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

To medical students and residents: It really does get better

Trina E. Dorrah, MD
Physician
October 20, 2014
Share
Tweet
Share

shutterstock_30049963

I recently attended my 10-year medical school reunion class party, and I have to admit, I had a great time. From the beginning, my class was special. We had 104 amazing people who were truly inspired to make a difference.

However, regardless of how talented and hard working you are, medical school is one of the most challenging things you will ever do in your life. During our class party, we talked, laughed, reminisced, and caught up for hours. Many of us had not seen each other since graduation. The one thing that struck me was how incredibly happy everyone seemed. When I was in medical school, I frequently thought I’d made a terrible mistake by choosing medicine. When I talked to my classmates, I learned they often thought the same way. We all wanted to be doctors, but somewhere between anatomy and biochemistry, we wondered if we’d made the right choice.

For me, college was great and I made some amazing friends. However, I was the only one in my circle of friends who went to medical school. After we graduated, they moved on with their careers and nice paychecks followed. We were in our early twenties, and they were living it up. I, on the other hand, spent my days studying and stressing. I felt like I was in my own private hell that no one other than my medical school classmates could possibly understand. When I met doctors who were done with training, they would try to encourage me by telling me it would get better one day. Unfortunately, when you’re in the middle of the misery, it’s hard to believe that your situation will ever improve.

Fast forward 10 years, and I can honestly say life is great. Not only am I a practicing physician, but I really do love it. I am so thankful that I didn’t quit. As I caught up with my classmates at our reunion class party, I heard the same story again and again. Despite how difficult med school, residency, and fellowship were, everyone is genuinely happy. We are all grateful to be physicians, and we truly feel that we made the right career choice. Many of us have discovered other interests within medicine, so we no longer see patients full-time, and that’s OK. To be honest, when I was struggling with my career choice, I wish someone had pulled me aside and told me about all of the cool things I could do with a medical degree that don’t involve one-on-one patient interaction. When you think about it, even if you are a health care consultant, researcher, instructor, or administrator, you’re still using your degree to fulfill the ultimate goal we all had on our first day of medical school — to help people.

If you are reading this and you are a medical student, resident, or fellow who feels frustrated and burnt out and is questioning your decision to become a doctor, I have two words of advice: hang on. If you know someone who’s currently in this phase of life, send them this post as a way to encourage them. I know it is cliché to say it gets better, but it’s definitely true. The 60+ classmates of mine who came back for the reunion and are currently living their happily ever after can attest to that. The pain really is temporary.

Trina E. Dorrah is an internal medicine physician and the author of Physician’s Guide to Surviving CGCAHPS & HCAHPS.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Why doctors are afraid of their patients

October 20, 2014 Kevin 95
…
Next

8 tips to survive the marathon of a physician career

October 20, 2014 Kevin 7
…

Tagged as: Medical school, Residency

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why doctors are afraid of their patients
Next Post >
8 tips to survive the marathon of a physician career

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Trina E. Dorrah, MD

  • It’s time for burnout to become a quality metric

    Trina E. Dorrah, MD
  • Physicians did not go to provider school

    Trina E. Dorrah, MD
  • The silent burden of shame

    Trina E. Dorrah, MD

More in Physician

  • Why more doctors are choosing direct care over traditional health care

    Grace Torres-Hodges, DPM, MBA
  • How to handle chronically late patients in your medical practice

    Neil Baum, MD
  • How early meetings and after-hours events penalize physician-mothers

    Samira Jeimy, MD, PhD and Menaka Pai, MD
  • Why medicine must evolve to support modern physicians

    Ryan Nadelson, MD
  • Why listening to parents’ intuition can save lives in pediatric care

    Tokunbo Akande, MD, MPH
  • Finding balance and meaning in medical practice: a holistic approach to professional fulfillment

    Dr. Saad S. Alshohaib
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • 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
    • 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
  • 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
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Beyond burnout: Understanding the triangle of exhaustion [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

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 19 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
    • How President Biden’s cognitive health shapes political and legal trust

      Muhamad Aly Rifai, MD | Conditions
    • 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
  • 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
    • The hidden health risks in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

      Trevor Lyford, MPH | Policy
  • Recent Posts

    • Beyond burnout: Understanding the triangle of exhaustion [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Facing terminal cancer as a doctor and mother

      Kelly Curtin-Hallinan, DO | Conditions
    • Online eye exams spark legal battle over health care access

      Joshua Windham, JD and Daryl James | Policy
    • FDA delays could end vital treatment for rare disease patients

      G. van Londen, MD | Meds
    • Pharmacists are key to expanding Medicaid access to digital therapeutics

      Amanda Matter | Meds
    • Why ADHD in women requires a new approach [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

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

To medical students and residents: It really does get better
19 comments

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

Loading Comments...