Question and Answer (income, discipline, starting a family) | Dr. Rachel Southard

[@c.a.t.6165]

EM resident here. Thanks for fighting for better lives for residents! You’re making a difference!

[@RachelSouthard]

💕

[@chrislong590]

As an ER nurse.....ER sucks. It's all about admitting stupid shit for the hospitals gain. You will see.

[@anavalenzuela3223]

4th year med student....soon to be a resident here! "Make it make sense!" is the take-home message! So proud of you and the things you are doing for physicians (especially women physicians!)

[@delrayan8055]

as a RN I would do anything to be able to work by your side!! you are such a beautiful person inside and out!!! girl power!!!!

[@RachelSouthard]

😭😭💕💕💕

[@katiek2391]

@@RachelSouthard I second this! Keep going girl- you have come sooooooo far and are growing so much and shedding light on such a huge issue surrounding medicine/healthcare-- so much to unpack but glad you are in the field❤

[@jenniferbooth9348]

I have no doubt you will change the way they treat Residents!!!

[@RachelSouthard]

I really would like to!

[@jenniferbooth9348]

@@RachelSouthard the dedication you have towards medicine is infectious. Like you said, change won’t happen now but I truly believe your voice will be heard and changes will be made. Keep up the good work.

[@RachelSouthard]

Thank you Jennifer! I’m hoping it inspires others to use their voice! That’s the goal

[@jenniferbooth9348]

@@RachelSouthard the only way changes are made is our voice and I love love how you are doing that.

[@sarapurdy6468]

In a world that tells women to try not to shine their light so brightly, you are a true badass. It is so inspiring to be part of your journey 🥰 Happy Women in Medicine Day/Women Physicians Day! Those lives you touch are so lucky xx 💗

[@bethanyjowers3133]

It's so nice to know you're out there, fighting for your fellow and future residents. Much love always🤗

[@ryannetienne2839]

Love these Q&A’s and the fact that you have continued to remain your authentic self and don’t shy away from the realness of the field of medicine 🙏🏼 Your channel is a blessing for the community!

[@chumhum3048]

As an Australian, the US residency programs are insane to me. We graduate med school and then work as junior doctors for a few years where you rotate working through different specialties in 10 week terms, where the supervising doctors are generally very interested in helping, teaching and looking after your well-being. We don't have 24h shifts and when you're on nightshifts it's only for a few days at a time and then you get a few days off afterwards. I couldn't imagine having to decide on a speciality in 3rd year let alone the way you guys have to work when you're residents.

[@gourabsarker9552]

Sir how much do you earn?

[@chumhum3048]

@@gourabsarker9552 idk why you assumed I was a sir 😅 It varies by state but the base wage is usually about $80k but by the time you get weekend rates, night shift rates and do overtime most people break $100k in intern year. Base wage increases by about 10k each year as well (but depends on state)

[@zgirl1385]

I posted once before but what you said about residency makes me want to chime in. My son was the victim of a crime and left paralyzed. His journey made me start advocating and fighting for the rights of victims. My point is the hardest challenges some of us are propelled to new ventures. It is my hope you will keep speaking and you will create a voice for change.

[@0TeelaZainElmes0]

A fellow doctor in training here from Austria. The financial situation here is a bit better: we get a salary that is slightly above average and because the education system is not private, we don't have to pay for university. But things are no better on the working hours front: 60 - 80 hours a week is the norm here too, which is - as you said - crazy! Who can think straight after 20h, not to talk about the decisions one has to make. At the same time, the system desperately needs more people who want to work in the medical field, but who would want to work there? And I always get so angry when the answer to this question is that you love medicine! No one should have to suffer for liking their field of work.

[@justelynnnjoelle]

"🤙🏼It's all groovy 🤙🏼" girl, I love this 😂 it's gonna be my new reassurance phrase when I'm going through a temporary setback ❤

[@bluebelle_thenerd]

I've just finished my first week of medical school, thank you so much for keeping me so happy and motivated, couldn't have done it without you! Love from Australia 💓

[@calebglass3681]

I have followed you for years and please please keep making videos! As someone who is matching in just a few weeks (hopefully) it means the world to have someone who is as open and honest as you.

[@BritTellstheTruth]

Hi Dr. Rachel, just want to send you encouragement and positive vibes as you continue your residency journey. Thank you for your transparency. Have a good week! 💕

[@DLG24]

Thank you Rachel for sharing your thoughts and advice. It's always inspiring to see how you continue to build your life. All the best! HERD gang gang⚡

[@c7091]

It is so frustrating that residents are expected to learn and provide for patients under those conditions. It probably makes it so much harder to learn when you are working all the time and totally exhausted at the same time. Not only are these conditions dangerous for patients, but they are dangerous for residents too. I hope people begin to realize this and it begins to change. Thank you for speaking about this Rachel because no change will happen if residents are silent!

[@tdanielle23]

Watching at 2:30am as a nigh shift worker. Honestly, its not bad. Its been over a year for me but i enjoy it.

