Advice to the Next Generation
Questions from Our Readers, Answers from Physicians
Question
"I've been hearing a lot about doctors burning out, including from my own primary care physician, who is on the verge of closing her practice and I understand some medical schools are even offering classes on avoiding burnout. I don't want to make a huge investment of my time and money only to find out that medicine isn't a satisfying career after all. What's the true story? Is medicine a sinking ship?"
– Susannah Clark, Tufts University
Answer
The days of complete autonomy, easy affluence, and boundless respect are coming to a close. Many decisions are scrutinized by external authorities, incomes are coming down bit by bit, and patients have become more open about having and obeying their own ideas about their health. Having said that, physicians are still gifted with the opportunity to be with people during some of their most important life transitions, being able to influence both the quantity and quality of life. While you won't make many hundreds of thousands of dollars doing it anymore, I personally find that a relief. I'm not sure that patients benefit much from doctors who see medicine as investment banking with more Hallmark moments. And physicians back "in the day" ordered a lot of needless tests and have a poor track record of providing quality care, areas where we are improving.
Having said that, people do burn out, particularly when they don't attend to their personal lives, and there are large amounts of bureaucracy to contend with in private practice medicine. My personal philosophy is that if you're willing to accept less work and the diminished income that attends it, there are plenty of stimulating things to do with your time that can keep you eager and excited to participate in the incredibly varied world of medicine without excessive burnout, just as with any demanding profession.
– Sam Brown, M.D.