All the African parents who send their kids to my page for “inspiration” aren’t gonna like this one.
I frequently get asked for advice/ mentorship by premeds. And while I don’t have the bandwidth to provide personalized advice, I can give you this.
My selfish reasons for pursuing medicine: 1) I honestly have a hard time doing anything just because I “should” [ see: continuing to prioritize my art at great risk to my career lol ] and had a hard time feeling motivated or excited about other professions 2) have a savior complex / read a bunch about social justice & medical bias and was arrogant enough to think I could put a crack in that 3) get dopamine rush from good patient interactions 4) a desire to be respected / admired for my expertise 4) a stable profession with an almost guaranteed 6 fig income 5) familiarity with the profession because my mom is a doctor 6) a general fascination with the human body.
Some of these have held up over the years (mainly #2). Others have not. Looking back, I don’t know if I would have chosen differently. I still want to practice clinical medicine. But I want to practice in a way that avoids moral injury (meaning: longer appointments, adequate staff support) and still allows me to do the things I love with the people I love, and I know that I won’t be able to do that without being part time. Which, given hospitals squeeze as many hours and responsibilities out of docs, will probably mean that after 14 years of training, medicine might end up being my “side hustle.”
How would you advise students who are considering careers in medicine?
#shirleneobuobi #healthcareworkers #hcws #physicians #residency #cardiology #fellowship #wic #intern #internship #meded #doctor #womeninmedicine #blackdoctors #graphicmedicine #medicine #medicalschool #md #medstudent #physician #webcomic