Hey I am working on my undergrad. in Bio chem. and I am probably going to take the mcats next year. My questions is, is med school or PA school worth all the trouble. I am a paramedic and I for damn sure do not want to ride an ambulance forever, but I am still young(24) and I was wondering if you could go back and do it again would you have became a dr./pa? Keep in mind that I have 2 kids( 2, and 9 months) so I really dont want to miss there child hood and I know that Med school takes over your life. If I go through w/ it I want to be an er doc, or a cardiologist. Need some opinions guys.
Dr.'s or PA's in here
- Thread starter scancion
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PA school.
Most programs are now Master's degree, vs the old Bachelor's programs. You can subspecialize wherever you want, and work under the liability of the MD's umbrella in your practice. If you're smart, and supported by other local PA's, you can start a 3rd party, independent 1st assisting practice...you just need a MD medical director.
PA-C Advantages: Great procedural signoffs and in-hospital autonomy.
PA-C Disadvantages: Out of hospital (private practice) autonomy is limited vs ARNP or MD.
For MD, you carry malprac and go to school longer. The income potential (especially in 3rd party billing situations where you are contractor, not a hospital employee) is MUCH higher.
Cardiology: 3 years internal medicine and 4 years cardio on top of Med school. At 24, it's late in the game. Reimbursement is getting worse for procedural cardiology, so the interventional guys (the ones that fix blockages the diagnostic guys cannot) get hammered on call while the non-invasive guys rack up the dough in the office.
Usually, interventional guys get preferred partnership status, and start profit sharing in groups between 1-3 years.
ER: 3 year residency and you're out. Similar to anesthesiology, but much cooler. Unfortunately, malprac has gone through the roof due to the volume, broad patient base, and variety of programs. Income potential is still good, but many groups are absorbing into the hospital as employees or going under a university setting for malprac shelter.
Most programs are now Master's degree, vs the old Bachelor's programs. You can subspecialize wherever you want, and work under the liability of the MD's umbrella in your practice. If you're smart, and supported by other local PA's, you can start a 3rd party, independent 1st assisting practice...you just need a MD medical director.
PA-C Advantages: Great procedural signoffs and in-hospital autonomy.
PA-C Disadvantages: Out of hospital (private practice) autonomy is limited vs ARNP or MD.
For MD, you carry malprac and go to school longer. The income potential (especially in 3rd party billing situations where you are contractor, not a hospital employee) is MUCH higher.
Cardiology: 3 years internal medicine and 4 years cardio on top of Med school. At 24, it's late in the game. Reimbursement is getting worse for procedural cardiology, so the interventional guys (the ones that fix blockages the diagnostic guys cannot) get hammered on call while the non-invasive guys rack up the dough in the office.
Usually, interventional guys get preferred partnership status, and start profit sharing in groups between 1-3 years.
ER: 3 year residency and you're out. Similar to anesthesiology, but much cooler. Unfortunately, malprac has gone through the roof due to the volume, broad patient base, and variety of programs. Income potential is still good, but many groups are absorbing into the hospital as employees or going under a university setting for malprac shelter.
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I stopped practicing medicine a few years ago and went back into Law Enforcement on the Federal side. That being said, I graduate in seven weeks with my law degree.
Medicine must be your love, it is difficult to practice in todays economy and the litigious society we live in.
Being ER doc will give you steady hours. Typically you will work 3 twelves a week. It depends on your group. My buddy's group does 3 twelves on, 1 off, 3 on, then 7 off. So every other week you are off for a complete week.
Any specialty where you admit patients to the hospital is time consuming, including cardio.
My wife started a PA program a few months ago. If you want specifics just PM me and I will have her PM you back.
I would recommend dental school over med and PA school. I originally was going to do the DDS/PhD program but realized the combined program is ridiculous so I'm doing a PhD first, then go to dental school if I'm not burnt out. As far as dental specialties, most of them have little malpractice, you make your own hours, run your own office, ect. There are exceptions like maxillofacial surgery, but the pay is comparable to medical doctors.
If this isn't an option, I would pick PA school over med school, just on the attitude of your fellow students. Not totally, but if you visit a med school, you'll know what I'm talking about.
If this isn't an option, I would pick PA school over med school, just on the attitude of your fellow students. Not totally, but if you visit a med school, you'll know what I'm talking about.
i agree with just about everything mentioned above. the medical field varies to a HUGE degree on what you do, and where you do it. become a non-specialist pediatrician in a big city and you might earn $100-$120k/year. not worth it AT ALL to me, given the hours you will put in, medical school loans, etc. become a surgical subspecialist (ear, nose and throat surgeon, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery) in a rural town, and you could easily pull in 7 figures yearly. many ER physicians can earn $300k/year--but many of them get burned out after 15 or so years. my sister is an ER physican for the past 5 years, and enjoys it so far.
i just became a board certified orthopedic surgeon, and am finishing a one year fellowship before i go into private practice. i would definitely do things the same way if i could do it over--
if you're 26 at the time of graduation, figure 4 years med school and 3-5 for residency--you'll be 33-35 at your time of starting practice---totally fine. plenty of people in my medical school class had gotten a masters degree or worked first, and were in their late 20's. plenty of them already had kids. being a PA is fine--they have a fair amount of responsibility, and earning potential--but you're still limited in what you can ultimately do. let me know if you have any further questions
i just became a board certified orthopedic surgeon, and am finishing a one year fellowship before i go into private practice. i would definitely do things the same way if i could do it over--
if you're 26 at the time of graduation, figure 4 years med school and 3-5 for residency--you'll be 33-35 at your time of starting practice---totally fine. plenty of people in my medical school class had gotten a masters degree or worked first, and were in their late 20's. plenty of them already had kids. being a PA is fine--they have a fair amount of responsibility, and earning potential--but you're still limited in what you can ultimately do. let me know if you have any further questions
I do love medicine. I never thought about being a dr. or a pa until a became an emt, then a paramedic, but I just feel like a I am really good at what I do and I want to go further in medicine. As mentioned above about denistry... That is not an option at all, After working on an ambulance I want fast pace stuff and teeth really do not interest me at all. I love cardio, but I knew that it was extensive schooling, so ER would be my second choice and I know that you get everything in the ER. I am leaning more towards PA just soley b/c of the time frame and time away from my kids, but I will put in for med school and if I get accepted then ofcourse I will go. I dont really care about tons of money, like I said before I love medicine and just want a bigger scope of practice. I just want to be comfortable and maybe one day my wife wont have to work anymore. Thanks for the in put guys.
I know what your talking about. Emory has med students everywhere here in Atlanta. They are stuck up, and act like they are gods gift. Even the first year residents. I will never forget where I came from.
tommyhil4_6
Buh Bye
How old are you if you don't mind me asking?? You are my inspiration lol.
i will tell you that you will spend almost as much time working when you get out of residency, that you did during residency. its a lifestyle, not necessarily a career/job
EDIT:: and trust me, it DOES have to be somewhat 'about the money' when you figure the time you've been in school/residency and have not been saving money, like others your age have been doing. add to that $200k + in loans, and you quickly realize that you just can't work for peanuts. by no means should you be just about money, but you have to earn a living.
EDIT:: and trust me, it DOES have to be somewhat 'about the money' when you figure the time you've been in school/residency and have not been saving money, like others your age have been doing. add to that $200k + in loans, and you quickly realize that you just can't work for peanuts. by no means should you be just about money, but you have to earn a living.
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I agree about the money thing, I just mean that I'm not trying to get rich by being a doc. I just want to get payed well for something that I enjoy.
My good friend Stephanie was a paramedic. She married a cop and had two kids then went to get a D.O. degree. She is now a board certified E.R. doc and she loves it. She said coming from being an EMT-P it made perfect sense and was a natural progression.
I am 39, I turn 40 next year. My goal was to finish all my education before 40, and since I graduate with my Law Degree in Dec, I will have done that. However, I might go to Houston for a year to get an L.L.M. in healthcare.
It has been a busy life and I have given up a lot for it.
Thats how I feel... I think I would have an edge on a lot of med students b/c I have been in the field and have actual clinical time. So many Dr.'s practice straight from the book and have no common sense and they have horrible bed side manners. Thanks for all of your info.
Med school destroys your bedside manner. It turns you into a smouldering ball of hate.
Med school destroys your bedside manner. It turns you into a smouldering ball of hate.
That is too bad that was your experience in medical school.
Oh wait....
That is too bad that was your experience in medical school.
Oh wait....
Somewhat of a joke.
Oh wait...a lot of my friends who are med students are pretty sick of the hospital and patients by the end of their 4th year.
Still somewhat of a joke.
Somewhat of a joke.
Oh wait...a lot of my friends who are med students are pretty sick of the hospital and patients by the end of their 4th year.
Still somewhat of a joke.
well then they are in for a big surprise---because if they're sick of seeing the hospital and patients while a medical student (and 4th year of medical school is complete cake by the way), then they will surely be shocked when they actually have to start doing things in residency and spend about double the time actually worrying about the decisions that they make. no one gives a shit when you're a medical student--you're not given responsibility because medical students typically know NOTHING about how to take care of patients in a 'real world' situation.
Yeah I'd buy that. Can you not say, however, that medical school and residency didn't in the slightest bit whittle away your desire to save the world? You said yourself that it has to be somewhat about the money. Certainly a cheery smile and pat on the back don't rekindle your love for medicine every morning.
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