The medical field is one of the most sought after in the country. Though it is challenging and involves a lot of hard work, it is very rewarding and makes for a lucrative option. However, students who want to pursue a career is this sector need to keep certain key points in mind before walking this path, says Aakash Chaudhry
There are many who are interested in a medical career. However, they should understand that it takes much more than a dream to make it in the medical profession. A medical career in India is one of the most sought after fields. It has a lot of divisions and has under gone tremendous changes. Students have various options to choose from like dentists, physicians, pharmacy jobs, medical social workers, nurses and many more. It has become so vast that specialisation within the field is growing every day which is in turn opening up new opportunities, catering to various types of skill sets.
A career in the healthcare industry is very challenging, financially secure and immensely rewarding in the long run. Even in this robotic and materialistic age, doctors are respected in all walks of life. These are the reasons why every proud parent would love to have a doctor in the family.
If the choice of a student being in the medical career is inspired by TV series, then it is suggested to think over the decision once again. A career in the healthcare industry as gratifying as it sounds, but it demands a lot of hard work and commitment.
Making a career choice is one of the most important decisions of anybody’s life. There are many students who enter into medical colleges in the pursuit of becoming physicians, however there are very few who have an idea of what is involved in the practice of medicine. Most of these students often say that they are looking for a career in health care because they want to make a difference, impact lives and help people. Although these reasons are motivating enough for pursuing a medical career, there are many other important factors to be aware of and analyse while picking a career option.
Students mostly consider rewarding characteristics of the medical career like; it is a service that allows them to help people. One has to realise that this is an ever expanding profession that needs continuous learning of new skills and information. The work and contribution that a doctor makes are important to individuals and communities. The job enables one to earn a good living and provides a consistent and secure future. This job has a lot of mobility and the skills and knowledge have a lot of demand and last but not the least, it offers a lot of career options within the healthcare industry.
The students also need to consider various other aspects like the personality type, value system and interests as the students begin to plan their future. There are many other career options beyond medicine that provide the platform to help people and make a difference, the challenge is to find the right career that suits one’s calibre.
Students need to be realistic about the rewards and challenges of a career in medicine. They have to compete hard for admissions to the medical schools to begin with, followed by the difficult courses to study. An individual needs a lot of discipline and determination to persist in this field. Service-for-others- first is a prerequisite in the profession of medicine.
Besides this, characteristics like effectively communicating, listening to patients, developing empathy, and engaging in complex problem solving issues and lifelong learning are other aspects which a prospective medical professional requires. Though the career path to a career in medicine is a long one, it is a profession that is intellectually challenging, financially secure, and personally rewarding.
Apart from these personality aspects, the admission committees of various medical schools also look for the ability of the students who can keep up with the course work. Medical school admission committees are looking for students who have the zeal as well the physical and mental capacity to survive the tenure in medical schools.
Most medical students agree that the amount of material required during the first two years of pre-clinical study is exponentially higher than the workload during undergraduate school. By the third and fourth year, the course also becomes very physically and psychologically demanding because of very long hours, hard work, and interaction with patients. The bottom line is it takes a highly motivated individual to pursue a career in medicine.
Although every kind of physician has a significant role to play for the care and well-being of the health of the public, these days primary care physicians are crucial, especially in rural areas. A healthcare system that is built on sufficient supply of primary care physicians is shown to improve health outcomes and reduces costs. The primary care specialties include: Family medicine, general internal medicine, and pediatrics. Family physicians have always provided more primary care than any other discipline all over the world and the need for them continues to grow.
Students who are unsure of whether to carry their medical career ahead, should always keep their options open and understand that medicine is not for everyone. Choosing the career based only on the financial rewards or the status is likely to be disappointing. Most physicians from their years of experience say that medicine is a vocation that involves commitment to service, lifelong learning and the dedication to practice proficiently and empathetically.
The choice of whether to continue or to not continue with the medical track can be extended to the first two years of medical school without loss of credit. This will give the students the time to gather as much information as possible about what medicine has to offer. It is recommended to combine a strong aptitude for the subject with an underlying motive to passionately serve mankind and only then venture in to a career in medicine.
(The writer is director,Aakash Educational Services ltd)