Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: hi, i also want to be an anesthesiologist. but i am a curious, what is a type of a anesthesiologist that isn't as stressful as some, i know all of them are but there has to be one that is a little better. also, what are some majors i should look at for this type of education? i mean should i take pre-med or anatomy? what is a good school that i can receive a good education and that will get me a better experience? and how long have you been a anesthesiologist? and how long did it take for you to get a good pay? and also, what school did you attend and which majors?

Thank you for taking your time to answer my question,

Bansari

ANSWER: That's alot of questions. Here are some brief answers:

what is a type of a anesthesiologist that isn't as stressful as some, i know all of them are but there has to be one that is a little better.

It depends on the type of patients you do. If all you do is opthalmic surgery, it isn't too stressful but it also is a bit boring after a while. Same for other types of putpatient anesthesia.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
also, what are some majors i should look at for this type of education?

Any major is fine. You first have to get into medical school.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i mean should i take pre-med or anatomy?

It doesn't matter. Take what you enjoy as long as you take the prerequisite courses.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
what is a good school that i can receive a good education and that will get me a better experience?

They are all good schools. None is better than the others. It depends on what you want to study.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and how long have you been a anesthesiologist?

12 years


>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and how long did it take for you to get a good pay?

After you finish residency you start to make good money.

>>>>>>>>>>>>
and also, what school did you attend and which majors?

I went to the University of Rochester and majored in Biology.


Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

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

QUESTION: thanks for you answers but you did not give me straight answers! like i know i have to get into med school but these days its hard! and i enjoy anything but if i major in biology, which many people i know go in to, is there a better chance? and how does it get boring?

ANSWER: Actually I did give you a straight answrer. Medical school has always been hard to get into, but Biology majors do NOT have an advantage getting in. People take Biology either because they like the subject or because they think it will help them in medical school but it plays no role in decision making. I interview people applying to medical school and it is not one of our criteria for selection. If you choose a major outside of a science you might be asked why, but it won't negatively impact your chances of admission. College is for studying what you love. Most physicians love sceince so that is what they major in but some of my collegues are English, History and Economics majors as well.

It gets boring because many cases are very long and if my patient is otherwise healthy, there is not much for me to do during the surgery other than chart numbers. Other times my patients are very sick and the success or failure of the operation is dependent on me to make sure he lives through the procedure.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston


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

QUESTION: okay i guess you did give me good answers but how do you have time to answer everyone's questions so fast? but if i do major in history, whats the point of going to college for history because its not helping my medical career.

Answer
While most people attend college to study a major that will help their career, others use the opportunity to explore other areas (perhaps even change their career plans). Others major in something and then later realize that it was medicine they wanted. In both cases, it will not work against them. If you like history, you might even major in Medical History.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston