by Steve on January 23, 2012
I made the mistake recently of estimating how much debt I will have when I graduate from medical school. Once I crunched the numbers (repeating a couple times just to be sure), I looked at the sum and had one thought- seriously?
So… the number was about $250,000. This was not surprising. I had a vague idea I would owe this much. But after really making the effort to estimate that number it became much more real to me. 
That sort of debt is difficult to conceptualize. Right now the numbers are just numbers. I see them, and they register in my brain, but what do they really mean? What does six figures in debt mean for me?
Right now my debt has very little impact on my life. The numbers are worrisome but I do not have to worry about paying anything now or in the near future. The only way it interferes with my life is if I think about it. And then it makes me a little anxious.
Why the anxiety? Because even with a salary that puts me in the top 5% of wage earners in the United States, $250,000 in debt will take a long time to pay back.
That debt hanging over me as I think about my future work as a physician feels like a burden, like a lack of freedom. Let’s say an opportunity presents itself to work three months internationally. Will I have to pass it up because I won’t be able to afford the loan payments while I travel?
Will this debt influence my specialty decision? Because it is very much a reality that making twice as much means I can pay off my debt twice as quickly. Is it crazy to consider this when choosing the type of medicine I want to practice?
What does it mean for medical students and medicine in general? How will other students act facing the same situation?
Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers to these questions. What do you think?
by Steve on January 16, 2012
by Steve on January 2, 2012
Wow, that went by so fast. 
Writing went by the wayside this semester as I became bogged down in difficult courses. And I was so motivated at the beginning! The best laid plans…
Anyway, I wanted to write a brief overview of the semester to give you all a taste of what to expect in the second year of med school.
In general, the course difficulty shot up a notch or two. This actually started late last year when we started with our systems courses, the first being Neuroscience. This last semester included Infectious Disease, Hematology-Oncology, Cardiovascular, Behavioral Medicine and Respiratory.
Cardio and Hem-Onc were the hardest for me, although Infectious Disease was a rough way to start the year. Cardio physiology was brutal and will definitely be an area of focus for me as I think about Step 1.
Agh, Step 1. It’s like an evil shadow always lurking in the back of your brain. While very few of my fellow students have actually started studying for it officially, it is a topic that seems to come up in conversation often. And it is always there when you’re studying. Countless times I have considered glossing over something I didn’t really want to put the time into when the thought that I could be missing an opportunity to master something for Step 1 enters my head. This usually motivates me to push on.
Clinic was a welcome relief from the monotony of lectures. I am looking forward to continuing that and honing my physical exam and interviewing skills.
Overall, the semester was a success. I passed all the courses. I feel refreshed after winter break. While posting on this site has trailed off, I actually have a several posts that just need finishing touches. So expect some fresh material!
Wishing you all the best this New Year!
(Photo Source)
by Steve on November 2, 2011
Medical school often seems like serious business. Life and death situations, daunting exams, all night study sessions: it all sounds a bit heavy, no?
A recently released memoir shows us it doesn’t have to be this way. Through self deprecating humor and his talent for telling a good story, Dr. Anthony Youn exposes the lighter side of med school with his book In Stitches.
After receiving a copy and thoroughly enjoying it I asked Dr. Youn if he would answer a few questions about In Stitches. He was kind enough to agree and his responses are below. Enjoy and be sure to check out the book!
What was your inspiration for writing "In Stitches?"
First time out, I decided to shoot for the stars. I set out to write the definitive book about growing up Asian American, going through four years of medical school—all true, unadulterated, unfiltered, behind the scenes, warts and all—and becoming a doctor. I think, ultimately, In Stitches represents what medical school really is. Medical school can be laugh-out-loud funny, shocking, heart-breaking, and heart-warming. That’s what I wanted In Stitches to be. I’m gratified by what readers and reviewers have said so far. They’ve called it “disarming,” “fast-paced,” “hilarious,” and “touching.”
Who are some writers you look up to and how have they influenced your writing?
I can honestly say there is no one person whom I would consider my favorite writer. However, I’m a big fan of the depth of Atul Gawande, the humor of Wade Rouse, the imagination of JRR Tolkien, and I can’t forget my good friend (and co-writer) Alan Eisenstock who wrote a fantastic book with the late Robert Schimmel, Cancer on $5 a Day. As you can see, I enjoy a lot of different types of books!
Towards the end of the book when talking about plastic surgery, you say "I like the variety of surgeries that you do. I like doing re-construction where you can really see changes. I love the immediate gratification. I love that you don’t have to wait for lab reports or anything else to to see the results of your work. And being a plastic surgeon is very creative, very artistic. I also believe that a plastic surgeon can change a patient’s life." With the experience you have now, is there anything you would change or add to that statement?
Not a thing. At one time or another I considered many different specialties, including orthopedic surgery (these jocks of medicine wouldn’t be interested in a skinny nerd like me), general and trauma surgery (I nixed this one the moment I saw a sixty-year-old attending stumble out of a call room at 2 a.m. for a trauma), psychiatry (my fear of falling asleep on a depressed patient mid-session cancelled this one out), and family practice. To me, none of these compared to plastic surgery, truly the only specialty that really inspired me. The field of plastic surgery is so broad, with such a variety of procedures and patients to treat. I love my field and wouldn’t change my specialty for anything.
What sort of perspective can you offer students who are struggling through medical school?
When you are done with work, do things you enjoy. As physicians-in-training, you are accustomed to delayed gratification. I think the turtle in Kung Fu Panda said it best, “Today is the present, and that’s why it’s a gift.” Find moments of happiness in medical school. And once you finish med school there is no excuse to delay. Enjoy yourself, because the worst is over.
Do you have any plans for another book?
I would love to write another book, probably about the horrors and humor of residency, fellowship, and starting a medical practice from scratch. At this point, though, I’m focused on the release of the paperback version of In Stitches, due Feb. 14, 2012. Once the paperback comes out, then I hope to begin writing the sequel – a real-life House of God!
Thank you for responding Dr. Youn, I am looking forward to the next book!
