Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 12/2/2010

Question
What would the typical day be for an anesthesiologist (besides the obvious answer). I am looking into this job field and would like to know the hours and other details to judge if this job is one to seriously consider getting a degree for.
Thanks.
Kennedy

Answer
You're doing the right thing!........but the best answer to this question comes not from a written answer I might give you here which would tend to leave out considerable detail--detail that you really need.

Instead, I  hope you'll seek out an anesthesiologist near your location, form an alliance with him or her and spend some time in person with that person to get a thorough and vivid idea as to the ups and downs of the specialty.  "Shadowing" him for two or three days would be of considerable help to you. Know, however, that if hours are a major concern to your lifestyle that on the order of a decade of serious, exhaustive, rigorous and dedicated study and other time/work commitments will necessarily be required to achieve a degree in medicine and board-certification in Anesthesiology or any other medical subspecialty. Expect that to continue throughout your career if YOU expect to remain competitive/relevant.