Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 2/27/2009

Question
I may be young, but what is it like to be an anesthesiologist? I'm thinking about my future and thinking I want to become one.

Answer
I must point out I am UK based and trained and so my comments are based on my experience over here.
I am not sure if your plan involves doing medicine to become a doctor and then to specialise in anaesthesia but I'll base my answer on that premise. I have a lot of female anaesthetic colleagues as anaesthesia in the Uk does allow one to balance family life and work with some more control - compared to ther hospital based specialties. It is also very interesting as there as so many avenues that you can follow by providing anaesthesia services to different specialties. So we can work in theatres, the intensive care unit, the maternity unit and even in chronic pain clinics.
So certainly in the UK it is seen as being very compatible with family life.
I will finish as I started, anaesthesia is a great career and I have no regrets in having taken up my profession.
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson