Not to mention the almost impossible system of schooling, training, credentials, and general hoop-jumping to become a practicing doctor (and to reach that very desired $200k+ salary) means the supply of new doctors is incredibly constrained.
The amount of friends and peers of mine who gave up a career medicine because the ridiculousness of this whole system turned them off completely is really saddening.
I understand that we should be diligent about making sure the people we entrust our lives to are trained and trustworthy, but do we really need:
- 4 years of undergraduate studies that have ZERO medical treatment curricula
- 2-3 years of work experience if you don't get into medical school right away
- Studying for the MCAT concurrently and trying to get a high score
- 4 years of medical school
- A high stakes test that determines if you will receive the residency you want
- A lottery system that "matches" you with hospitals for residency
- 3-5 years of this residency in hopefully the specialization of your choice (depending on if you passed that test), hopefully in a location you desired. You will be paid very little and work 80+ hour weeks
If you track this entire system perfectly, you will become a full fledged doctor that makes the 6-figure salary at around 32 - 35 years old. And every step of the way is a huge filter that break and washout many promising potential doctors.
And then there is the medical school debt that you will be saddled with even if you washout.
This system is madness and we need something more efficient to both incentivize more people becoming doctors and less people washing out.
> And every step of the way is a huge filter that break and washout many promising potential doctors.
> And then there is the medical school debt that you will be saddled with even if you washout.
> This system is madness and we need something more efficient to both incentivize more people becoming doctors and less people washing out.
Who has the control over this? A legalized monopoly here in America (the AMA) that also famously restrict the number of available residency spots. This creates an artificial scarcity and props up the price of care for the public. Same organization that lobbied and got the government to create laws mandating “certificates of need” [0] to make sure they wouldn’t have to compete in a fair market.
This can end at any time. But it won’t because this would go against their interests.
The amount of friends and peers of mine who gave up a career medicine because the ridiculousness of this whole system turned them off completely is really saddening.
I understand that we should be diligent about making sure the people we entrust our lives to are trained and trustworthy, but do we really need:
- 4 years of undergraduate studies that have ZERO medical treatment curricula
- 2-3 years of work experience if you don't get into medical school right away
- Studying for the MCAT concurrently and trying to get a high score
- 4 years of medical school
- A high stakes test that determines if you will receive the residency you want
- A lottery system that "matches" you with hospitals for residency
- 3-5 years of this residency in hopefully the specialization of your choice (depending on if you passed that test), hopefully in a location you desired. You will be paid very little and work 80+ hour weeks
If you track this entire system perfectly, you will become a full fledged doctor that makes the 6-figure salary at around 32 - 35 years old. And every step of the way is a huge filter that break and washout many promising potential doctors.
And then there is the medical school debt that you will be saddled with even if you washout.
This system is madness and we need something more efficient to both incentivize more people becoming doctors and less people washing out.