Last week, I met with a patient of mine who also happens to be a radiologist nearing retirement. After a brief visit, we spent a good 20 minutes talking about the future of medicine. He initiated this conversation by stating,

“You know… I am very worried about the future of medicine.”

He then proceeded to share his fears about insurance companies, managed care, costs of drugs, and growing clerical responsibilities. “But what really scares me is that some of the schools are selecting the wrong students and missing out on great ones,” he said. Since that day I have done a lot of reflecting on our conversation. This is a well-respected, sixty-something year old physician whose father was a small-town physician in the early 20^th century and whose daughter had recently been accepted into medical school. He explained to me how he has students who shadow him while peeking at their watch every 15 minutes. He felt as though some students these days simply know the numbers they need to get in and the right words to say. He admitted that his daughter had a great advantage over others due to her access to finances, courses, and the “right” people.

I completely understand this sentiment shared by many older physicians and tend to agree with most of it. It is true that medicine is not what it was back in their day but it remains a noble field and there are many impressive students matriculating every year. I do share the concern that our field is missing out on many amazing candidates and at times selecting ones that blemish our profession. As I have mentored premeds over the past 10 years what sets many students apart can be summed up in one word:

GENUINENESS

Merriam-Webster defines this word as sincerely and honestly felt or experienced. I don’t know if there is a specific metric for authenticity or some sort of way to enhance it but we all intrinsically sense it. It is a quality we all want in a friend, a salesman, as well as a physician. These days, millennials may even say they like that person because they “keep it real” or “keep it 100.” Yet, as the physician/patient and I discussed, some are doing a disservice to themselves as well as the field of medicine when they are not genuine in their pursuit of the profession. I truly believe that genuineness and competence are the two top qualities patients are seeking in their physician. I can’t count how many patients come to my clinic complaining of physicians who ignore their complaints, speak over them, or make them feel as though they are “just another number.”

I have seen medical students, residents, and doctors become jaded, depressed and leave the field of medicine while others partake in illegal medical practices partially because they are bored with their job or lack sincere passion for it. It’s not that you shouldn’t be passionate about other areas of life or spend every second immersed in medicine but it is good to be true to yourself. While most students I speak to at recruitment fairs come across as genuine about the field of medicine there are a few who I can immediately tell this is not something they should get into. Making sure one is genuine about any pursuit is critical and will save a lot of time and pain. It is okay and good to question yourself (believe me, I did a number of times) but please make certain medicine is for you. Here are a few questions that may help you determine if you are genuine about the field of medicine.

1. Am I doing this for myself or is someone pressuring me?
2. Am I just chasing numbers and not internalizing my experiences?
3. Do I truly enjoy learning and can I do it for the rest of my life?
4. Do I care deeply care about people or am I easily annoyed by people?
5. Do I feel fulfilled improving the health of others?
6. Have you considered other career paths and why this one suits you better?

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