A new report from Jackson Physician Search found a sobering reality about the state of medicine — only 21% of physicians would recommend a career in medicine to young people, and just 32% say they would choose the profession again if given the chance.
To better understand this disconnect, Becker’s asked physicians this question: If a student asked you today whether they should pursue a career in medicine, how would you advise them — and what experiences have shaped that perspective?
From veteran physicians to early-career residents, 20 leaders offered insights into how medicine has changed and what draws people to the career.
Editor’s note: These responses have been edited lightly for clarity and length.
Deborah August, MD. Physician at Nuvance Health (Norwalk, Conn.): If a student asked me whether they should pursue a career in medicine, I would encourage them to explore the field and learn as much as they can. While I love my job as a physician and have never regretted my choice, there are so many other possible careers in the medical field. In all of them, you have the satisfaction that you are doing something worthwhile and helping other people.
Benjamin Cooper, DO. Resident Physician at Mercy Hospital (New York City): I love medicine and I’m grateful I chose this path — but I’m also thankful I took my time getting here. My advice to any student considering medicine is to take a step back and give yourself space to grow before committing. I waited six years after college to start medical school, and that time gave me perspective I couldn’t have gained in a classroom.
During those years, I worked out of a fire department as a firefighter/paramedic, taught CPR to hundreds of people and gained experience in a level-one trauma center, a cardiac clinic and even at a NASCAR racetrack. Each role gave me a different lens into healthcare and helped me confirm that becoming a physician was the right path for me.
It’s easy to get narrow-minded in medicine, especially when you’re caught in the grind of exams, clinical hours and endless documentation. That’s why staying grounded is so important. There are days when I question why I chose this path — but in those rare moments, I revisit the personal statement I wrote for medical school, or a thank-you note from a patient whose life I made a difference in. Those reminders bring me back to what really matters.
Ed Corbett MD. Internal Medicine Physician and Former Deputy CMO Health Catalyst (Highland Utah): I have a few friendly pieces of advice to prospective medical students. My experience has taught me that technology will play an increasingly vital role in the future of medicine. Future physicians will need to seamlessly integrate a growing amount of data and evidence, curated by sophisticated algorithms, into their patient care approach. Successful future doctors will need to blend the art of medicine (empathy, patience, communication skills, resiliency, adaptability) with the power of technology. This integration will require a deep understanding of sophisticated algorithms and their impact on clinical decision-making.
As students evaluate potential medical schools, I recommend seeking out programs that are technology-forward and committed to innovation. AI-powered personalized teaching, virtual clinical skills development and experiential learning through sophisticated AI coaches have the potential to better prepare students with a focused knowledge base and critical thinking skills vital to providing care now and in the future. Additionally, seek out programs that provide a foundational skillset in AI and data literacy. Your journey through medicine will be one of continuously learning, critically appraising and rapidly adopting tools and technology to improve care and outcomes. An institution that prioritizes this type of foundation and skillset will position you for long term success in the evolving world of medicine.
Lastly, before you attend medical school, volunteer and perform some type of selfless service. Preferably, something that is outside your normal routine and even outside your normal sphere of existence. For example, my son spent several years in West Africa, serving people who struggled daily for existence. He lived in difficult conditions with few modern luxuries. This experience helped him gain a new perspective, more empathy and fostered appreciation and gratitude for his opportunities. He built resilience as he faced challenges and adversity. The lessons learned from selflessly serving others can be a north star as you develop your skills in the art of medicine.
Gregory Chow, MD. Physician at Hawaii Pacific Health (Aiea): I would encourage a student to pursue a career in medicine as long as their motivation is rooted in medicine and not in status, finances, etc.
Daniel Crane, MD. Vice President of Clinical Hospital Operations at Community Health Systems (Hattiesburg, Miss.): I always advise students that medicine is a long, difficult road but a very fulfilling career. You get to make a positive difference in your patients’ lives and care for people when they truly need your help. It is a huge responsibility but one that I have always felt honored to be trusted with.
