Making a Difference with a Medical Degree

Think all medical students are in it for the money? Think again. In fact, according to one survey from Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, less than half of survey respondents were primarily motivated by money when deciding to study medicine. So what does inspire so many students to pursue this challenging path? “The desire to help others and make a difference,” reveals Kaplan.

For many doctors, however, the concept of “making a difference” goes beyond treating disease and saving lives through their everyday careers as physicians. Read on for three ways to maximize your impact as a doctor.

1. Think outside the big city.

Many rural communities are desperately in need of trained doctors. And while the thought of picking up and moving to the middle of nowhere may be a daunting one, experts agree that doing so is well worth the while for those looking to see a variety of cases and perform a wider range of procedures.

As Dr. Michael Maharry told US News and World Report, “It helps keep your mind fresh with the many different things that could walk through the door. It could be gynecology, it could be psychiatry or orthopedic issues, and so your skill set needs to be broad to be able to manage that."

Meanwhile, one student said he was excited about the prospect of going the small-town practice route because, "I can't think of any other specialty or field of medicine where it offers such comprehensive medical care. It's really quite varied, and that's what I love about it." This doesn’t mean a career in rural medicine is right for everyone. A passion for public service and the ability to enjoy a more laidback way of life are vital parts of finding fulfillment in rural medicine.

Of course, there are upsides, too: Not only can you expect to be appreciated for your contributions, but you may also be able to reduce your student debt in the process thanks to loan forgiveness programs aimed at doctors who agree to practice in underserved areas.

2. Think inside the box.

The global prison population is somewhere in the range of 10.3 million people, according to the most recent “World Prison Population List” from the UK’s Institute for Criminal Policy Research (ICPR). And while every single one of them needs some form of medical care, many aren’t getting it. As Dr. Katine Bonaparte, a family medicine physician practicing at Chicago’s Cook County Jail told HowStuffWorks, “It’s a chance to take care of someone who may have never been taken care of by a physician. We change and save patient lives. I think it gives people a different perspective on how they want to practice medicine.”

No one will tell you that being a prison doctor is easy, but it does come with benefits, including good pay, better hours, retirement benefits, and malpractice coverage. There’s also a great deal of fulfillment to be found here...and even fun? When asked by Business Insider what surprised him about his experience, one jailhouse physician responded, “How much fun it is, and how I'm more energized and professionally challenged than I've been in years.”

It may also be safer than you think, according to Dr. Michelle Staples-Horne, medical director for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, who told CNN, "Doctors are often safer in this setting than in an emergency room when you don't know anything about the person coming in. You don't know if they have a weapon, if they are violent or aggressive."

3. Join an NGO

Medecins Sans Frontieres (AKA Doctors Without Borders) “was created on the belief that all people have the right to medical care regardless of gender, race, religion, creed, or political affiliation, and that the needs of these people outweigh respect for national boundaries.” Founded in the 1970s by a group of doctors in response to the lack of preparation, shortage of support, and tangled supply chains in times of conflict and strife, MSF now has missions in more than 70 countries.

Said co-founder Bernard Kouchner, ““We wanted to ensure sufficient knowledge of this new type of medicine: war surgery, triage medicine, public health, education, et cetera. It’s simple really: go where the patients are. It seems obvious, but at the time it was a revolutionary concept because borders got in the way.”

And while there’s no denying that venturing into a warzone comes with its share of potential hazards, it also comes with much more. Says Shmoop, “All that stuff about safety and security aside, you won't find a more noble use for your talents than MSF.” You’ll also walk away with skills which will serve you throughout your career, including flexibility, adaptability, and the ability to perform in even the most difficult situations.

Despite the many challenges of working in MSF environments, the competition is steep for coveted spots. But one attribute, in particular, might give you the inside edge, according to Shmoop: “One quality we haven't mentioned thus far is confidence—but you'll need it. It's difficult enough to hack it as a doctor, much less one in a war zone, so you need to be totally confident you can work in the kind of unstable environment you'll be dropped into.”

While MSF may be the most famous medical humanitarian organization, it’s far from the only one. Consider Projects Abroad, which offers medicine programs in more than 20 countries for premedical and medical students as well as working healthcare professionals.

One last thing to keep in mind? While these three examples may be “above and beyond” pathways, the truth is that all doctors share the same overarching purpose: to apply their knowledge for the “benefit of the sick” while simultaneously remembering that “there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon's knife or the chemist's drug,” according to the modern Hippocratic Oath. So whether you’re working in a Tukul hut or at the cutting-edge in The Royal Adelaide Hospital, you have the opportunity -- and responsibility -- to do exactly that.