Part One
One of the most critical career choices in the United States of America is that of being a doctor. Doctors are considered knowledgeable since they spend a lot of time in school and after graduation, are equipped with the right skills to save lives and promote well being within communities. With the ever-increasing number of medical emergencies, communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as global pandemics, the country has had to outsource for doctors from all over the world since there exist massive shortages of healthcare workers. Saving lives is one of the reasons why people become doctors, although others join the profession due to its nobleness and the incentives that these healthcare workers receive. For my career choice, I want to pursue medicine and specialize in general surgery.
To be a doctor, one needs to spend a considerable amount of time in school to enable the acquisition of the right skills and knowledge. The first step involves the completion of undergraduate education as medical school admission boards only consider individuals who have earned a bachelor’s degree from various colleges and universities across the country. This is then followed by the individual registering and taking the Medical College Admission Test, after which an application is made to join a medical school. On average, medical training often takes four years of full-time study during which the student learns about the sciences and joins clinical rotations to develop appropriate medical and surgical skills. During this period, the student also has to sit and pass the parts I and II of the United States Medical Licensing Examination, commonly known as USMLE. Part one can be taken during the junior years of study, although the student must pass part II during the fourth year. It is also during the final year that the student submits applications for residency in various programs such as anesthesiology, internal medicine and general surgery.
Following graduation from medical school, students join the residency programs and work under instruction for about three years. It is also during this time that they sit for Part III of USMLE before completing their residency programs. Then, they have to earn board certifications after completing a written or oral exam after which they get medical licenses that are offered by the stats in various medical fields. As may be expected, this journey is tiresome and requires a lot of sacrifices emotionally, mentally and financially. However, when one is fully licensed, they can join the state hospitals or opt to do private practice. Despite the challenges faced during the learning process, being a doctor remains one of the essential achievements one can want in life.
Part Two
I had an opportunity to interview a pediatric surgeon based at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He told me that to be a pediatric surgeon; he had first to get a degree in biology the University of New Mexico following which he proceeded to Stanford Medical School where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in medicine and surgery in 2005. He then moved to New Amsterdam Hospital, where he completed his residency in pediatric surgery. From the discussion I had with him, the doctor narrated how challenging ot was going through medical school and then the residency program before landing a job after he got his licence to practice surgery in the United States of America. He reported that he had to be determined, work hard and continuously update his medical and surgical skills. Besides, he stated that his day to day activities involve attending ward rounds in the mornings, doing surgical procedures and generally being on call in case of emergencies. When I asked about some of the most challenging cases he had handled, he informed me that surgery is generally challenging, and each case is always as hard as the previous one.
From the discussion, I realized that the surgeon was very passionate about his work. He said that if he had to go back to school again, he would still end up being a surgeon since the job is very much rewarding especially when he gets to put a smile on the face of a family for operation well done. Besides, he mentioned that some of the positive aspects of being a doctor, apart from the financial incentives, is when patients and their relatives appreciate one’s work. He told me that a “thank you” note from a patient is often one thing that keeps him moving forward and enabling him to live through the challenges of being a surgeon. Moreover, the surgeon informed me that there are very many opportunities for growth in the medical field that include research and other programs that offer medical professionals a chance to interact with their peers worldwide. Such occasions, he said, could enable individuals to scale the height of their careers and even land lucrative state jobs.
Following the interview, I got to realize that being a surgeon is a call and requires disciplined individuals who have a passion for reading and research. I also got to understand that to be in the medical field; one needs to toughen up and be ready to handle challenges without ever thinking of giving up. Indeed, the interview allowed me to understand the medical field, and the more I listened to the professional, the more I realized that my choice could not be better. Hence, the interview made me resolve to pursue medicine and become a general surgeon. From what I learned, I believe that I will need to approach the career differently by being more focused in school, and getting myself a mentor. Also, I want to get more involved in medical research activities so that I can advance my knowledge on clinical acumen that I believe will be critical in this career of choice.