Let's Get Real!

         After a hard day of class, studying, and labs I remembered an experience I had this past June that shed some light on how little people understand about the difficulties of becoming a doctor. In June after I told my fellow CNA employees that I was quitting and was going to medical school one of them said in a rude tone, "Congrats, just don't forget where you came from!" At the moment I was caught off-gaurd by the comment and told her of course I wouldn't. After all I was a CNA, the janitor of the health care field, for over five years.  Then I put myself to thinking and I said to myself, "HOW DARE SHE SAY THAT!" Here comes my ranting, but she has no idea the stress, money, worry, anxiety, time, and dedication it takes to even to get into medical school.  Now, after my first exams and another grueling test block just around the corner I repeat, "HOW DARE ANYONE," think that a good doctor, who works his whole life to be successful, would ever forget where they came from and why they are in the medical field. If anyone or anything causes us to forget where we came from it would be from the ignorant patients and people who lack gratitude and empathy for the men and women in the medical field.
          I think my wife Hailey would back me up on this one, but it has been a long journey and we still have 7 more years. Does anyone know how many hours I usually spend with Hailey and my baby Olive a day? Probably about 2 maybe 3 hours.  So while the majority of all other college graduates have a blossoming career, a 9-5 job, and time with their families, I am still a full-time student x 2.
          I have been on the side of where I believe doctors get payed too much. In college I had a bad stomach issue and with crappy insurance I was billed $800 for a basic 20 minute visit to have the doctor tell me they would run some tests and refer me to a GI doctor. So yeah I can see why people feel doctors are in it for the money and get payed too much.
         Now that I am in the ditches and trenches of medical school I realize why doctors can be jerks sometimes, and why they want to have a nice car and big house. Because we earn it.  By the end of my medical school journey I will hopefully walk away with just under $300,000 in debt. That could buy me a nice house in Idaho or Utah. Most doctors take close to 15-20 years to finally pay off their medical school debt.  I am going to charge you and your insurance every dime I can because I need the money.   I come out of medical school and residency with so much debt that it would be equivalent many people paying a mortgage without even owning a home.  So when the Bennion's do settle down, I will be paying all the normal payments a normal person makes when they start there married post education life plus my medical school debt. My payment estimates will be around $3,000-$4000 a month! So maybe I will be earning around $15,000 a month but 1/3 of it goes toward loans. And what happens if I want to build my own practice? Oh yeah I will have to be paying for the cost of my building, the office employees, the nurses, the MA's, malpractice, and all the other associated costs. So people please open your minds as to what doctors have to pay for and why they may charge you and your insurance a couple hundred dollars for a routine visit.
        So to those who hope I never forget where I came from to you say, "Don't you forget what I am going through and the pressure of trying/learning to save lives, heal bodies, and not get sued in the process." I love medicine and for that I am striving to be a doctor.  Medicine is not the most lucrative profession, especially when looking at the amount of time and training involved in become a doctor. There are many types of doctors in the world, good and bad.  But for those who don't like a doctor or think he/she has horrible bedside manner, take a moment and reflect upon the life and training of that doctor. Gain some empathy for every physician in the medical field, even if you feel some of them are jerks.
       After stepping off my soapbox I now want to make you happy. So here are some pictures of my family at my little sister Katee's wedding. I love my family. They support me in so much! Love you all! Don't forget who you are too! HAHA