Beware: The article I’m about to recommend has a bitter tone, but it’s important for those who are considering the medical field to hear all perspectives. Plus, many of the issues this anonymous writer brings up – understaffing, corporate medicine, twisted financial incentives, lack of fulfillment – are on point.
Here’s the piece.
Those are words no physician wants to hear. Even as an emergency physician, I hated the few times I heard that phrase. Fortunately, the passengers I tended to were not terribly ill, but this story, written by a medical student who cared for a critically ill passenger, is well told and worth the read.
While my career has been a good one until now, I’m increasingly worried about the field of emergency medicine. See my October 21 blog on the current dearth of emergency medicine jobs. The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recently published a report on the future of the field’s workforce, concluding that there will be nearly 10,000 too many emergency physicians by 2030.
Dr. Thomas Cook published a piece recently called A Few Feasible Solutions to EM’s Workforce Crisis. He demonstrates a healthy skepticism for the possible solutions that ACEP proposed. See his piece here.
In the meantime, corporate emergency medicine is depleting some physicians. A group has even considered unionizing.
In addition, burnout has been a big problem for the field – even before the pandemic.
Medical students, as great as the specialty of emergency medicine is in many ways, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you to consider these issues seriously when making a decision about your future field.
Having been in the field of emergency medicine since I started my residency in 1996, I can tell you that the discipline has had its ups and downs. Currently, the specialty is facing a lot of challenges: COVID has driven some physicians out (to utilization review, administration, research) and has adversely affected others emotionally. Additionally, there’s a tremendous dearth of positions currently for emergency physicians. I’ve had friends and colleagues lose promised hours or their jobs entirely in the last 18 months.
Here’s a short piece on the job scarcity issue. Those choosing a specialty must consider the atmosphere of the job market (while recognizing it might improve in a few years).
The article I’m about to recommend is not for the faint of heart.
Alex Mohseni MD wrote a very pointed, compelling piece in a recent Emergency Medicine News called, “Why I Quit Emergency Medicine.” It has created quite a buzz in emergency medicine circles.
It’s painful, but a really great read. Here it is.
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
