world of pustules and itchy skin rashes for the glamor of hemorrhoids, diarrhea and vomit.

My parents were making a lifestyle recommendation. Dermatologists are doctors who sleep through the night. Spying one in a hospital is a rarer sighting than spotting a liberal Democrat at a Michelle Bachmann rally (unless a planted heckler). Nocturnal acne medical emergencies are uncommon. And anyone who has had cosmetic work done understands painfully that this is a cash business.

Here’s where some readers or dermophiles will accuse me of skin envy. Not true. Some dermatologists may be a tad thin-skinned over this assertion, but facts are facts. These docs have a soft lifestyle and earn much more money than most physicians do. Sure, these guys and gals see some serious stuff, but the nature of their specialty is less intense and frenetic than that of other colleagues.

Many professions push back when it is suggested that they are afforded unique and soft perks that most of us don’t have. Teachers, for example, never state out loud that having every Federal holiday off, enjoying school vacations every few months and having 10 weeks off in the summer are unbelievable soft padding that no one else has. We know you work hard under difficult circumstances and we respect you and your profession. But just admit that you have some unbelievable professional cushions. This won’t diminish your self-worth or contributions to society.

Many medical interns and residents don’t consider lifestyle when they are making their career choice, and they should. Obstetrics is thrilling when you are 30 years old. Fifteen years later when you are overworked, tired and have your own kids, it may be slightly less thrilling to bring new life into this peaceful world in the middle of the night on a regular basis.

For me, leaving my own bed at an ungodly hour to haul out to the hospital is an unwelcome activity. I do not relish being awakened with phone calls or having to attend to an individual in the emergency room when the rest of Cleveland is soundly snoring. While gastroenterology is a more taxing specialty than the skin gig, it is still uncommon for me to have leave for the hospital during the black of night. Since we are in the era of medical hospitalists who are on staff around the clock, there is only a rare need for me to make a personal appearance. On most nights, my scope rests securely in its holster.

Do I think that medical students should consider lifestyle as they are contemplating their future? Absolutely. Indeed, the emerging culture of the medical profession has morphed from the prior culture when doctors worked 24/7 and interns were proudly on-call every other night. Medical doctors today are increasingly employed by institutions, work shifts and delegate the hassles of hospital life to hospitalists. Doctors are self-prescribing R & R.

Leisure, relaxation, avocations and personal time for reflection are not evil pursuits. They are the fuel that cultivates and sustains our humanity. Who wouldn’t welcome a little more humanity in the medical profession?

Michael Kirsch is a gastroenterologist who blogs at MD Whistleblower. 

Prev

How to give feedback to medical students

October 5, 2014 Kevin 2
…
Next

What the iPhone 6 bendgate can teach us about vaccines

October 5, 2014 Kevin 3
…

Tagged as: Dermatology, Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How to give feedback to medical students
Next Post >
What the iPhone 6 bendgate can teach us about vaccines

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Michael Kirsch, MD

  • Are Ozempic patients on a slow-moving runaway train?

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • AI-driven diagnostics and beyond

    Michael Kirsch, MD
  • The surprising truth behind virtual visits

    Michael Kirsch, MD

More in Education

  • Why clinical research is a powerful path for unmatched IMGs

    Dr. Khutaija Noor
  • Dear July intern: It’s normal to feel clueless—here’s what matters

    Tomi Mitchell, MD
  • Why medical schools must ditch lectures and embrace active learning

    Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA
  • Why helping people means more than getting an MD

    Vaishali Jha
  • Residency match tips: Building mentorship, research, and community

    Simran Kaur, MD and Eva Shelton, MD
  • How I learned to stop worrying and love AI

    Rajeev Dutta
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • America’s ER crisis: Why the system is collapsing from within

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      GJ van Londen, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Why clinical research is a powerful path for unmatched IMGs

      Dr. Khutaija Noor | Education
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
    • How to advance workforce development through research mentorship and evidence-based management

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • The truth about perfection and identity in health care

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Civil discourse as a leadership competency: the case for curiosity in medicine

      All Levels Leadership | Physician
    • Healing beyond the surface: Why proper chronic wound care matters

      Alvin May, MD | Conditions

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 5 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • America’s ER crisis: Why the system is collapsing from within

      Kristen Cline, BSN, RN | Conditions
    • Why timing, not surgery, determines patient survival

      Michael Karch, MD | Conditions
    • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

      Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD | Physician
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      GJ van Londen, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • Forced voicemail and diagnosis codes are endangering patient access to medications

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Meds
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • The One Big Beautiful Bill and the fragile heart of rural health care

      Holland Haynie, MD | Policy
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
  • Recent Posts

    • Why clinical research is a powerful path for unmatched IMGs

      Dr. Khutaija Noor | Education
    • Addressing menstrual health inequities in adolescents

      Callia Georgoulis | Conditions
    • How to advance workforce development through research mentorship and evidence-based management

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • The truth about perfection and identity in health care

      Ryan Nadelson, MD | Physician
    • Civil discourse as a leadership competency: the case for curiosity in medicine

      All Levels Leadership | Physician
    • Healing beyond the surface: Why proper chronic wound care matters

      Alvin May, MD | Conditions

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Should medical students consider lifestyle when choosing a specialty?
5 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...