Thank Your Doctor

While most of you spent the day enjoying another warm summer, urban Asian landscape, the endless post-it notes encircling your cubicle walls, or perhaps the local town fireworks, myself and my colleagues sat inside the air-conditioned walls of Stanton-Gerber Hall. Yes, third year has officially started. Some might wonder why a person would spend thousands of dollars and years of their lives in pursuit of this career of medicine. We each have our different reasons:

Some do it for the money and power which in my humble opinion is the worst business venture one could pursue. If your desire is to become a wealthy, powerful person, earn your MBA, invest in the stock market, start your own business, but don't pursue a career in medicine.

Some do it because they want to help people. Yet that shouldn't be the only reason. One can help people in any career field from firefighting to football. It's all depends on how one's talents are used.

For others, medicine provides that special opportunity to touch people's lives in a way not possible in any other career. There's something special about being able to provide hope and assistance to a person when facing their moment of greatest suffering.

I'm sure the next few weeks will be filled with a "deer-in-the-headlights" look, much like the one I had my first week of medical school. I'm sure the phrases "good night's sleep," "rest and relaxation," and "know-it-all" will become non-existent in my vocabulary and words like "not on call," "caffeine," and "lunch provided" will be the most welcomed words to my ears. It should be an interesting year as I learn what it exactly means to be a student doctor.

And as far as the title of this post goes? Thank your doctor. For all those long hours and years of study, they deserve it.