SS,

Not to question your decision or your motives, but let me ask you, you say you "stopped short of actually attending (we can assume you mean medical) school." My question is were you accepted to medical school? I ask because I know probably over a thousand pilots, perhaps as many as 1500, and although I've never asked any of them, I don't know a single one who ever expressed a desire to be a doctor instead of a pilot.

As well, while we in this profession have suffered reductions in pay, while at the same time experiencing give-backs in quality of life benefits, as well as loss of pensions and other hard fought benefits, doctors, with the exception of those who perform elective procedures (those not covered by insurances) have also seen their pay scales slide south. If you look closely, you'll find that the vast majority of them work for the insurance companies. If not directly, then certainly close enough to be told by the insurance companies what they can charge for each and every procedure they perform. I'd guess, and it's just a guess, that doctors have suffered more loss of income than have pilots.

JJ