How to become a doctor for real
12-04-2008, 04:26 PM
#21
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2007
Position: Capt
Posts: 3,215
Hi!
Currently, over 1/2 of General PRactictioners say they will quit within the next 3 years. They are mostly fed up with our INSANE insurance system. One doctor worked 60 hours/week. 30 with patients, and 30 with insurance paperwork.
He was NOT happy!
cliff
YIP
Currently, over 1/2 of General PRactictioners say they will quit within the next 3 years. They are mostly fed up with our INSANE insurance system. One doctor worked 60 hours/week. 30 with patients, and 30 with insurance paperwork.
He was NOT happy!
cliff
YIP
12-04-2008, 04:41 PM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,383
Originally Posted by atpcliff
Hi!
Currently, over 1/2 of General PRactictioners say they will quit within the next 3 years. They are mostly fed up with our INSANE insurance system. One doctor worked 60 hours/week. 30 with patients, and 30 with insurance paperwork.
He was NOT happy!
cliff
YIP
Currently, over 1/2 of General PRactictioners say they will quit within the next 3 years. They are mostly fed up with our INSANE insurance system. One doctor worked 60 hours/week. 30 with patients, and 30 with insurance paperwork.
He was NOT happy!
cliff
YIP
12-04-2008, 05:25 PM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 184
Great post, and although I haven't done extensive research, the timeline/path mentioned to becoming a doctor is pretty spot on, as per what I've seen.
My sister is currently finishing her second year of pharmacy school. Pharmacy school has a very similiar process, and basically the same prerequisites as does medical school. She spent 3 years, of taking 15-18 credits, to meet the prerequisites for pharmacy school. Albiet she had to take the general education classes (math, english, history, etc) as well, even had she already had those, it would have taken her year, or more, to complete the biology, chemistry, physics, etc., she would have needed. I don't see how it is possible for someone with nothing more than an aviation degree, and a few science classes, taken online, to not spend at least a year, probably more, to meet the prerequisites for medical school. My sister also spent the better part of a year, taking the PCAT (pharmacy school's MCAT), getting applications together, interviewing at schools, etc. It isn't something you just decide to do on a whim, and next thing you know, you are in medical school.
To TM's (possible) defense, assuming he may come, at some point, and try to explain things, it may not be completely impossible, the story he tells. He may have already met the prerequisits, and have taken the MCAT prior to 9/11, and have been able to start medical school on 2002. He would have graduated in 2006. He would be in the process (if that were true) of completing his last year of residency, if he went through the shortest residency of 3 years. If he is working, or even doing his residency (if you can) at a rural clinic, it could be that they offered him a contract, with a compensation package (including pay, paying off loans, and other benefits) worth $300K, to have him stick around, once finished with his residency. I would imagine that these rural clinics, have a hard time recruiting, and keeping doctors, thus they may offer a nice package, although I doubt his literal salary would be $300K.
I will wait for TM to respond, and see what he says.
My sister is currently finishing her second year of pharmacy school. Pharmacy school has a very similiar process, and basically the same prerequisites as does medical school. She spent 3 years, of taking 15-18 credits, to meet the prerequisites for pharmacy school. Albiet she had to take the general education classes (math, english, history, etc) as well, even had she already had those, it would have taken her year, or more, to complete the biology, chemistry, physics, etc., she would have needed. I don't see how it is possible for someone with nothing more than an aviation degree, and a few science classes, taken online, to not spend at least a year, probably more, to meet the prerequisites for medical school. My sister also spent the better part of a year, taking the PCAT (pharmacy school's MCAT), getting applications together, interviewing at schools, etc. It isn't something you just decide to do on a whim, and next thing you know, you are in medical school.
To TM's (possible) defense, assuming he may come, at some point, and try to explain things, it may not be completely impossible, the story he tells. He may have already met the prerequisits, and have taken the MCAT prior to 9/11, and have been able to start medical school on 2002. He would have graduated in 2006. He would be in the process (if that were true) of completing his last year of residency, if he went through the shortest residency of 3 years. If he is working, or even doing his residency (if you can) at a rural clinic, it could be that they offered him a contract, with a compensation package (including pay, paying off loans, and other benefits) worth $300K, to have him stick around, once finished with his residency. I would imagine that these rural clinics, have a hard time recruiting, and keeping doctors, thus they may offer a nice package, although I doubt his literal salary would be $300K.
I will wait for TM to respond, and see what he says.
12-04-2008, 05:41 PM
#24
Moderator
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: ATP, CFI etc.
Posts: 6,056
Originally Posted by RXS676
I have heard of some cases where people have gotten jobs after medical school without a residency. For example I believe you can get a job doing research with the National Institutes for Health with only an MD and without a residency.
It doesn't pay 300K though. And TM has specifically mentioned treating patients in the ER.
I have never assumed he was a fraud, and I still would be open to hearing an explanation. As I have said many times, I have made my assumptions and the limitations of my knowledge clear. I am open to being corrected. Maybe there's something I don't know or understand. Maybe he was exaggerating to make his point (something that we're all guilty of from time to time), and I think we would all appreciate that to be cleared up.
