The 4 Reasons People Go To Medical School (Explained By A Retired Psychiatrist)

I went to medical school because I was too scared to be myself.

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ABOUT RYAN FIGHTMASTER:
I'm a board-certified psychiatrist that left medicine in the fall of 2022 to build a life I love and want. I write, surf, and refurbish furniture because... it's what I enjoy. I share my journey at FightmasterMD.com.

I graduated medical school at the University of Oklahoma and psychiatry residency at the University of California, Irvine. I previously worked for HealthCorps, where I built a health program for high school students and appeared on the Dr. Oz show.

CONTACT:
You can get in touch with me via Instagram at   / fight_the_md  

Transcript:
We do things in life for various reasons. Med school is no different. My reasons for becoming a doctor were complicated, and ultimately the reason why I left medicine.

We’ll get to that, but first, lets’ break down the four reasons I believe people go to medical school, along with what percentage of people I believe went to medical school for each given reason. This is based upon many conversations with fellow medical students and residents across 8 years of training, in hospitals and happy hours.

Reason 1: Altruism

These are the physicians—learning, diagnosing, and treating. These people stay late. They get voted chief resident. The Hippocratic oath is a blood oath to them. They’re the ones who share stories during their medical school interview about wanting to be a doctor since they were four years old. When I think about my classmates and fellow residents who really love their jobs, this is who I see.

I see 50% of medical students here.

Reason 2: Power

The scalpel feels pretty cool in the hand. The white coat fits nice around the shoulders. People calling you doctor rings true. Patients thank you for saving their life, every day. There is real prestige and social capital in this job. It’s an achievement ranking near the top of the achievement hierarchy. A flex of all flexes for the National Honor Society alumnus.

It pays the success bills. And it’s a job that allows you to feel in control of life.

I’d guess about 20% of medical students are here.


Reason 3: Money

I’ve got an investment for you: study for four years, costing you said time and $300-400K in loans, and receive a bare minimum $200K per year salary for the duration of your working life. On paper, who would turn down that investment? Including interest, your breakeven is five to seven years after residency. It’s a helluva investment.

To the savvy and financially disciplined, medicine is a path to early financial freedom and retirement.

Reason 4: Fear

It was easier to go to medical school, complete residency, and earn a board certification in psychiatry, then it was to go after my dream. Fear is the real deal.

What was I scared of? Ridicule, judgment, sure—but the fear ran deeper; I was scared shitless to own my life. To own my life meant, deep down, owning that I really didn’t want to be a doctor. And the consequences of that choice. Me living with letting my family down, my self-image down, the world down. Any of this familiar to anyone? What I learned is two-fold: I am not that important. No one will remember my name in 100 years. Two, the best way to be a loving force for the people I love, is to be myself, not to chase what people think of me.

For more musings on my journey, how I left medicine, and what my plan is now, head over to my website FightmasterMD.com.

What do you think? Agree with the reasons I’ve put forth? Drop a comment and let’s have a conversation. It’s a complicated conversation.

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