Changing Careers... Anyone else done this?

[daru1]

I love flying, always have. I've been flying since I was 16 (27 now). I'm getting my M.D. in just a couple of weeks, but fortunately I'm taking the year off to decide whether I want to do residency now, or later on in life after a *gasp* career in aviation.

So my question is are there any of you that have had to make this desicion? How'd you go about it, and allowing me to pry... which way did you go?

I have about 300TT w/ commercial, I plan on getting my MEI and just paying for whatever Multi time I don't instruct.

[Bog]

You'll find hundreds of us who've done it. I was also 27 when I made the switch. Did ATP's program and instructed, then worked at MAG for 7 years. Now I'm flying Pt 135 charter.

Would I do it all again? Yes, though I offer that with some hesitation. The bright future of the airline pilot isn't as bright as it used to be. So far so good with the new company, which has renewed my interest in aviation. However, I still wish I had a job that allowed me to be home every night and be able to afford to fly on the weekends for fun.

[daru1]

I was wondering more about people coming from medicine specifically... Especially since a lot of time people want to know why we have 'lapses' in our education.

[frog_flyer]

Talk to Toria. She's an anesthesiologist with about 9 post graduate degrees.

[C150J]

Originally Posted by daru1

I love flying, always have. I've been flying since I was 16 (27 now). I'm getting my M.D. in just a couple of weeks, but fortunately I'm taking the year off to decide whether I want to do residency now, or later on in life after a *gasp* career in aviation.

So my question is are there any of you that have had to make this desicion? How'd you go about it, and allowing me to pry... which way did you go?

I have about 300TT w/ commercial, I plan on getting my MEI and just paying for whatever Multi time I don't instruct.

How plausible is it to delay a residency? Do you personally know any professional pilots? It's certainly a lifestyle. As a young single guy, it's enjoyable. I'm not sure how things'll be should I meet a woman willing to put up with my antics.

[skydog]

Go to residency now. You have all this book knowledge about medicine. Now you need the practical experience to put it all together, in proper context. If you don't do residency now, you will have wasted the last 10 years.

Airplanes will be still be here here in 5. Your medical education won't be.

[daru1]

Again, I don't want to offend, but I personally think that my medical knowledge will be there in 10 years. Medicine is complicated, but it is very much like riding a bike if you were trained right. I appreciate your comment for what it is, but I respectfully disagree.

I do however like the single young man argument. I don't have anyone to live for but me, and that's something I hadn't thought of before.

[MOSES1]

Hey,

I'm not quite a doctor but I'm kind of in the same position. I completed a 4 year degree in Public Health and then decided to do a Masters in Tropical Medicine (Infectious Diseases). However, my dream of flying has always stuck with me.
My suggestion is to go for it. Medicine will always be open regardless if its today or tomorrow. I really don't think that there will be a period in time where doctors won't be needed. If you try aviation and it doesn't work you will always have medicine to fall back onto. Trust me doctors are always in demand around the world. GO FOR IT.
If it doesn't work out for me I'll just get back into Infection Control there is always a high demand for someone with medicine/science expertise.
ENJOY THE RIDE.

[meyer336]

My suggestion would be to go ahead and do your residency. Since you have an interest in flying and an interest in medicine, why not check into becoming a physician on a medical helicopter. If this is an option then you could fly and be an M.D. both at the same time, except you won't actually be flying the aircraft. You could continue your flight training on the side and do a career change later.

I am 27 years old and have served 9 years as a police officer and 5 years as an EMT. I am currently enrolled back in college working on my degree in Aviation Management and flying on the side.

[AirborneMedic_ANGa10]

There are VERY few aeromedical programs with physicians flying. Most teams are Nurse/Paramedic. I would say that a career flight medicine isn't feasible.

[Aviator737]

It's kind of interesting: I posted a question to a science forum about my dual interests in science and aviation, and how I was unsure about which path to take. The responses were almost entirely "go be a pilot," because there's already a glut of PhD's and post-docs who can't find a job to save their life.

One comes to an aviation forum, and we're told, "Go be a doctor, go be a lawyer, fly on the weekends, this ain't what it used to be," etc.

Grass is always greener, right?

Just an observation.

[mcdavi02]

I look at it like this- most of the people who apply to medical school don't even get accepted. It seems almost unfair to take up a seat in med school just to get out and say thanks but it's not for me now, perhaps later. Don't get me wrong, I understand the drive to do something different, but isn't part of the med school entrance process trying to differentiate yourself based on genuine desire to stick with the profession?

[daru1]

Originally Posted by mcdavi02

I look at it like this- most of the people who apply to medical school don't even get accepted. It seems almost unfair to take up a seat in med school just to get out and say thanks but it's not for me now, perhaps later. Don't get me wrong, I understand the drive to do something different, but isn't part of the med school entrance process trying to differentiate yourself based on genuine desire to stick with the profession?

I'm disappointed in you. It sounds like you have some experience in the medical field (at least at the undergraduate level), so allow me to go on a diatribe.

"Oh poor me, I took up a seat in medical school, and now I have an M.D., and plan on flight instructing for a little bit before I start residency. That poor guy or girl out there that didn't get my spot and now it's completely wasted right?"

The simple fact is that going by your logic over 2/3 of people in medical school right now should not be there, because they don't know what branch of medicine they are going to practice, or if they are going to practice at all. Maybe we should go further and pigeon-hole people as soon as they apply and get accepted. For me personally, I wanted to be a pediatric surgeon for 12 years of my life going into med school, and now I'm going to be a psychiatrist (Save your jokes myflightsurgeon ). My best friend here wanted to be a cardiologist, and is now going to be a medical malpractice attorney. Basically, what you are saying is that he would have to give up his spot as well because he won't be 'practicing medicine' and his slot should have gone to someone else right?

I understand, with your limited knowledge of the subject, how one could come to the viewpoint you have, but the fact is that there are people that get in to medical school that shouldn't be there, and people that should be there that aren't. That is out of the scope of a conversation on an aviation board.

I would appreciate more constructive comments on the subject to continue.

[Chewie von Nubbins]

I don't believe that there is anything that anyone on this forum or anyone else that is going to be able to give you the "right" advice that you seem to be seeking. YOU are the only person that can answer that question. Think about it, it is not like you are taking 20 years worth of savings and going to Las Vegas and putting everything on a number 20 on the roulette wheel for one spin. If you are successful enough in life to survive the experience to get through the training to become an MD, then I am sure that no matter how big of a hole you could possibly dig yourself into, that you would not be able to recover one day. This life is short, and you are only shorting yourself if you don't pursue your dreams to a point that satisfies your desires.

Besides all of the grueling training that you have already been through over the past few years, getting all of your ratings is going to be another never ending experience in challenging yourself. Also, I am sure that you already owe so much money for your education that you will be in debt for years and years. And, getting your ratings is going to set you back another $40-$50k on top of what you already owe. If you pursue the airline route, you are going to have one hell of a time eating for the first few years with only the $40-$50k for the airplane ratings. When you add on what you already owe for med school.....and then the money for the ratings....dumpster diving is what is coming into focus in the 'ole crystal ball.

Just my .02. I, also, am leaving a nice cushy $80k/yr job to pursue this idiotic dream of flying airplanes for a living. For me, I don't want to be in a retirement home one day and pulling an Uncle Junior, while cussing myself for never taking the opportunity/chance to pursue it.

But, do let everyone know about the decision that you make. If you do pursue the airline training route, you are going to need some really solid support from some of the really good people on this forum!