Why I DIDN'T... Family Medicine

Here's why I didn't choose the specialty of family medicine. Choosing a specialty is one of the most important decisions you'll make in medical school and in your path to becoming a doctor. Family medicine is a fantastic specialty, but it's not for everyone.
This is my experience with family medicine, why it ultimately wasn't high on my list of potential specialties, and tips for you if you're considering specializing in family medicine in the future.
It's important to note whether you prefer the clinic, hospital, or operating room when deciding on a specialty. Family medicine has a great deal of clinic time, which isn't for everyone, but do note that if you specialize with fellowship after your family medicine residency, you can further subspecialize. For example, sports medicine is office procedure heavy. Obstetrics allows you to deliver babies in labor & delivery. And so on.
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TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Introduction
00:52 - My Experience with Family Medicine
07:09 - Tips for Those Considering FM
LINKS FROM VIDEO:
So You Want to Be a FAMILY MEDICINE DOCTOR: • So You Want to Be a FA...
What Chronic Illness Taught Me About Life: • What Chronic Illness T...
#familymedicine #whyididnt #medicalschool
====================
Disclaimer: Content of this video is my opinion and does not constitute medical advice. The content and associated links provide general information for general educational purposes only. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. Kevin Jubbal, M.D. will not assume any liability for direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this video including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. May include affiliate links to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through them (at no extra cost to you).

[@kevinjubbalmd]

For a more objective overview, check out So You Want to Be a Family Medicine Doctor: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2m9g6WNpbCcrpo

[@jacksmith659]

Hint: There is a special guest in that video that I am sure you will enjoy. By the way Dr. Jubbal you are a Savage.👍

[@erinnorwood6124]

how much does your buddy make who does 30 hrs/wk in fm, if he doesn't mind sharing

[@Sanyu-Tumusiime]

I can't understand those who hate clinic. it's the time where you connect with the patient. it's the best time. I love it.

[@thesneakygamer4343]

Same, I like procedures but clinic is just as enjoyable to me.

[@Human-wi7qx]

for me i cant stand working in a clinic…i am a much of a working person rather than a talkative person.

[@LorianandLothric]

FM is demanding but you will look back on life and think of all those patients and be fulfilled

[@Maddawg31415]

Me: “Mrs. Anderson, have you been taking your Lasix since I last saw you?” (Note her severe pedal edema and recent hospitalization for CPE). Her: “NO!” Me: “Now, Mrs. Anderson, why have you not taken your Lasix?” (This was the same problem the last 5 clinic visits). Her: “mehhhhh it makes me pee a lot!” Me: internally I could imagine someone who only does clinic 5 days per week, 9-5, and get absolutely burnt out with this within a few years. At least in other specialties you have an opportunity to see a more diverse patient population, diverse arrays of conditions in the acute and non-acute setting, and do a greater array of procedures (at least for me, personally). Not to say you can’t in FM, but clinic-wise it’s a lot. Now, some people would find purpose and joy in the above setting, and that’s great. But certainly not everyone.

[@Uprising771]

this guy doesnt like to connect with people

[@Spidernana93]

Applying for Family Medicine right now, and watching this video comforts me in my decision 🙂 All his reasons for not going into FM... are *my* reasons for running to it! I love the diversity of the field, and the freedom to decide or modify the kind of practice you want to have in different stages of your life. I don't see myself treating the same organ system or group of pathologies all my life, I like to follow the patient as a whole, never knowing what they're consulting me for and having a wide range of possibilities to investigate. And clinic appeals to me more than procedures 😅

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Perfect. Congrats

[@believer_0]

Same bro same I want to enjoy the diversity and keep exploring my potentiality.Hoping to be a family medicine doctor.😇

[@internetstranger3686]

Samee :D

[@srikanthnithyanandammd]

Family medicine is an amazing speciality. I trained in family medicine and then as a sports medicine. Now I work as a hospitalist, outpatient clinician, team physician and medical director for the exercise physiology lab. Live your passion

[@sathvikam.v.1129]

@@srikanthnithyanandammd Do internal medicine(managing only OP not IP) and Family medicine doctors earn almost same in USA?

[@bf5209]

I finished family medicine and i deeply regret not taking my surgery rotation seriously! Excisions, i&d, wound care, suturing etc… when u r alone and start your own practice… u need to know these things…procedures make more money than pure consults alone 😅

[@JJMomoida]

I'm heading into FM residency in less than a month and I'm definitely taking this as advice.

