Choosing your career is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. When asked why they chose to pursue medicine, most physicians respond that they wanted to make a difference by helping people and positively impacting their lives through health care. Serving others as a physician is a noble and challenging way to invest your intellect, skills, and passion in a demanding and rewarding profession.

1. Choosing your career is one of the most important decisions that you will ever make. When asked why they chose to
pursue medicine, most physicians respond that they wanted to make a difference by helping people and positively
impacting their lives through health care.
Serving others as a physician is a noble and challenging way to invest your intellect, skills, and passion in a demanding
and rewarding profession.
Questions to Ask When Considering a Career in Medicine
"What types of physicians are needed?"
While all types of physicians are needed to care for the health of the public,
primary care physicians are crucial, especially in underserved areas. A
health care system built upon an adequate supply of primary care
physicians is shown to improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
The Affordable Care Act (https://www.aafp.org/advocacy/informed/coverage/aca.html) ,
now health care law in the United States, reinforces the need for primary
care physicians through the implementation of measures that:
Family
physicians
provide
more
primary
care
than
any
other
medical
specialty
in the
United
States,
and
the
need
for
Is a Career in Medicine Right for You?
Increase patient access to health care insurance coverage
Incentivize preventive health care and align health care provider
payments with patient health outcomes
Increase the primary care physician workforce

2. family
physicians
continues
to
grow.
Discover why primary care is a crucial part of health care » (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/choosing-fm/value-
scope.html)
"Is a career in medicine right for me?"
A career in medicine is a career of:
As you weigh your career options, take time to reflect upon how the opportunities, preferences, and talents you
possess compare with the demands and benefits of a medical career. Here are some suggestions to help you get
started.
Get to Know Yourself
Getting to know yourself -- your goals, aptitudes, personality, interests, and values -- is the best place to begin to
answer this important question. Consider using personal insight tools such as these to gain clarity and persepective on
yourself as a person, as well as potential careers.
Be Realistic about the Challenges and Rewards
Although many students enter college wanting to become physicians, most students have little or no knowledge of what
is involved in the practice of medicine.
Do Your Homework
Service -- The profession of medicine requires a unique commitment to put the service of others first.
Knowledge -- Physicians are lifelong learners, always acquiring new skills and learning new information.
Teamwork -- Physicians must be effective communicators and collaborative problem solvers.
Contribution -- A physician impacts the lives of individuals, families, and communities.
Flexibility -- There are many career options for physicians, ranging from primary care to research.
Security -- Physicians are in high demand, as health care needs continue to rise and evolve.
SELF-KNOWLEDGE TOOLS
Myers Briggs Personality Inventory (http://www.myersbriggs.org/)
Rokeach Values Survey (faculty.wwu.edu)
Strong Interest Inventory (https://www.cpp.com/products/strong/index.aspx)

3. Take the time to explore what life as a physician might be like for you.
Consider Educational Expenses
The national average debt for medical students is more than $100,000, and the cost of tuition continues to rise. While
medical education is expensive, it is an investment with a rewarding career and an above average income. If you
choose a career in primary care, there are many loan forgiveness and loan repayment program options available.
Ninety percent of medical school students incur some type of student loans to finance their education.
To learn more about paying off debt from student loans, visit the Debt Management (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-
residency/medical-school/debt.html) section, where you can download and print a guide to use as reference throughout
medical school.
Expect to Be Challenged
Medical school admissions committees are looking for students who will be able to keep up with the coursework. Most
medical students agree that the amount of material required during the first two years of pre-clinical study is
exponentially higher than the workload during undergraduate school. During the third and fourth (clinical) years, there
are also physical and psychological demands made by very long hours, hard work, and interaction with patients.
Bottom line: It takes a highly motivated individual to pursue a career in medicine.
What you need to know about applying to medical school » (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/premed/getting-into-
med-school.html)
"What if I'm not sure about a career in medicine?"
If you have doubts, you should always keep your options open. Medicine is not for everyone. Choosing to pursue a
career in medicine for prestige or financial rewards will likely be disappointing, as most physicians find that medicine is
a vocation that requires a commitment to service, lifelong learning and the dedication to practice competently and
compassionately.
Ask to meet with physicians informally, and interview them about their careers.
Review statistics on today's physician workforce.
Understand the education and training requirements involved in becoming a doctor.
Learn the basics about medical school, including typical application requirements and types of medical education
programs.
RESEARCH THE PATH OF FAMILY MEDICINE
Career options in family medicine (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/choosing-fm/practice.html)
Salaries, statistics, and trends in family medicine
Training requirements for family physicians (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/premed/training.html)
Read in-depth interviews with family physicians (https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/choosing-fm/physician-qas.html)

4. The decision whether to stay on a pre-medical track can usually be deferred through the first two years of college
without loss of credit when changing majors. This will give you time to gather as much information as possible about
what medicine has to offer.
Specialize in the Human Family
Family physicians focus on the whole person. By building relationships with
their patients over time, family physicians are able to develop a comprehensive
understanding of their patients’ health, and offer insightful, personal guidance
and treatment for every stage of life.
Explore Family Medicine »
(https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/choosing-fm/model.html)
Is a Career in Medicine Right for You? -- Medical School & Residency
https://www.aafp.org/medical-school-residency/premed/career.html
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