Edward Gold, MD. Internal Medicine Physician at Hackensack Meridian Health (Emerson, N.J.): I would tell them that if they’re comfortable working in a situation where they will be an employee of a large organization, then go ahead. If they have an entrepreneurial spirit medicine is not for them.
Steven Golombek, MD. Internal Medicine Physician at Atlantic Health System (Dover, N.J.): I always tell students that medicine is still a great career but only pursue it if you have no Plan B. It is a long and arduous journey that should feel more like a vacation and not work. If you are not going to enjoy the process and think that it is a “means to an end,” then you are in the wrong field. It certainly felt like that to me over my career although, admittedly, lately it has been less of a “vacation.” I think that is more related to my tenure and loss of that youthful enthusiasm I once had. Nonetheless, every morning for the past 40 years, I’ve awakened thinking about what other career I could have chosen and been happy with and have yet to find an answer.
Harry Haus, MD. Medical Director of Dr. Haus & Associates (Erie, Pa.): I would advise the person that many medical schools cost too much. The match and getting into a residency is overly complicated and expensive. For most specialties you must be an employee. AHN, UPMC and Hershey all require the surgeons to be employees to have the right to do surgery at the main hospitals. Family practice can not care for patients since they are admitted to the hospitalist. In the ICU, the intensivist takes over. The family doctor may be allowed to say hello.
Baha El Khatib, MD.Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Vitreo-Retinal Consultants (Hauppauge, N.Y.): Yes, I would absolutely advocate for a career in medicine — for the right person. If someone has a genuine passion for helping people, a curiosity about science and the human body and an interest in research and innovation, medicine can be a deeply fulfilling career. It’s a profession that allows you to care for people when they are most vulnerable, and that alone carries an immense sense of purpose and satisfaction.
That said, I’d also be transparent about the demands of the journey. The training is long and rigorous, and the daily practice of medicine comes with significant emotional and systemic challenges. What’s shaped my perspective most are the moments when I’ve been able to restore a patient’s vision, guide a family through a difficult diagnosis, or witness a recovery that felt almost impossible. These are the moments that keep you going — they remind you why this calling is worth it.
Ken Kozawa, MD. Physician in Sweetwater, Tenn.: I would do medicine only if I loved it. There are too many other opportunities to generate income, The sacrifices are too many for just an income. I have hired a PA to do all the things I don’t like. He takes my first call, does the charting, ordering, follow ups and talks to the families. I just practice medicine
Christopher Mattern, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at White Plains (N.Y.) Hospital: If a student asked me today, I would tell them that medicine remains a great profession for those who are committed to the core principle of helping others. As an orthopedic surgeon, the ability to use technical skills to help patients in pain and restore their mobility and ability to return to an active lifestyle is very rewarding.
Dominic Mazzocchi, MD. Internal Medicine Physician in Point Pleasant Boro, N.J.: It is wonderful career but don’t do it for the money, because there isn’t enough to offset the pain and suffering you would endure to yourself family and loved ones if you do it right.
Brandon Ortega, MD. Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at Long Beach (Calif.) Lakewood Orthopaedic Institute: I would tell them to pursue a career in medicine only if they feel a deep internal pull toward service, problem-solving and human connection — and if they understand that fulfillment in this field comes from delayed gratification, not instant rewards. Medicine is no longer the guaranteed path to prestige or stability that it once was, but it remains one of the most meaningful ways to spend your life.
As a spine surgeon, I’ve had the privilege of restoring function and alleviating pain for patients who had lost hope. But I’ve also seen firsthand how increasing administrative burdens, regulatory pressures, and financial constraints can strip the joy from clinical practice if you’re not intentional about protecting it.
What’s kept me grounded is the privilege of building long-term relationships with patients, working in a dynamic field that demands both critical thinking and technical precision, and leading a team driven by a shared commitment to delivering exceptional care.
I’ve also come to realize that expanding your skill set — whether in leadership, innovation or the business side of medicine — is essential for staying engaged and fulfilled in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
So my advice would be: pursue medicine only if you can’t imagine doing anything else. And if you do choose medicine, stay curious, stay adaptable and never lose sight of why you chose it in the first place.