[@bf5209]

@@JJMomoida learn mole, warts, skin tag removals… ear cleaning etc… 🙂

[@downinflames15]

People in competitive specialities trash family medicine until they realize the family med doctors are the ones referring patients to them!

[@WanderlustDoc]

This!

[@ayantolasaheed7425]

And that FP can actually do 60% of their work. In Nigeria FPs are licensed to to all primary care surgeries from CS,to do Herniorrhaphy, to appendectomy,to hydrocelectomy to ex lap!

[@vikram8578]

@@ayantolasaheed7425that’s badass af

[@ccheetah48]

I am so glad you're harping on why prestige should not dictate your specialty choice. This is such a massive vibe amongst med students and premeds and I think it's so counterproductive. Thanks for making these videos and stOMPing on some of these misconceptions, making me a very happy subscriber!

[@drdumbo9124]

Agreed it's a horrible culture amongst most premeds and med students..... It's not emphasized enough to pick what YOU want because YOU like it. No one cares about prestige past medical school/residency and YOU have to live with your decision for the rest of your career. Do what makes you happy people.

[@LorianandLothric]

@@drdumbo9124 It also doesn’t make sense because a FM doctor also has prestige and respect. All doctors do, regardless of specialty.

[@archervine8064]

@@drdumbo9124 absolutely. Overheard a very wise doc tell his med students to pick the specialty they love and do well in. There’s no guarantee that the ‘hot’ specialty today will still be hot in 10 years, you’ll still be practicing in it day in and day out, and while docs do face certain financial challenges lbr… unless they make very dumb decisions they’re going to have a decent if not lavish lifestyle. Hope they took it to heart!

[@chadelliott361]

Awesome video! I want to be a PCP and this video helped confirm that I still want to be a family doctor. I wanted to see the negatives to family medicine and as you said, I love a broad range of hobbies and I have never been one for diving deep in one area and enjoy learning many more things in a less in-depth way.

[@nigelwest5776]

I think it would be rewarding being peoples main Doctor. one of the only doctors in health promotion trying to stop people from needing expensive care

[@musiqal333]

How could people hate clinic? I think clinic is awesome!!!!! Connecting with patients in such a setting is priceless to me.

[@TinaOnEarth]

I'd love to see a future pediatrics video! I'm currently stuck between Peds and PM&R specialities..

[@ntumed2799]

Great job! This video is super informative, and yet shares a honest introspection.

[@nova9672]

I love family medicine! Urgent care/walk in clinics are my life

[@DaRyteJuan]

After watching several of your videos where you didn’t appear on camera and I only had your voice to go on, it was cool to finally see the face and the voice together. Nice. 👍🏻

[@intrepidtomato]

I think KJ tends to rate the specialities on the variety inherent in the types of diseases you treat and the procedures you do, but it seems to me that the variety in family med mostly comes from dealing with people, which really provide infinite variety if you do it well. Good family physicians KNOW people and are good with them. That's not a technical skill, that, to me, is an art. My hat is off to all of you family medicine people, a good GP is worth their weight in gold.

[@duser]

That Ego talk really did hit me. I may be aiming too high personally and taking too much stress in return. I guess i want to be that dude that wants to score a 310 in the STEPs. Should really make my goal more attainable and be happy with the progress i have made since i started grinding.

[@intrepidtomato]

It's easy to fall into that trap in your 20s, no matter the field. I think it is good to aim high so have a choice after exams, but he's right - at the very least when choosing a specialty, don't make it about your ego. Not a med student, but I did fall into that trap

[@WeightsAreFriends]

Always loved the videos!!

[@cm9736]

Work with internal medicine residents at my primary care clinic when they do their rotations there. Only know 2 out of 60 that want to do primary care after they are done. The rest either hospitalist or a specialty.

[@DetectiveMcGarnacle]

I worked with gen surgery resident in a non clinical setting for a year. If you think some MDs belittle other MD “non-prestigious”specialties, wait until you see how this chick treated non-MDs. She was of the most insufferable and divisive human beings I have ever been around.

[@LorianandLothric]

Did she disrespect DOs too?