[@yasminbradley-heise7797]

Rachel! I got an offer for medical school in Australia! Thank you so much for always motivating me and speaking up about such important issues, you definitely helped me get in and I am so grateful, I love OBGYN and feel really set on it! So excited to learn, you're amazing, keep pushing, and take care 💖

[@brendacastro3976]

You are so beautiful Rachel, every week I look forward to your videos, the motivation and inspiration you give me to keep going for my work week ❤

[@abigailmccully]

already know this is gonna be a good video by the title!

[@RachelSouthard]

It’s giving some 🫖🧋🍵

[@chantillyyakes7714]

This was the best Q&A you've done Rachel!

[@endobyotic]

Hopefully now that there are so many medical professionals on social media, the residency structure will change a lot faster!

[@missykowalewski]

Hi Rachel I agree. Medicine is a calling not a career choice. And let me be the other side of the coin for a sec regarding the grind of residency…. It’s nothing short of its own kind of hell. I agree. But it definitely brings out the best of the best. And when ur considering specialties that’s important. For many, it’s a year and done. But for those really tough spots in medicine u want the absolute best. I’m Trauma. And when I found myself on a bed I was relieved that the best of the best was at my side fighting for my life. I don’t have to worry that someone who gave up because they were tired was working on me. See they might give u on me in that moment. I’m sure in every birth those parents r believing they have the best of the best in their time of need. Exactly what u will want when it comes ur turn. So yes the system sucks but it saves lives and in the end isn’t that the ultimate goal?! U got this girl. U r cream of the crop. Hope u get some time with Patrick soon. Ur smile is so much bigger when he’s around. 😉

[@aprilshowers1271]

Hey Rachel I'm a rising M4 planning to apply OBGYN, I love the field and can't see myself as passionate about any other specialty but the work schedule of residency scares the hell out of me. Thanks for being honest as fuck and speaking up about resident working conditions, I hope to do the same

[@raequalls218]

Giiiiirrrrrrrllllllll! Take a break! We will always be here when u get back.

[@brianhornak5937]

You would also be a phenomenal teacher

[@lanafa84]

Loved your Q&A ♥️ Please keep doing it...

[@zoeymiller8938]

Youre amazing and inspiring Rachel! I love your videos so much!!

[@amyc4406]

Hey bestie! Keep doing the best yOu can. Give yourself grace on rough days. Love you❤. Hugs!

[@ElaineSharon358]

I have so much respect for you and the amazing things you are doing ❤

[@hannahtay11]

I've been a member of the HERD since your early MCAT videos and now I'm a second year medical student! We just finished our ENDO/REPRO block and I absolutely fell in love with OBGYN. We learned how to deliver a baby in our SIM lab and that pretty much sealed the deal for me lol. I really want to rotate in OBGYN outside of our core for next year to really get a feel for the field. Any advice for where in general to rotate (rural vs big city) or rotations that will really help me get a realistic feel for the field? Thanks in advance! Literally love you, and always have!!

[@sarahtahma3488]

im a medical student in canada interested in obgyn. Although here residents dont have 24h shifts anymore, obgyn doctors do. it’s discouraging. Whats the benefit of not having it in residency when you’ll have it then all your life.

[@AbigailWatson-mx1qw]

Hello Dr. Southard! I hope all is well! I am an aspiring obgyn too and you are very inspiring!😊I just wanted to know what degree did you do for your undergrad?Thank you and I hope you continue to take care of yourself ❤️You have my support!

[@doctorharry]

In the Building waiting from Baltimore MD 😎😎😎

[@UrsusHorribilis]

anytime I think about quitting I think about my son asking me in the future why I gave up. I can’t imagine telling him “cause it was hard.”

[@Gladioli10]

I'm so proud of you, I've been watching since your very first vlog 🥰

[@vell2994]

You make more money on KZbin than from your actual job 😢 that's so so so sad. Every single person working in the medical field should be paid highly. We rely on you. We appreciate you. Why does this crisis exist almost in every country and the politicians aren't able to change anything

[@selenaanguiano2323]

Rachel this might be a bit of a personal question but do you get any cosmetic things done to your face? It looks so smooth and fresh in all your videos despite your hectic schedule. I only ask this because I too am in the health field and I feel like the stressful coursework has caused my face to age faster and I am considering starting botox as a self care thing but I also feel guilty because of the stigmas behind it etc. Just curious what you do to keep your skin glowy and healthy! Thanks!

[@RachelSouthard]

I have gotten little doses of Botox in my forehead for a few years now, but that’s it 🙂I don’t think that’s contributing to my skin per se. I eat pretty dang healthy, don’t drink a lot of EtOH, I drink A LOT of water, I don’t wear makeup often (and if so, I don’t do foundation or stuff that covers your entire face), I exercise daily. But I think a huge part is genetics. My mom’s entire side of fam has nice skin! And I hardly ever get pimples, if so, they’re very small and resolve in a day or two. I feel like the key to healthy skin comes from what you put into your body and how you treat your body.

