So you want to be a doctor? It's a long, hard road but filled with many rewards. How I became a doctor, surgeon, ED physician... and why it's so rewarding

1. Road to M.D.
Veronica Bonales, M.D.
Emergency Medicine Physician

2. My Journey
Mexico City

3. The Journey
• Why
• Do you want to be a doctor
• What
• Does it take to be a doctor
• How
• Do you get to medical school
• Where
• Do you go to medical school
• Why
• Having fun as a doctor

4. Why?
• Money...?

5. Why...?

6. Why?
• To save lives

7. Why?
• Difference between
what you do and
what you think you
will do

8. Why?
• Trauma

9. Why?
• 75%

10. What?

11. Road to M.D.
• Long
• 4+4+3-12 (11 --> lots)
• 5+(2+2)+3+5+(1+1+1)+1+3=23
• Hard
• Avg. 3.7 GPA + experience
• Frustrating
• Applications, rejections, $$$
• Emotional
• Waiting, worrying
• Rewarding
• Yes....!

12. What?
• Long road
• Undergrad
• +/- work/research experience
• Post-bacc, MBA, MS, PHD
• Med school
• Internship
• Residency
• Fellowship/s

13. • BA JournaMlismy Road
• Worked as journalist
• NAFTA research Mexico City
• Post-baccalaureate
• Med School
• Intern Surgery
• Cardiac Surgery Jr Fellow
• Surgical Resident
• House Physician
• EM Resident

14. What
• Hard
• Good GPA
• MCAT
• Research/volunteer experiences
• Competition
• State vs out of State

15. What?
• Frustrating
• Application process
• DO vs MD
• Rejections
• Finances

16. What?
• Emotional
• Waiting
• Family/friends/SO support
• Making decisions

17. What?
• Rewarding
• Knowing 1:16,000 allopathic or
1:8,000 osteopathic students
• Job security
• Personal rewards

18. How?
Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of
choice. It is not something to be waited for, but,
rather, something to be achieved. - WJBryan

19. How?
• Set your goals
• Do your research
• Set a timeline
• Gather your support staff
• Professors, MD’s
• Be flexible
• Don’t give up

20. How?
• Say “yes!” to opportunity
• Volunteer
• Take on responsibility

21. Where?
• Close to family/SO or not?
• Weather?
• Future goals?
• Wherever get accepted...!

22. SoCal to Wisc.

23. Where?

24. Why?

25. Why?
• Docere (lat.) = to teach

26. Why?

27. Why?

28. Why I did it...

29. Surgery
• Anatomy
• Mad Skills
• “Royalty”
• Instant gratification

30. Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Super mad skills
• Best of the best
• You know hearts
inside and out
• Cool tools

31. Why I Chose EM?

32. Why I Chose EM?

33. Emergency Medicine
• “Short Attention Span”
• Life is a box of chocolates... You never
know what you are gonna get...

34. Residency

35. EM = Orthopedist

36. EM = Radiologist

37. EM = Surgeon

38. EM = Plastic Surgeon

39. EM = Toxicologist

40. EM = Neurosurgeon

41. EM = OB

42. EM = Cardiologist

43. EM = Traumatologist

44. EM Specialties

45. EM Specialties

46. EM Specialties

47. EM Specialties
CONTOMS = Counter Narcotics & Terrorism
Operational Medical Support

48. EM Specialties

49. EM Specialties

50. EM Specialties

51. Thank you!

52. links
• www.slideshare.net/docmontey
• docmontey@yahoo.com