[@Maddawg31415]

Surgeons are different, especially the ones in Gen surge. Some are super competitive, some are super Type A, some are like her (toxic), and some are compulsive. Most are a combination of the above. We had an ACLS course, and there was a surgeon taking it amongst EM docs and RNs. She was super compulsive, super “what is up with these people” sorta deal, but boy did she know her shit! Idk if I had a bad liver lac I’d want her treating me with that mentality.

[@drsomeone9656]

Cannot wait to start my residency in family medicine upcoming October 🙌🏻 Thank you Dr.Jubal for your inspiring and eye opening videos 🌹

[@drsomeone9656]

@Dr. Srikanth, MD - Family & Sports Medicine Doctor So far I genuinely believe that FM residency was the right choice. All the best 🙏🏻

[@uhsureiguess9439]

You should do a video talking about scope of practice changes with PA, NP, and Family medicine. I'm heavily considering FM but am concerned about scope changes.

[@JF-ct5sg]

EM especially 😬

[@dawidkozmik6702]

Please this

[@drdumbo9124]

If anything the AAFP is one of the strongest physician organizations actually pushing back against midlevels. Meanwhile you look at cardiologists at the FACC bending over backwards and literally giving midlevels the title.

[@gettygets872]

@@drdumbo9124 , really? I wasn’t aware of this. 🤔

[@whazzas5023]

IM doctor here. It can be very gratifying knowing you still know a bit about everything and (if your really good) you actually know what you are talking about. This is pretty special if you consider the incredibly vast amount of information that covers the entire human body and all of its pathologies. FM is even more broad, if you keep up your scope of practice including pediatric patients, possibly even OB and GYN or even some minor surgical procedures. The pay per hour, don't kid yourself, is nowhere near a lot of specialists but it can be high if you work hard and put in a lot of hours. I work 60+ hours each weak and cleared 330K last year. Primary care is massively understaffed and many doctors have quit these last couple years, and health systems are raising rates for primary care doctors. Pediatrics and FM usually earn slightly lower. treating children usually comes with a pay cut as unfortunately a lot of children come in with younger parents who are on Medicaid.

[@arnaupuig5097]

Honestly, I find the money argument superficial and meaningless. Once you achieve a certain level of wealth, any increments on it do not actually impact your happiness and/or well being. We're talking about over 200.000 $ a year. I could do with half of that net. I don't collect fancy cars, I don't need a yacht, etc etc. I just don't need so much money. Period. It's all about "status", that's it.

[@AjaySensei]

@@arnaupuig5097 Are you me? This is my exact sentiment. After 200k, like...what's the point, unless you live in a super expensive area.

[@nidheeshpatel2880]

It's been great following you Dr.Jubbal Thank you for all videos Could you please make one video for international students (like scholarship they get and every other stuff) Thank you

[@Geriatricks]

FM resident here, bread and butter is not life style changes, it’s managing the majority of medical conditions not treated by biologics and surgeries. There often isn’t time to talk about lifestyle changes, but sometimes there is. Agree with picking the specialty that you enjoy over prestige. Can earn >300k in a lot of places. Fellowships listed are somewhat correct, no allergy, see the list at AAFP

[@emmanuel_nwogu_medic]

Prestige leads many medical students into wrong specialties. I left surgical training and now in family medicine(General practice), and I am more suited for the lifestyle of a primary care physician than a surgeon. At the end of the day, one needs to be in a place where they find happiness, not pride/prestige

[@BeMinePink14]

Great video ! Super helpful

[@lubnasattar3631]

Lol, I was wondering if that was a coincidence ur channel and there posted about the same topic .family medicine 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

[@louiskaninda1447]

Hi, My name is Louis, I'm currently in 10th grade and I'd like to go to Medical school with a finance Pre med degree because I'd like to learn more about money, I found everything about finance interesting, I'd be able to stand out a little bit more than the people who got a Biology degree, I'd be able to learn a lot of skills I would actually need in practice (Have my owne clinic) and since finance courses are usually not really difficult, I would have more time to study/focus on the Med school prerequiste and do some volunteer/shadowing hours. Is this a good idea? Btw I live in Canada.

[@al-mishkah6970]

I hope you do "why i didn't cardiothoracic surgery" ... and what are the bread and butter of congenital heart surgery I am a medical student and reeeeally into it .. and wanna know the full picture

[@ashrazterrian8851]

DR.jubbal can u make a video ABOUT WORK LIFE BALANCE IN NON SURGICAL RESIDENCIES?? AND DIFFERENT CHALLENGE FOR WOMEN AND MEN ALONG WITH RAISING A FAMILY..

