Some people know they want to be doctors from the moment they learn to say “stethoscope”, while others are led to this career path by a more circuitous route. However you come to this decision, there are significant benefits to a degree in medicine.
1- High Earnings Potential
There is a reason why mothers often want their daughters to marry doctors: The potential earnings are high. According to the BLS, the median earnings for physicians vary by specialty, but they ranged from $137,119 (family practice) to $321,686 (anesthesiology) in 2005. This is significantly higher than most other professional career choices.
2- Job Security
Regardless of how the economy fairs, people need doctors. They also need nurses and other medical staff, just as animals need veterinarians. Although earnings might fluctuate from year to year, physicians will always be in demand, which is why job security is one of the primary reasons to get a degree in medicine.
Although any career can potentially offer enormous satisfaction in its service, doctors are known for deriving immense pleasure from their work. They have the opportunity each day to directly impact their patients’ lives. One of the main reasons to get a degree in medicine is to enjoy your life’s work.
4- Self-Employment
According to the BLS, the physicians who earn the most are self-employed, which means they run their own practices rather than seeking employment with a clinic or hospital. When you are self-employed, you can choose your own hours and set your own rules. This is liberating for many physicians.
5- Variety
Few career paths offer as much variety as a degree in medicine. There are dozens upon dozens of specialties from which to choose: obstetrics, podiatry, endocrinology, pediatrics, oncology – the list goes on. One of the major reasons to get a degree in medicine is the opportunity to choose.
6- Education
Doctors are some of the most educated people in the world, by necessity. They might have to undergo strenuous schedules during their schooling days, but they get more opportunities to learn than with most other careers. They also receive significant on-the-job training during their residencies.
7- Civil Service
Not only can doctors save lives on the operating table or in their examining rooms, but they are also uniquely equipped to provide assistance outside their places of business. If you get a medical degree and you witness a car accident, for example, you are able to immediately render assistance.
8- Career Options Outside Medicine
If you get a degree in medicine and decide you do not want to treat patients, there are still numerous options. You can teach, for example, at a college or university, helping others to pursue the same career path you chose.
9- Holistic Opportunities
Many people are fascinated by and convinced of the benefits of holistic medicine. If you do not want to pursue the traditional medical degree and instead want to obtain a D.O. (doctor of osteopathy), you can practice a holistic version of medicine (treating the mind, body and spirit). A D.O. is equivalent to an M.D., and is becoming an increasingly popular choice.
10- Continued Education
Even after you obtain a degree in medicine, you will continue to go to school. Medicine is constantly changing, so doctors are always learning new methods and techniques, and studying new theories in the treatment of patients. This career choice is perfect for those who enjoy continuing to learn long after college is over.
A degree in medicine is not right for everyone, but it can offer satisfying and rewarding career path. To learn more about the job opportunities in medicine, consider talking to a career counselor.
Source:
BLS.gov, Physicians & Surgeons
