Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 4/14/2008

Question
I want to become an anesthesiologist but I hear it's sort of hard or risky to "put all you eggs in one basket" and go for that long medical stretch that I saw you plan out with  4 yrs of college, 4 yrs of medical school and then 4 yrs of anesthesia residency. Would you say that it is better to become a nurse first and then pursue anesthesiology?

Also what would be some colleges or universities you would in Florida or New York?

Answer
You are not necessarily putting all your eggs in one basket. At any point along the trip you can decide it is not for you and still be able to switch gears to a different profession. Becoming a nurse first doesn't help you and will extend the time you are in college. As for colleges in NY and Florida, there are too many to name but they are all good.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston