Here I list questions that I asked myself during my journey to medicine and that you can start reflecting on. Explore all your options. The road to medicine is incredibly rewarding but so is a career in nursing. Ask yourself the hard questions, be intentional in this pursuit, and in the end, I hope it makes you more resolute and determined in your purpose.
Your Why
- But really, WHY do you want to become physician?
- Your why may be different than my why. What’s important here is that you have taken time to reflect on this question. Not only to guide you in reaching a decision but also to prepare you for the amount of times you will be asked this question in medical school interviews, during group introductions in medical school, and even during residency interviews. During the rigors of medical training, you can come back to this why and hopefully it helps comfort and encourage you along the way.
- Why NOT NP, CRNA, PA? This is a legitimate question to ask yourself as these are great careers with autonomy, flexibility, and intellectual stimulation as well. Paths to these careers are shorter, less costly, and often allow specialty flexibility. I agonized over this as many of my nursing colleagues were in NP school. I ended up choosing medicine because I wanted the option that would give me more options. I am doing a diagnostic radiology residency and there was no way I could be a radiologist without medical school.
My Why
I hope sharing my why gives you an idea of my journey and helps you reflect on yours as well.
It had never occurred to me to pursue medicine. I am a first-generation high school graduate so navigating college was completely up to me to figure out. Honestly, I did not believe that I had the academic ability to succeed in medical school. When I started working in my first job as a floor nurse on a surgical-cardiovascular unit, my co-worker mentioned she is pursing medicine. At first, I thought she was insane for completing the rigors of nursing school and thinking of leaving this flexible and rewarding career for something has taxing as being a physician! Little did I know, she planted a seed in my head that sprouted and flourished in the coming years.
I did several international trips as a nurse to volunteer at clinics and hospitals abroad. During one particular trip, I helped check in patients and assisted the obgyn with Pap smears and physical exams. I sat beside her as she led an empowering discussion with a group pre-teen girls about their developing bodies, consent, and self-confidence. I found that physicians not only diagnose and treat disease but help aid broken spirits, console burdened hearts and mentor patients to lead more meaningful lives.
As I discovered through medical school, I loved the diagnostic process. Eventually I decided to pursue a residency in diagnostic radiology. Now that I am here continuing my journey to become a radiologist, I have realized that I could not have chosen this speciality without a medical degree.
Here’s an excerpt from my medical school personal statement that shines light on my why:
I would not have predicted that my experiences in nursing would reveal my deeper aspirations and lead me on a meandering path towards medicine. I enjoy many aspects of being a nurse including listening to the intimate stories patients share, comforting their families, and being their advocate. Some years into my career, I began yearning to expand my role. I recall a situation when I entered my patient’s room to find him in a sweat, short of breath, with a weak, irregular pulse. I applied oxygen and laid him flat in bed to compensate for his sinking blood pressure. I felt nervous as I waited for the physician to respond to my page. When the physician arrived at the patient’s bedside, I felt an overwhelming relief. I thought, “The doctor is here. Everything will be fine.” Moments like this made me want to be the person who steps into a room and provide that relief. Though I considered furthering my education as a nurse, my desire to manage complex cases with a greater depth of medicinal knowledge sustained my decision to pursue medical school.