It doesn't pay 300K though. And TM has specifically mentioned treating patients in the ER.
I have never assumed he was a fraud, and I still would be open to hearing an explanation. As I have said many times, I have made my assumptions and the limitations of my knowledge clear. I am open to being corrected. Maybe there's something I don't know or understand. Maybe he was exaggerating to make his point (something that we're all guilty of from time to time), and I think we would all appreciate that to be cleared up.
12-04-2008, 06:21 PM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 105
Originally Posted by ChrisH
He may have already met the prerequisits, and have taken the MCAT prior to 9/11, and have been able to start medical school on 2002.
This sounds to me like he didn't take any real science courses prior to 9/11. If he took the prerequisites prior to 9/11/01, I'd like to know how someone takes a year each of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biology--each with lab--while working as an airline pilot.
He said he was a new hire on the saab in 1990 (7/18/08 at 7:19 p.m.), and had 11,000 hours by 9/11. So he was flying 1,000 hours a year. (OK, maybe he had 2000 hours when he started). Still, he was working essentially full time... to even have started med school in 2002 he would have had to take all that coursework plus prepare for and take the MCAT while working as an airline pilot. I don't buy it.
12-04-2008, 08:56 PM
#27
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Posts: 105
I actually didn't intend this thread to be an indictment of TM (but I will throw my two cents in to focus what I think are the main inconsistencies that need to be explained).
My main point was summed up perfectly by Cubdriver: Medicine is not a career you go into just for the money.
My main point was summed up perfectly by Cubdriver: Medicine is not a career you go into just for the money.
12-05-2008, 12:43 PM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,838
Originally Posted by RXS676
Tony Montana on 11/24 at 6:39 p.m.: "I had a minor in math, and had done some online coursework in science before I fully decided to go all the way-as I have said-9/11 was the push that got me out."
This sounds to me like he didn't take any real science courses prior to 9/11. If he took the prerequisites prior to 9/11/01, I'd like to know how someone takes a year each of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biology--each with lab--while working as an airline pilot.
He said he was a new hire on the saab in 1990 (7/18/08 at 7:19 p.m.), and had 11,000 hours by 9/11. So he was flying 1,000 hours a year. (OK, maybe he had 2000 hours when he started). Still, he was working essentially full time... to even have started med school in 2002 he would have had to take all that coursework plus prepare for and take the MCAT while working as an airline pilot. I don't buy it.
This sounds to me like he didn't take any real science courses prior to 9/11. If he took the prerequisites prior to 9/11/01, I'd like to know how someone takes a year each of chemistry, organic chemistry, physics and biology--each with lab--while working as an airline pilot.
He said he was a new hire on the saab in 1990 (7/18/08 at 7:19 p.m.), and had 11,000 hours by 9/11. So he was flying 1,000 hours a year. (OK, maybe he had 2000 hours when he started). Still, he was working essentially full time... to even have started med school in 2002 he would have had to take all that coursework plus prepare for and take the MCAT while working as an airline pilot. I don't buy it.
Heyas RX,
I agree. All med schools require the lab portion of biology, gen chem and organic, if not more. No way you can do those with an on-line class, believe me, I checked.
I went back and did my pre-recs for med/vet school, and I started with an engineering degree already. Med schools also want to see some research time, volunteer time and some teaching.
It took me 6 semesters to get everything done, and that was going FULL TIME for 2 years (including research time and a job as a TA, but without volunteering and without studying for the MCAT). Fortuntately my airline had people on furlough, so they let me take a personal leave.
I busted my tail. No way you do that part time or on an airline schedule, let alone a regional schedule. No way.
Nu
12-20-2008, 08:21 PM
#29
On Reserve
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: Student
Posts: 11
I just had to laugh at everyone on this thread talking about TM's "credentials" & his timeline of becoming an MD when TM hasn't even responded once on this thread. It's quite funny I thought how some of you put so much thought about TM. I have no idea if he really is an MD & don't really care either way but I hardly doubt he makes $300K after just finishing his residency. You don't make that kind of money in medicine right out of residency, possible if you you specialize in surgery but you have to do a fellowship for 2-3 yrs. I'm an RN & have friends that are MDs so I have a general idea what they make in a certain time frame.
Katie
Katie
12-20-2008, 09:55 PM
#30
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Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
Posts: 4,357
"I have no idea if he really is an MD & don't really care either way but I hardly doubt he makes $300K after just finishing his residency."
Most of us are just pilots and don't know any better. I figured he was legit in his professional claims, though I was skeptical about some of his statements and his "helping 3 to 4 APC users a day via PM's". Others put a lot of stock in TM's participation here and it's sad to see someone come on and mislead APC users in such a way.
In spite of Tony Montana's legacy here, it's not a bad thing if those seeking info about the medical field learned a thing or two. That's what it's all about.
Most of us are just pilots and don't know any better. I figured he was legit in his professional claims, though I was skeptical about some of his statements and his "helping 3 to 4 APC users a day via PM's". Others put a lot of stock in TM's participation here and it's sad to see someone come on and mislead APC users in such a way.
In spite of Tony Montana's legacy here, it's not a bad thing if those seeking info about the medical field learned a thing or two. That's what it's all about.
