Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 5/7/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi i am graduating this month and am 100% sure i want to be in medical field. I heard that to be an anesthetic we have to do 4years of college, 4 years of medical school and then 4yrs residency. So does that mean i can do pharmacy in the first 4years of college? and what do i do in med school and residency? and where do i find pre-reqs and course guide during these first 8years since the rest 4 yrs is just practice.
Thank you for your time!

ANSWER: You can major in anything you want as long as you take all the prerequisite courses during college. You can find those out by asking any college counselor or checking any book on admission to medical school. In med school you learn medicine and in residency you learn about anesthesia.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: what should i major in after i get my prereqs? well what do you prefer thats what i mean. something that has the same prereqs and 4years of med school. and pay me pretty well cause i would like to pay off the student loans asap. and you think there is any major job i could get when i jus do 4years of undergrad college? somethin that pays $25+?

Answer
Your question is confusing. You can major in any subject, do the pre-reqs and still get out of college in 4 years. Medical school is different. That is also 4 yrs. Out side of medicine there are many jobs that pay more that $25 K (I would imagine most do with a college degree). $25K is a relatively small salary in today's market.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston