Opinion
What will the test of time reveal about what really matters to those seeking medical career?
LETTER — Posted Nov. 26, 2007
Regarding "Record number vied for 2007-08 medical school slots" (Article, Nov. 5, 2007): According to the article, an increasing number of students are applying to medical school, and they have a strong sense of altruism.
The story also says that students are attracted to medical school when the economy is soft because medicine is seen as more recession-proof than law or business.
But isn't there a serious contradiction here?
If students' decisions to apply to medical school are determined by how hard or soft the economy is, then maybe their altruism is not as great a motivating factor as described.
The real test of this is would be to do a retrospective study in about 10 years and see how many of these altruistic-minded medical students settled on low-paying primary care careers and how many chose high-paying specialties.
Edward J. Volpintesta, MD, Bethel, Conn.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/11/26/edlt1126.htm.












