While my wife rarely, if ever gets asked why she became an obgyn, it's often one of the first questions patients ask me (implied question, "what's wrong with you, weirdo?!"). As it certainly wasn't what I expected to do when starting medical school, I can certainly understand the question. So, let me set the record straight.
I had no intention whatsoever of doing obgyn when I started medical school, and in fact, along with dermatology (which really grosses me out...I know, I know, don't judge), I had completely ruled out the specialty until I did the rotation. I was going to do something manly, like orthopedic surgery. Because, really, who wants to work all day with women who can go from happy to tearful and back in the drop of a hat and then get called at all hours of the night to do deliveries? Well, it turns out I do, and here's why:
1. I like giving good news. Most of my patients are happy and healthy and excited to be in the office. While many other specialties have to share unpleasant news everyday, I get to tell patients how well their pregnancies are going and to take part in the countdown until the baby gets here. Who wouldn't enjoy that? Now if only I could find a way to help women be as excited about their pap smears..
2. It is a surgical specialty, which means that I get to offer real and instant fixes for women's health problems (not to mention play with big toys during robotic surgery), but because of the continuity, I also get to develop relationships with my patients. Being able to get to know them and their families makes the care I provide that much more meaningful. It never ceases to amaze me how fast a baby I delivered is growing from year to year.
3. Lastly, what sold me in the first place: the deliveries. While the joy I experience in delivering a baby most certainly pales in comparison to the bliss of new (or repeat) parents, there's not a lot of jobs cooler than getting to be there to help usher a new life into the world.
So there you have it. Even though I don't get to use power tools on people like the orthopods and my kleenex cost is almost certainly triple theirs, I feel fortunate to be able to offer care that can be so rewarding. That's why I'm an obgyn.
Nick
I had no intention whatsoever of doing obgyn when I started medical school, and in fact, along with dermatology (which really grosses me out...I know, I know, don't judge), I had completely ruled out the specialty until I did the rotation. I was going to do something manly, like orthopedic surgery. Because, really, who wants to work all day with women who can go from happy to tearful and back in the drop of a hat and then get called at all hours of the night to do deliveries? Well, it turns out I do, and here's why:
1. I like giving good news. Most of my patients are happy and healthy and excited to be in the office. While many other specialties have to share unpleasant news everyday, I get to tell patients how well their pregnancies are going and to take part in the countdown until the baby gets here. Who wouldn't enjoy that? Now if only I could find a way to help women be as excited about their pap smears..
2. It is a surgical specialty, which means that I get to offer real and instant fixes for women's health problems (not to mention play with big toys during robotic surgery), but because of the continuity, I also get to develop relationships with my patients. Being able to get to know them and their families makes the care I provide that much more meaningful. It never ceases to amaze me how fast a baby I delivered is growing from year to year.
3. Lastly, what sold me in the first place: the deliveries. While the joy I experience in delivering a baby most certainly pales in comparison to the bliss of new (or repeat) parents, there's not a lot of jobs cooler than getting to be there to help usher a new life into the world.
So there you have it. Even though I don't get to use power tools on people like the orthopods and my kleenex cost is almost certainly triple theirs, I feel fortunate to be able to offer care that can be so rewarding. That's why I'm an obgyn.
Nick
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