After 7 months in clinical medicine, I have decided to stay on this career path.
Becoming a doctor provides me with the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills to help people during their most vulnerable moments. Although there are other careers that also provide value to society, medicine is unique in its context. As a doctor, I can help minimize the harm that diseases could cause to individuals, which aligns perfectly with my stoic mindset. My life’s reward function is to “minimize the maximum loss,” and there is no greater loss than the loss of one’s health or life. Thus, being a doctor allows me to help minimize this loss in myself, my loved ones, and my patients. This is a significant factor in my decision to pursue medicine.
Secondly, medicine is a fulfilling career due to the trust that people place in healthcare professionals. From day one of my clinical placement, I was astounded by the amount of trust that patients put in me as soon as I put on my healthcare uniform. They allowed me to perform procedures such as drawing blood, which is a sacred trust that I am determined to uphold to the best of my abilities. Additionally, there is a tremendous sense of accomplishment in empowering someone’s life.
Thirdly, a career in healthcare aligns with my life goals. Although a career in finance might offer a higher salary, that is not the only factor I consider when choosing a career. While I have the computational skills and interest to pursue algorithmic trading, arguably the path that gives the highest salary, I do not see myself pursuing that field for the rest of my life. My primary desire is to maximize my impact in the world, and healthcare provides me with the opportunity to see tangible outcomes of my work through patient outcomes and device development.
Fourthly, medicine is a financially sound career choice. Although a trader’s lifelong earnings may be higher than those of a doctor, becoming a trader is a selective path. In contrast, medicine is a safe career that offers a comparable salary to most financiers at the senior clinician level. Additionally, healthcare has tremendous potential for technological innovation that can provide large market value given its enormous size.
In conclusion, clinical medicine and healthcare innovation are fulfilling career paths that provide both personal and financial safety. As someone with a minimax mentality and a desire to make an impact in the world, becoming a doctor aligns perfectly with my values and goals.
For more context, see this post on my thoughts about leaving medicine.
