I have always wondered what it would be like to be a physician. A physician's job is quite difficult because they have to do many more things than most other occupations. A physician's job is to diagnose illnesses and injuries for people who come to them, like a family doctors for example (Anonymous 2011a
, 1) . Also physicians have to have medical records for every patient of theirs, and they have to perform diagnostic tests. There are different types of physicians such as an M.D and an D.O
(Anonymous 2011a,
2). Anesthesiology, family general, internal medicine, surgery, and psychiatry are some of the jobs physicians have to do ( Anonymous 2011a,
3). Depending on the type of physician you choose to be there are different skills you have to obtain or learn. Since there are about seven major types of physicians you can choose to be, there are a variety of skills. For example, a Psychiatrist's job is to help people with their mental health, so they have to learn about people and how their brain and emotions work (Anonymous 2011a,
9).
Findings
Preparations to become a physician are quite advanced. To be one, you would need at least 4 years of college, and have to major in either biology, chemistry, or physics. After you get a BA or BS degree you have to go to a medical school that is certified with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Then after completing medical school, students of the college will earn their either MD or PHD. Also if you want to open up your own practice, you will have to have extra training (Anonymous 1995-2011d,
1). After a MD graduates they have to enter a residency program. Depending on the the medical specialty, this is how they are placed in a residency program. This usually ends up to be around 3-7 years ( Anonymous 1995-2011d,
2). It is also optional to have 3 more additional years for doctors that want to become specialists (Anonymous 1995-2011d,
3).
There are a variety of medical schools such as Baylor College of Medicine, Brown University School of Medicine, Drew/UCLA Joint Medical Program, Dartmouth Medical School, Harvard Medical School, Marshall University School of Medicine, New York Medical College, Ponce School of Medicine, University of California- Irvine, University of California-Davis, University of California-San Diego,etc (Anonymous 2002e
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8). Baylor College of Medicine yearly cost is already paid for by the graduate school,so there is no tuition. Brown University School of Medicine yearly cost is $53,136. The yearly cost for Drew/UCLA joint Medical group varies from each and depending on whether you stay at the school or make a commute. So for each year the cost would be for living at the school is $60,488 for the first year, $57,717 for the second, $58,829 for the third and finally $60,474 for the fourth year. As for living at home with commute the cost would be $47,776 for the first year,$45,005 for the second year, $44,846 for the third, and finally $46,491 for the fourth. Dartmouth Medical School's yearly cost is $47,780 (Parrot 2011,
1). The yearly cost for Harvard Medical School is $73,000 for a first year single student, then after that its $35 after each semester. Marshall University School of Medicine yearly cost is $44,478 (Warren 2010-2011,
1). The yearly cost for New York Medical College is about $1,370. Ponce School of Medicine yearly cost for a four year medical program it's $36,315.12 for annual for the first year and $18,157.56 per semester. For second, third and fourth year its $35,282.62 for annual and $17,641.31 per semester. As for the five year MD program the first year cost is $30,884.48 for annual and $15,442.24 per semester. For the second and third semester $29,454.64 and $14,727.32 per semester. For the fourth and fifth year cost is 35,282.62 for annual and $17,641.31 per semester. The yearly cost for University of California- Irvine undergraduate for living at home is $19,203 and living at the school is $24,818. Then for Graduate living at home is $28,440 and living at the school is $28,440. For University of California-Davis yearly cost for the undergraduate is $15,123.36, graduate $15,271.44, and School of medicine is $38,020.25. For University of California-San Diego yearly cost for living at home is $23,268 (Jolla 2011,
1).
Once your finished with college and get a job, the salary in the beginning for an Allergy/Immunology is $158,000, for the middle is $221,000 and $487,000. For Anesthesiology: General in the beginning is $207,000, the middle is $275,000 and $448,000. For Anesthesiology: Pain Management in the beginning is $207,000, for the middle is $370,000 and $651,000. For Cardiology: Invasive in the beginning is $258,000, in the middle $395,000 and $647,000. For Cardiology: Interventional in the beginning is $290,000, in the middle $468,000 and $811,000. For Cardiology: Noninvasive in the beginning is $286,000, for the middle is $403,000 and $599,000. For Critical Care in the beginning it's $187,000, for the middle it's $215,000 and $320,000. For Dermatology in the beginning is $195,000, for the middle it's $308,000 and $452,000. For Emergency Medicine in the beginning it's $192,000, in the middle it's $216,000 and $295,000. For Endocrinology in the beginning it's $171,000, in the middle it's $187,000 and $260,000. For FP with OB in the beginning it's 182,000, in the middle it's $204,000 and $241,000. For FP without OB in the beginning it's $161,000, in the middle it's $135,000 and $239,000. For Gastroenterology in the beginning it's $265,000, in the middle it's $349,000 and $590,000. For Hematology/Oncology in the beginning it's $181,000, in the middle it's $245,000 and $685,000. For Infectious Disease in the beginning it's $154,000, in the middle it's $178,000 and $283,000. For Internal Medicine in the beginning it's $154,000, in the middle it's $176,000 and $238,000. For Internal Medicine Hospitalist in the beginning it's $161,000, in the middle it's $172,000 and $245,000. For Neonatal Medicine in the beginning it's $286,000, in the middle it's $310,000 and $381,000. For Nephrology in the beginning it's $191,000, in the middle it's $269,000 and $447,000. For Neurology in the beginning it's $180,000, in the middle it's $228,000 and $345,000. For Obstetrics/Gynecology in the beginning it's $211,000, int he middle it's $261,000 and $ 417,000. For Gynecology in the beginning it's $159,000, in the middle it's $213,000 and $358,000. For Maternal/Fetal Medicine in the beginning it's $286,000, in the middle it's $322,000 and $610,000. For Occupational Medicine in the beginning it's $139,000, in the middle it's $ 185,000 and $290,000. For Ophthalmology in the beginning it's $138,000, in the middle it's $314,000 and $511,000. For Ophthalmology Retina in the beginning it's $280,000, in the middle it's $469,000 and $716,000. For Orthopedic Surgery in the beginning it's $256,000, in the middle it's $342,000 and $670,000.For ORS- Foot and Ankle in the beginning it's $228,000, in the middle it's $392,000 and $791,000. For ORS Hand and Upper Extremities in the beginning it's $288,000, in the middle it's $ 459,000 and $770,000. For ORS Hip and Joint Replacements in the beginning it's $330,000, in the middle it's $491,000 and $715,000. ORS Spine Surgery in the beginning it's $398,000, in the middle it's $670,000 and $1,352,000. For ORS Sport Medicine in the beginning it's $266,000, in the middle it's $479,000 and $762,000. For Otolaryngology in the beginning it's $194,000, in the middle it's $311,000 and $516,000. For Pathology in the beginning it's $169,000, in the middle it's $321,000 and $610,000. For Pediatrics in the beginning it's $135,000, in the middle it's $175,000 and $271,000. For Pediatrics- Cardiology in the beginning it's $145,000, in the middle it's $282,000 and $607,000. For Pediatrics- Hematology/Oncology in the beginning it's $182,000, in the middle it's $217,000 and $251,000. For Pediatrics-Neurology in the beginning it's $175,000, in the middle it's $189,000 and $362,000. For Physiatry in the beginning it's $169,000,in the middle it's $244,000 and $313,000. For Podiatry in the beginning it's $128,000, in the middle it's $168,000 and $292,000. For Psychiatry in the beginning it's $149,000, in the middle it's $169,000 and $238,000. For Psychiatry-Child and Adolescent in the beginning it's $158,000, in the middle it's $189,000 and $265,000. For Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care in the beginning it's $215,000, in the middle it's $288,000 and $417,000. For Radiation Oncology in the beginning it's $241,000, in the middle it's $385,000 and $787,000. For Radiology in the beginning it's $201,000, in the middle it's $354,000 and $911,000. For Rheumatology in the beginning it's $179,000, in the middle it's $229,000 and $387,000. For Surgery-General in the beginning it's $226,000, in the middle it's $291,000 and $520,000. For Surgery-Cardiovascular in the beginning it's $336,000, in the middle it's $515,000 and $811,000. For Surgery-Neurological in the beginning it's $354,000, in the middle $541,000 and $936,000. For Surgery-Plastic in the beginning it's $237,000, in the middle it's $412,000 and $820,000. For Surgery-Vascular in the beginning it's $270,000, in the middle it's $329,000 and $525,000. For Urology in the beginning it's $261,000, in the middle it's $358,000 and $619,000 ( McNally 2006,
1).
The outcome of becoming a physician is very high compared to other occupations. It's much easier to get a physician job rather than any other, especially in low in-come areas (Anonymous, 2010-2011f,
1). The employment of physicians grow much faster, this is because of expansion in health-care industries. Because of this, the demand will be higher due to consumers demanding more physicians because of the latest technology and tests. Since the high demand of more physicians the schools that offer a medical program are increasing their enrollments ( Anonymous 2010-2011f,
2). As the health-care cost rises the physicians have a greater demand of their services (Anonymous 2010-2011f,
3). Health-care reimbursement changes will affect the demand of physicians because if the consumers have to pay more money out-of-pocket they will start demanding less of physicians ( Anonymous 2010-2011f,
4).
Some new innovations that physicians have discovered are that more older physicians don't diagnose depression as much as younger physicians do because they don't value the older antidepressants like the younger physicians do (Fuchs 2001,
3). Another innovation that physicians have discovered are that if there is a diffusion in innovations (Fuchs 2001,
4). Also another innovation is that physicians should be counseling people on their diet form a disease perspective rather than any other. They also should be taught how to specify what foods they should eat considering nutrition they need (Frank 2002,
3).
Conclusion
Ultimately, becoming a physician would be a very intelligent career decision. There is great pay no matter what type of physician you choose to be. Also if you have always enjoyed the sight of what physicians do, this would be the right job for you. Furthermore, you can make many innovation discoveries as a physician because there is always a need for new medical advancements. The schooling maybe be long for this occupation but in the end it's usually worth the years of college. In addition, the cost of colleges are very expensive but once you start working you can pay off loans you may have taken out. Finally there are more job opportunities than any of the other occupations.
All in all, some of the advantages of becoming a physician for me are that i would enjoy the job because I've always wanted to become a doctor since i was in kinder-garden. Also since I usually have high grades in science and math this would be the perfect job for me. But me choosing this occupation would have some negatives such as how much the schooling will cost compared to other occupations. Now a days people have been struggling with money and this would affect my chance of getting into a college that costs more because it has a medical program. Also depending on what type of physician i want to be, i would have at least 12 years of college, this would be like 1st-12th grade all over again. On the other hand after I finish my schooling i will be able to do a lot more, because i will have more money than most occupations. I honestly think that this is the occupation for me considering that there are more positives than negatives.