Advice to the Next Generation
Questions from Our Readers, Answers from Physicians
Question
"Many TV shows centered around medicine show doctors battling bureaucracies, drug companies, and insurance companies. What is the situation really like? Other than "helping people," what are some other aspects of a doctor's job?"
– Serene Chen, Harvard College
Answer
Physicians these days are presented with an amazing diversity of career choices. While many choose to serve in a traditional way, as a clinician, it is also increasingly common to combine a clinical career with other responsibilities such as hospital administration, pharmaceutical work (either as a consultant or on the regulatory side of things), public health (working either for the government or for ngo's), international advocacy (full or part time), education (on the medical school or residency level), research (basic science, clinical, or epidemological). People often combine a number of different roles, either at once, or sequentially throughout their careers. This is, I think, one of the most attractive features of today's medical profession – the versatility.
– Jennifer Rodriguez Pippins, Senior Resident, Harvard Combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Program