[@brittgayle467]

If he thinks outpatient clinic goes slowly he hasn’t seen a busy outpatient clinic, where you have 15min to address multiple problems.

[@studyjoy3763]

You should do a "Why I didn't... Psychiatry"

[@drose44444]

I was interested for family medicine but now strongly against Family Medicine due to the very toxic bureaucracy.

[@freepeople091]

Lots of students look down ton FM because their step score was too high and their egos couldn't take doing FM

[@Deemieboi]

This video was fantastic

[@rice5phere]

Prestige is an interesting reason to bash FM. Do you want prestige from your colleagues or from patients? For the former, as a resident myself, my respect goes to any physician who is good at what they do/teaching/bedside manner/teamwork, REGARDLESS of their specialty. Like literally 0% of my day-to-day cognitive minutes are spent awing over a doc who is in conventionally competitive services (e.g. Plastics, neurosgx, etc). For the latter, I would argue family doctors would get the MOST respect. A. They have the most face time and rapport (thus trust) with patients and B. Patients treated by the "respected" specialties are often too sick to give a shit about/comprehend whose seeing them. Prestige I think is a moot point lol

[@time1848]

I was just waiting this video 📈📈

[@darryllim2969]

I was just watching so you want to be for family medicine from med school insider

[@sunflowers_n_coffee]

I can't stand internal med/family med ... there's to much to know and I hate clinic lol I prefer to narrow down what I know

[@livelife2324]

No matter how much I look into other specialities I can't get Ophthalmology out of it. And it's been so since I was 14 and had my first visit to an eye doc.

[@intrepidtomato]

Wow! lots of people hate eye stuff including me, if you like it, that sounds great. I thankfully had good eye dcs for some scary eye issues.

[@livelife2324]

@@intrepidtomato I hope more ppl start disliking it so that it stops being so competitive😅

[@lilliampumpernickle4655]

Make one over CT surgery!

[@BlackCat-yt4gp]

*comments to interact with the video, helping it on the algorithm game*

[@NN-rn1oz]

Do a why not emergency medicine.

[@landonp.4073]

The ultimate specialty for flexibility

[@a.b.4357]

Can you please make a video or tell me about how does the competition affect an American citizen who’s an IMG for the MLEs?

[@thebenjfamily7081]

What do you think of psychiatry?

[@its_noorzey7775]

Hi how many years you have to be a physician entrepreneur

[@narayani2997]

Is PMR ING friendly?

[@doctorwhat5077]

Tea!

[@spencerwinchester2917]

Dr. Jubbal, what specialty would you recommend to someone who wants to know everything about everything?

[@alexandru-romualdobabiciu8443]

Im not Dr. Jubbal, but the answer is Internal Medicine

[@drvimal007]

Emergency medicine

[@gettygets872]

@@alexandru-romualdobabiciu8443 , huh ? When was the last time an internal medicine doctor delivered a baby, attended to a neonate, a child, participated in surgery, or did palliative care? The best answer is Family Medicine, by far…

[@bluethunder9102]

Anesthesia or radiology or internal med

[@aluminiumknight4038]

Family medicine with a few fellowships including em fellowship

[@sunflowers_n_coffee]

It's true in clinic time slows down 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AlIshrakSunny]

❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@tightleft37iso56]

At 2:31 you just described to us all that you have ADHD lol. I know because it takes one to know one. I’m the same way with my hobbies

[@sathvikam.v.1129]

Is the lifestyle of Internal medicine doctor equally comfortable like family medicine doctor?

[@sidharthdwivedi2444]

First my guy

[@justincueva2294]

You’re looking great for 30

[@exploration409]

As a family medicine can a patient die on my hands or it is not my dutie to deal with dying patient??

[@khattab5351]

No

[@weirdo-gj5xz]

Do you feel like you quit plastic surgery because deep down your calling was medicine?

[@SK-ov8iz]

I want to become a family medicine doctor I'm in grade 12 but I have a question when u go to the university what degree u do? Do u do a biology degree or a pre-med degree? Please answer if you know Thanks

[@habib580]

If you live in America, you can chose an major that interesting to you as long as you take the pre recs for medical school. Most people choose biology because there is a lot of over lap with the pre recs and it aligns with peoples interest. Medical school insiders has a video on this that does a pretty good job.

