The success of your medical career depends on much more than your test scores, match results, resume items, or class rank. Though you may not always feel in control throughout the process, the decisions you make really shape your course, for better or worse. There are a few major decisions every physician in training will face, from managing finances to choosing a specialty, and handling doctor-patient relationships. Here are a few ideas to help you make wise decisions in these areas along the way: Wise decisions in managing finances One of the biggest hurdles physicians must overcome is the debt they accumulate throughout their medical training. Even with substantial salaries in their future, it can take decades to fully recover. To make financial freedom more attainable and less daunting, it’s important that medical students start early and make small wise decisions that add up over time. For example, try living off your residency budget even when you start working, rent instead of buy a home, apply for a Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and invest in your own Roth IRA. These mall adjustments will pay off literally and emotionally throughout your medical career. Beyond tangible tactics, financial freedom begins with your mindset. Know your worth and act accordingly. The most limiting behavior is saying no to yourself. By acting as your biggest advocate others will learn to take you seriously and know your value. For example, if you have a gift for public speaking or writing, use those gifts to bring in additional revenue streams. Exploring your passions will also help keep you motivated, and anything you’re good at and enjoy, you are bound to do well. When you learn to detach yourself from an outcome, even a monetary outcome, the outcome you desire often comes more naturally. Wise decisions in choosing a specialty Choosing a specialty is one of the most consequential decisions a medical student can make. It also involves many more factors beyond the most commonly thought of—interest and salary. It’s crucial to find a specialty that not only fits your preferences, but your personality. For example, additional factors to consider are the amount of patient interaction, the personality of your colleagues, the work-life balance, hands on versus hands off care, and the potential for growth and academic opportunities. After all, your level of satisfaction at work will affect your overall sense of life fulfillment and success. In addition to knowing yourself and personal reflection, it’s also a good idea to get as much tangible experience with a considered specialty as possible. Sometimes a specialty can seem totally different than it actually is, and you’ll want to figure that out before you choose it, not after. For example, are you someone who can handle a lot of blood, do you work well under pressure and on the spot, will you get bored dealing with the same organ every day? These are all things that can only be answered if you experience them firsthand. Wise decisions in work relationships As we look at how to make the best decisions from the physician’s perspective, it’s also important to remember our decisions affect our patients’ choices as well. For example, physicians should pay attention to their online presence and how their interactions with current patients can affect future business. Even in the digital age, “word-of-mouth” still carries the most weight when it comes to choosing a physician, particularly on crowd-sourced comparison websites like Yelp. Thus, physicians should do well to manage their reputations by their conduct, both online and, more importantly, in person. In addition to relationships with our patients, we must also be mindful of how our decisions affect our colleagues. When faced with a moral dilemma should our loyalties be to our patients or our fellow physicians? At times throughout your medical career, you will realize that making wise decisions can also come with a price. For example, if you witness a coworker being negligent and causing harm, it is your responsibility to be truthful and report it, even if it may put your relationship and your own job at risk. At the end of the day, you must decide which is more important—your success or your integrity. But the good news is—more often than not—when you choose to do the right thing, the right things come to you Source
