Becoming a doctor for the money

I personally enjoyed med school and residency. It was a challenge for sure, but nothing overwhelming. It was a ton of work with very little free time. Minimum of 7 years between school and residency.

I enjoy what I do, but no way I'd keep doing it for less money. I started my career 7 years later than my college buddies, worked 60 to 100 hours a week all those years and left residency with $400K in debt.

At the end of the day it's just a way to put food on the table. The money is very good right now, but that could easily change.

Everyone does in part for the money. Or else we would all be volunteering in 3rd world countries. Find a specialty you like, make lots of dough and its 99% likely you will get satisfaction from helping people. Do people love working in coal mines? Or crunching numbers all day?

I hate that it took so long to get to this position. At my age I would rather be earning than learning, then there's lots of other things like starting a family which I'm also late to.

Have you ever smelled the stench from an obese person's folds?

Don't do any job just for the money. My priorities as follows past a salary which gives a decent middle class lifestyle:

1. Leadership you want to follow.

2. Interesting work you like to do.

3. People you enjoy working with.

My dad is a doctor (surgeon), he told me that people who go into it solely for the money never make it, when you become a doctor you have to dedicate your life to your patients , these are the doctors who make the money you are talking about. If you don't have that in you then you won't make it

U.S. politicians range from corrupt to not too intelligent, maybe intelligent besides public policy.

One day U.S. politicians will listen to economists.

Paying m.d.s high wages, not efficient. Why do m.d.s believe they deserve high wages? One self-titled m.d. on here told us. His or her significant student loan debt. I have have stated on here numerous times, medical students and all healthcare workers should go to school tuition free. I have also stated: medical doctors are glorified electricians & plumbers.

I make a lot of money as a physician. I also work a lot. I also made no money for the yrs of med school and not a great amount through 7 years of residency and fellowship. I was cheap and put off things all my friends who went right to work after college were doing because of lack of funds and the structure that med school/graduate med education handcuff you with. Yeah, i fortunately picked an in demand specialty that pays me a lot and it’s basically made money a non issue in my life but I missed out on a ton of stuff people who didn’t have to put the time in I did got to enjoy. I also have to work a lot, like a ton. I don’t know if it’s sustainable. I suspect I’ll have enough to retire by 55 and can step back at that time. It’s been a wild ride and I don’t know if I can recommend it

If you have a physics degree and want to make money, can't you go into some kind of engineering role or be a quant in the city (I assume you are highly numerate)?

My thoughts exactly. Big engineering firms can pay well. Roll-Royce in Derby are expanding their Submarine divison so they'll be hiring. It will be less emotionally draining than being a doctor.

Your post sounds familiar. Haven't you posted about this in the past?

BTW:

1) being a doctor is as varied as being in a dark room reading xrays and CTs all day vs being in surgery all day vs treating kids all day vs genetic counseling..... There is something for everyone. Very different careers dynamically, but all doctors.

2) If you are skiddish about crazy long residency programs consider being a PA or NP and make at least 100k with much much less education and never ever worry about getting a job again. Now if you do that you are going to be patient facing, can't be a pathologist or radiologist for example.

3) Based on 1 and 2, the biggest thing I recommend to everyone is go shadow a fricking doctor!!! That is the easiest way to get to know the lifestyle! We have program here where freshman shadow different specialties for their first year. I shadowed a dentist when I was a freshman and leaned in one day I didnt ever want to be a dentist for even a day. Frankly, i recommend everyone shadow a mentor in whatever major you choose. Why gamble?

Come to US. You will make 10x what you're making now easily.

This post has me thinking: my oldest just announced she wants to become a pediatrician (US). While exciting, the cost of this profession is daunting -

1. Is the cost of DOMS similar in the UK? Europe?

2. Any other thoughts on minimizing debt?

You know there are a lot of jobs you could do that earn a lot more than 30k that don’t require 8 years of training and 100,000s of debt and insane negative impact on your sleep and health right?

You might do well grabbing a masters in your favorite flavor of engineering (electrical, computer science and mechanical are probably the easiest transitions). That's what I did with my physics degree (mechanical). I don't make dr. money, but it's enough that my wife doesn't work, I am not stressed about money, I tend to work 40 hours most weeks, and I will likely be able to retire at 55. Fields like optical engineering and image science tend to grab physicists as there are few programs specializing in those degrees.

I think going the dr. route for the money is ethical and a choice, but based on what you said, you might be happier staying in the engineering field. In particularly, computer science likely ends up being a better financial decision. GA Tech has a very affordable online masters program. You're a physicist do some math modeling on your 10 year and 20 year outcomes.

This is exactly the right advice. However, engineers don't get paid as well in the UK. Get an engineering job in the UK if you can't get one in the US, then once you've got relevant experience, emigrate to the US and get a job as an engineer here. I'm in my early 40s and make over 200K, as does my husband. Both engineers. I have a BS / MS in engineering. Easy hours, work from home, etc.

Nothing wrong but it seems he posts about it every few months. Maybe bite the bullet and just move to the US is able.

Yeah I've posted about this before.

The idea of becoming a quant sounds nice, but I have no chance of landing a job in that (unless someone on here has connections and can hook me up). I have a first in physics but it's not from a top ranked university. I dont have much work history and no internships in finance. I do also have an MS in nuclear science / engineering.

I was being flippant in the title as I am interested in medicine beyond income (doctors pay is much lower in the UK anyway). Getting a place was like being given a second chance because I have not fared well in the job market.

There is actually some very good money to be made in the pay to play medicine world of plastic surgery, med spa stuff and other optional procedures that people pay for with cash (Lasik, carpal tunnel, and various other procedures). In fact, the number of doctors who are ditching working as a generalist, ER, etc. and moving into these "lifestyle" treatments is pretty alarming. But in many upper income circles these days, you are in the minority if you are over 40 and have not had some "work" done.