[@SK-ov8iz]

@@habib580 thanks for replying

[@SK-ov8iz]

@@habib580 what if u live in canada some people said pre-med is better is it really better

[@habib580]

@@SK-ov8iz no clue about Canada. The thing is if you get a degree in premed and don’t get into medical school, your degree is worthless

[@jacksmith659]

Vin Diesel would not be happy. He is all about FAMIILY😂😂👍 Hint: Watch the last video you will know what i am talking about.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

I don’t have friends… I got FAMILY

[@jacksmith659]

@@kevinjubbalmd Dr. Jubbal. You the man👍Question. Were you on a Fast and Furious movie binge hence the Family Medicine reference with Vin Diesel?

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Haha viewer gave me the idea. I thought it was hilarious and ran with it

[@tillmello8287]

Wife scored 268 and chose family medicine because that’s the doctor she wants to be. Not a generalist but a COMPREHENSIVIST (have own practice and do everything: small procedures, Lumps and bumps/derm, pregnancy, mental health and counseling, women’s health, kids, geriatrics and palliative medicine, beauty, pain management, sports medicine and joint injections, aviation and immigration medicals….)

[@TheRockinBK]

Why I didn’t... Neurosurgery please!

[@pikusarker1359]

Sir how much do you make as a doctor? Nice video.

[@chrisjennings2503]

Money and status.

[@CaitiCat]

I’m sitting here at 730 at night praying to god your “lifestyle” comment was pure sarcasm. Either I’ve lost the ability to detect sarcasm in my sleep deprivation or the universe dramatically underestimated how long it takes to check boxes in EHR

[@mycatsballs8195]

I love when those fat doctors tell me to eat healthier and have a balanced diet

[@coolminefactory123]

most doctors are fit. Nurses maybe. MOST DOCTORS Are normal LOSE WEIGHT

[@mycatsballs8195]

@@coolminefactory123 Lol u a funny commentator. i’m not fat

[@coolminefactory123]

@@mycatsballs8195 I didn’t say that. I’m saying if the doctor says to do something abide by it.

[@lederpsta42]

Why do you remind me of Obama

[@kevinjubbalmd]

I get that a lot and I’m not sure why 😂

[@michaeldallas-yf4gj]

Whatever!!!

[@certifiedlover2748]

Does this guy still practice medicine? It seems like KZbin is paying him more than being an actual doctor does.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

No. Left a few years back

[@Gundogdogdog]

Still gives advice like he does though my guy lol

[@unspecified6502]

Oh no Kevin why

[@certifiedlover2748]

@@unspecified6502 because KZbin probably pays more than being a doctor 😂

[@certifiedlover2748]

@@Gundogdogdog yea I could never go to school for 10+ years only to leave that profession to do something I could have done straight out of high school.

[@DFOlover1]

Wow look at all of these medical students suffering from effort justification

[@alexmartinez3683]

I imagined him to look middle eastern ish

[@prawnsareyummy5420]

Talk so much, its just about the money, crap

[@enochbrown8178]

OK, listen folks. There's only one reason people don't go into Family Practice..the bucks. Because family medicine can be very satisfying. You get to know your patients intimately. They come to love and respect you if you're any good. It's all heaven, that is, except for the bucks and the prestige because it really, really sucks in these areas - like, bad!!!! Anybody who tells you any different is telling tales just like our former President with the big mouth. It's not a huge secret. The gunners at the top of the class go into specialties with the big bucks. The 2nd tier guys and gals go into the specialties with the somewhat lesser bucks, and the last tier go into family practice. Now you know just in case you happen to be too stupid to figure it out yourself.

[@kevinjubbalmd]

Eh… no. Lots of people find clinic to be a drag

[@enochbrown8178]

@@kevinjubbalmd Well, Dr. Jubbal, I've been around physicians most of my adult life. I'm 68. All I can say is that the physicians you know and the physicians I know are very different people. The ones I know are driven by one thing. In fact, most of the physicians I know hate what they do. It doesn't matter what their specialty is. They hate it. You want proof? Just look at all the physicians who are leaving medicine or committing suicide.

[@enochbrown8178]

@@kevinjubbalmd I agree, doc. But I don't believe they would find it a drag if they made the big bucks. They would find ways to love and embrace it. I've been around. I think I understand most folks very well. Very well, indeed.