[@karismartinez8686]

first question... it is rough because I always wanted FBI lol and medicine... but I'll be honest and say sometimes I regretted not going my original route ( I was the person that when they asked what do you want to major in, I said "uhh I guess bio." Now were an MD grad yall lol🤣) . Now though I am working to be a Dr. for the FBI with my specialty; best of both worlds, but was a longggg road to finish and study when I was between two places. Just thought I'd throw in another person's life example for anyone reading the comments between two paths.

[@SAb-tt4kz]

I really enjoyed this video, I’m interested in medicine but have no one to talk to and ask so … grateful for your insights. 👍🏻

[@aidathemd]

Good luck sweetie💗I loved your video.

[@doctorharry]

In the Building watching from Baltimore MD 😎😎😎

[@JakayWalters]

I love your videos Rachel! I worked in a family practice and the nurses would put aspirin in the water when the plants would look shriveled and dead and the plant would come back to life the next day.

[@RachelSouthard]

🫨 omg really!?

[@RachelSouthard]

And thank you!😭💕

[@Spicytots5]

Such an awesome study break :)

[@Rania-1237]

In dramatic shift but can't wait 😂❤

[@mcqueendroid]

GIRLFRIEND! How in the world did you get your money plant to sprout so much 🌱! KUDOS

[@RachelSouthard]

I do LITERALLY nothing to it. It gets the least water honestly cause I forget about it haha My mom gave it to me as a gift. So maybe it’s her love making the plant live.

[@sofiaperez08728]

Hey! Love this video, but i don’t think you need to be 100% sent on medicine to do it. I thought I was going to go into research and academia but am loving medical school. My classmates are lawyers, nurses, pharmacists, physios, and so much more!!! You can be an amazing doctor even if you’ve had other inklings!

[@RachelSouthard]

You can still be an amazing doctor regardless. Yes!

[@ashleylynn1925]

Residents and graduate students just get abused by their employers to make even more money. I hate that this is the price we pay in order to get into our career. There has to be a better way so that we can still feel like humans. Signed, a very overworked PhD student.

[@gourabsarker9552]

Mam how much do you earn as a resident doctor? Plz reply. Thanks a lot.

[@megamanfan1012]

Month of nights is crazy :(, sorry to hear, Two week blocks are exhausting enough lol

[@RachelSouthard]

I have 3 months of nights in PGY-1 and PGY-2😅

[@ericboyer6464]

Love your content, but proLife 💜 Praying for you, Rachel 😊 You have a truly beautiful heart, the Lord Jesus placed His heart inside of you. You will find ultimate true identity in Him 💜 He formed you from your mother's womb 😊

[@IK-fg4gw]

❤❤❤

[@MissDeviancy]

i dont know how anyone can work a 24 hour shift, i can barely make it through 8 hours. and making life and death decisions, its just mind boggling to me

[@Memedued]

*cough* psychiatric is the better specialty *cough* Dr. Southard, by chance do you know something over the counter that I could possibly take to get ride of this horrid cough?

[@ninthusiva7546]

You are always exhausted, crying, depressed and burnt out. Please don't have kids. You won't survive the first 24 hours

[@RachelSouthard]

Hahahahaha 😂 I didn’t know that the experience of having a baby is the exact same as being a resident physician. Tell us more!!!! !!!

[@ThePatterofTinyPaws]

I just googled average resident salaries in US. $164,122 a year? That's $13,676 a month? And you get more than that per month from KZbin? Wow!

[@RachelSouthard]

If I made that much as a resident, I wouldn’t be talking hahaha we make far less than half of that per year

[@mjones2897]

They want you to build endurance. Otherwise there will be too incompetent doctors.

[@RachelSouthard]

Or burnt out doctors?

[@enelr5504]

USs crazy residency programs are not for the benefit of the residents. It comes from tradition and capitalism. Residency programs in other countries are a lot more humane and the doctors who come out of them are just as qualified, but in better mental health and financial situation. Another very gruesome field of medicine is actually internal medicine. The amount of patients you have to work through and the amount on consults is just mind bogling.

[@hayleyhawn]

so many "influencers" / "creators" are transparent about their income. It's the shift in the professional world as a whole-why don't you feel comfortable talking about specifics?

[@RachelSouthard]

That’s nice! Because I don’t think the number is important ??? It’s the principle that I’m trying to hammer home.

[@hayleyhawn]

Totally understandable and you do you, I was asking because of the huge emphasis on income transparency that the whole country is moving towards@@RachelSouthard

[@RachelSouthard]

Whole country? I was unaware!

[@hayleyhawn]

This is such a wild response to a completely reasonable question. There was literally not an ounce of judgement in my question, nor in my response. My initial reply didn't need a response, it was simply an acknowledgement of respecting your stance and explaining why I asked the question in the first place. Because you've been transparent about so much over the years I was genuinely asking about your views and feelings on transparency around income in the fields you are part of, medical & content creation, especially because they are two of the largest areas in the transparency movement. Your defensive attitude is misguided and misplaced. @@RachelSouthard​

[@kelliebutler24th]

I’m listening to your videos now because I’m going to have something done pretty soon so I’ll be messaging you on instagram for more

[@kaylarigdon5951]

MS1 here and I want to go into ob/gyn! Thank you for doing the work you do 🫶

[@tinapatel6819]

❤❤❤❤