Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 10/4/2007

Question
Hello, I am a junior in high school and looking for what I am going to go to college for. First, about how many women are anesthesiologist? Next, I am very aware of the long percentage of time that will have to be put into the schooling for this job, how difficult would you rate the classes and so forth? I am sure I want to do something in the medical field, I always have been and I've had my eye on this job for a while now, but if i do change and decide to be a nurse of anesthetics, what would some differences be? Also, what could you major in while your in your first 4 years of schooling? Thank you so much

Answer
There are quite a few women although I cannot give you percentages. As for the difficulty of classes, it is very difficult in general to get through medical school and any residency. I can't say that anesthesiology is harder than other specialties but they are all hard. I don't know the specific differences between CRNA school and MD schooling other than the time difference and the amount of knowledge each provides. As for a major, you can major in anything you want.

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston