Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 6/9/2008

Question
I am going to be a junior this year. And i been looking through careers, and this one keeps sticking out in my mind. I like to help people. I want to go in the medical field.

1. How do get over the fear of accidentally hurting someone rather than helping them?
2. Is it hard to have a family, and have this job too?
3. What is the most rewarding part of this career?


Answer
I can't tell you how to get over a fear other than to say that if you do your best and don't slack off, you will not hurt someone. That is not to say that some of your patients will have complications, but that will not have been intentionally caused by you.

It is not hard to have a family but there are certain sacrifices. For example, when you are on call, you may be in the hospital overnight so you will not be sleeping at home. Long hours may also prevent you from certain social functions (school plays, etc) but in general, it's not too bad.

For me the most rewarding part is making people feel comfortable and less anxious for their surgery (and the occasional "saving a life".

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston