Is BECOMING a doctor WORTH IT?

[@redpilledbachelor7776]

I'd rather go into it, get burnt out and quit than not do it and regret.

[@Born2Losenot2win]

If you’re rich enough then sure, if not then maybe you want to get financially stable first, review your option, and then give it a shot. And it’s great to hear you being open minded honestly Second biggest cause of death in med students is suicide, they’re just so intense about becoming a doctor that they’d rather die than quit, not healthy imo so good job and good luck bro! Hopefully I’ll see you as a colleague one day.

[@redpilledbachelor7776]

@@Born2Losenot2win Thanks for the encouragement. I just got accepted to a master program with DO school linkage to it. Hopefully, it works out well.

[@Born2Losenot2win]

@@redpilledbachelor7776 eyyy! Congrats bud! Just do your best and everything will be fine!

[@mel9505]

I love these videos that actually discuss the benefits of becoming a doctor and how the sacrifices you make bring great rewards in return. There’s too much in the media only talking about the cons and how hard medicine is but never about how it is such a great career

[@alicegray9934]

I do know a physician who likes to tell people that he became a doctor because ever since he was a child he's had a deep passion for forms and charts. He's just odd enough that he might not be joking.

[@RichHilsden]

It’s a good joke. There are a lot of forms

[@murraysolomon4924]

Medicine is worth it if you have an irrepressible burning passion to be a physician and there is nothing else you can see yourself doing. If you have a great curiosity about how the human body functions and you enjoy learning new things about the human body functions and fails medicine can be a very rewarding experience. People will say "I like working with and helping people" but that can be said about virtually every other profession. Look for autonomy in your work as a physician. If the work is your choice and not forced on you, you will not experience burnout.

[@RichHilsden]

Definitely agree. Know yourself before going into medicine. It is a great job, but it has its pro’s and con’s

[@doremireiko1087]

I disagree with the last statement, all people can experience burnout, especially if the medicine is the only thing they dream about if they don't have balance in their life. I sadly have seen it happen to my classmates.

[@murraysolomon4924]

@@doremireiko1087 Burnout is not about balance but about autonomy. If the choice to work long and hard is your own you will not burn out. Many physicians thrive on 16 hour days when the choice is made by the individual and not forced on them by outside forces.. In the 1950s many physicians worked very long hours and you did not hear about burnout. Institutional mandates and demands is what causes burnout.

[@TheNjiva1]

10/10 video, loved the honesty on the "prestige" point.

[@RichHilsden]

Yeah, a little vulnerable there. Thanks though

[@musicobsessive123]

i really appreciate how honest you are with your vulnerabilities. i'm sure tons of doctors wouldn't want to admit that the prestige was a big factor for them because they're afraid they'll be seen as shallow. reputation isn't a motivator for me, but hearing you explain it from your perspective helped me understand why some people value it more than i do. for your line of work the prestige is very much aligned with the fact that it's pretty universally recognized as intense and meaningful work. that's obviously going to feel good and be existentially validating. and i don't think it's a bad thing, as long as prestige isn't your only motivator- but if you're only motivated by one thing, regardless of what it is, it's probably not balanced, healthy, or sustainable anyway.

[@maecr2848]

I think want of things I like about medicine is helping people. I know it’s cliché but the gratification that you get from that is amazing.

[@RichHilsden]

You do. It is nice to get the occasional thanks

[@boozscha99]

Dr. Hilsden, thanks for another great video. I’ll be matriculating at University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in August. Just wanted to say I appreciate your honesty and humility. I too like the prestige that comes with the profession and I’m glad there are people I can relate with. Looking at surgery as well so wish me luck. I’ll be continuing to watch your videos. Cheers

[@RichHilsden]

It’s ok to be honest about the benefits you get from a career. You give a lot of your life to medicine you really should get something out of it for yourself

[@anmarhassan407]

Always a delight to watch your videos , it would be great to see some OR time in the future if possible

[@RichHilsden]

The challenge with OR videos is it gets flagged as adult content. I would have to not show anything “violent”. I will be filming more stuff in the hospital over the next few months. Hopefully it will show up as “b-roll”

[@emphasis20]

@@RichHilsden I would also love to see OR videos if possible. As you've mentioned, perhaps if it's done a certain way the video won't get flagged. Wired's KZbin channel had a trauma surgeon (during their fellowship) send them update videos during the early phase of the pandemic. I believe there were pictures added as b-roll during the video, showing their scrubs, the operating table, etc. covered with blood. I've also seen thorough spinal fusion videos on KZbin with people's backs opened up as well, so I'm assuming KZbin has their methods to flagging.

[@benjaminhoffman3848]

I really appreciate your honesty about your motivations. I have a similar motivation regarding the status and respect. I feel guilty about it but there it is.

[@violette4841]

Thank you for educating us. I enjoy you and your videos. I learned a lot here as a mother and with my career in elementary school teaching. We just don't think beforehand about the many difficult tasks and demands of our chosen careers, or parenting. We are not really prepared for them. You can get the feeling of being battered down by it all and that you are barely surviving. The points you made about all the administrative tasks and having only so many years at our maximum potential (as well as the cost in years) hit home. I get asked for advice as a parent and as a teacher and your advice and leadership helps me to be a better worker and leader in my sphere.

[@yongqifoo]

Great video! I teach computer science in university so I'm not a doctor, but I enjoy watching your videos all the same. If you're still taking video ideas (and if you haven't done this one already), I think doing one on common/cool terms/jargon used in trauma surgery or medicine in general would be really cool (like crack the chest). Cheers from Singapore, Dr. Hilsden!

[@RichHilsden]

I think that is a great idea. There are a bunch of Canadian medical slang / jargon that would be fun to talk about I think.

[@dovbrodkin4497]

Hi. Great video! It was very thorough and honest. I have a question for you. Do you see any trends in medicine, specifically for doctors, for good or bad, that would be important for people considering medicine? Obviously, every field changes over time and it is likely that medicine will change in many ways over the coming years before many prospective doctors complete their training. Thanks!

[@22boredguy]

Man you’re being slept on. It seems like you’re getting comfortable in front of the camera.

[@RichHilsden]

That's for the comment. Slowly building this channel.

[@Born2Losenot2win]

Hi! Could we please have a video on cost effective first aid supplies to have at home in case of an emergency? I’m really interested in your picks as a trauma general surgeon. Not just for what would be effective outside of the hospital but also something that would be less troublesome when the patient reached the hospital, for treatment and long term recovery. Oh and some tips for use as a bonus would be great! Thank you!

[@RichHilsden]

Great question. And I have an answer. Look up “stop the bleed”. Maybe I will make a video,‘but I want to help you right now

[@Born2Losenot2win]

@@RichHilsden thank you so much! I had a tourniquet at home and I was actually wondering about how to stop bleeding on locations other than the limbs, and it’s amazing that it’s my first time hearing about “wound packing” it sounds like a crucial information like CPR. I wish they taught us all this in high school. Oh and in case you did make a video then I’m looking forward to it! Again thanks doctor!

[@mollycule2792]

I’ve always wondered what the surgical teams do during long surgeries regarding bathroom breaks and eating/drinking. What has been your longest surgery? How do you combat the physicality of surgery (eg standing a long time, neck bent down)? Do you do specific stretches after a long surgery?

[@debobratasaha6170]

Hello sir really great video . I am feeling really motivated after watching this . I want to become doctor just to hear this from a patient " thanks you for saveing my life doctor debobrata Saha " . How do you feel when patient tell you this

[@RichHilsden]

I feel very humble, because I know it was a team effort. Thats the thing people forget. You don't every really feel like "you" saved them because the anesthesiologist helped, the nurses helped, the ER doctor helped, your mentor who taught you how to do the operation helped. But, at the end of the day, yeah, its nice to know you made a difference.

[@TheStreamlinetyr]

Sort of like a smart, educated garand thumb.

[@ChristopherJohnson-gy5bp]

Really enjoyed this video! I’ve been trying relentlessly to decide from going into pharmacy or pursing medical school. I’m currently in college and just finished my first year of undergrad. The only problem with the quick decision is I will be applying to pharmacy school this winter because it only requires 2 years of undergrad instead of a whole bachelors degree. Feeling a lot of pressure to make this decision because I honestly don’t know if I have the same interest or passion to go into pharmacy and make it all the way though the education. I don’t want to regret my decision in the end and wish I would’ve chose the other path. I was wondering if you had any outlook or advice on choosing between the 2. Thanks!

[@HHSMCJROTC]

Honestly, take ur time. Even if u change ur path later, as a freshman, research but relax too. Either path will have u well educated and equipped. Don’t pressure urself too much

[@winkieblink7625]

And..residency is not learning a speciality. That’s even more cost and school.

[@RichHilsden]

It’s true, the time in residency needs to be considered an opportunity cost

[@rickaguilar1833]

NO! It takes a huge chunk of your Life and Money! Not to mention the Stress! And huge Tuition to pay back!