Robert Pearl, MD. Former CEO The Permanente Medical Group: I’m often asked by students whether they should pursue a career in medicine, and my answer is always “yes.” I can’t think of any profession where you have the privilege to go home at night knowing that you helped people and saved lives. At the same time, I offer words of caution. For physicians, it is a decade of training with personal sacrifices along the way. And the medical system is frustrating. But what better time to be a clinician given the advances in diagnosis and treatment that now exist? Often, I conclude by telling the person that if helping people doesn’t fill them with joy, to choose a different path. Not only will that be better for them, but it also will be better for the patients they otherwise would serve.
Ken Sandin, MD. President of Excellence in Rehabilitation Medical Group (Santa Barbara, Calif.): If you love people and love science, medicine is still the best place where those two desires overlap in interesting and socially beneficial ways, but only for those with the diligence, fortitude, interpersonal skills and intellect to contend with ingratitude, ineptitude and ineffective healthcare management and leadership.
Tom Shaffrey, MD. Family Physician in Bound Brook, N.J.: I would ask the student what they would be willing to give up compared to their friends who are not choosing medicine and to talk to several colleagues in different specialties. It is a road much longer and with greater sacrifices than almost all other professions. While in medical school, I spoke with a cardio-thoracic resident/fellow in his tenth year of training post graduation. I recently met a mother of two very young children whose husband left a neurosurgery residency and entered a primary care residency as he was completely missing his childrens’ childhoods. And lastly, I would pass along the most powerful quote I have ever encountered about life: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Samuel Clemens. If medicine is the “why,” there is nothing more rewarding that you can do with your life.
Marc Shelton, MD. Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Missouri Health: I would absolutely recommend a career in medicine. Although there will always be challenges, there are so many opportunities to help people in any number of ways. The gratification that you can get from helping others outweighs the difficulty from handling the challenges.
Sheldon Taub, MD. Gastroenterologist at Jupiter (Fla.) Medical Center: As much as my 45 years practicing medicine has been rewarding, encouraging people to pursue a career in medicine at this time is difficult. Certainly helping people heal and improving their lives is personally rewarding. There is also job security since the demand for people in healthcare is significant. The fact that the field of medicine is constantly evolving with new technology, including AI is exciting. However, the expense encountered in becoming a physician is enormous, and it may take years to pay off this debt. You have to have a true love for wanting to become a physician to accept the responsibility. Certainly, more money can be made in other fields with less exposure. I can’t think of any other profession where the reimbursement keeps going down more than in the medical field. What keeps me involved in medicine is the frequent “thank you” from patients and the comments on how I’ve changed their lives for the better. Society as a whole has to realize and appreciate how important healthcare is, and make drastic changes both with tort reform and financial incentives to improve healthcare in the future. I hope this happens, but I’m not that optimistic.
Lance Wobus, MD. Psychiatry Resident at Richmond University Medical Center (New York City): I would definitely recommend it. First, as I’ve been told, there are better, faster ways to get rich — don’t do it for the money. I’m also not a person who believes it is necessarily a calling. It’s a career, and there are plenty of other careers to choose from. Which one you choose depends on what you want out of it and out of life. I myself chose medicine (psychiatry) after two previous careers. I studied physics in graduate school on the path to an academic life, but I found I disliked research. I then went into book and journal publishing but in time felt I wasn’t having much of an impact on the world. I ultimately chose medicine because it is intellectually challenging, absolutely of fundamental importance and allows me to help others in a way that improves their lives but also enriches my life. I wake up enthusiastic and go to bed exhausted but proud of what I accomplished that day (on a good day). And of course it does pay well and is still held in some prestige. If medicine can fulfill you the way it fulfills me, don’t hesitate in your choice.
Vivek Yadav, MD. Assistant Professor of Medicine at Mercer University School of Medicine (Valdasota, Ga.): I would advise a student considering a career in medicine to carefully evaluate their motivations, interests, and readiness for the commitment it involves. Medicine is a deeply rewarding field that offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on individuals’ lives and contribute to the health and well-being of communities. However, it also requires a significant investment of time, energy, and resources, with years of education and training, demanding work hours, stressful environment and ongoing professional development.It takes away a significant amount of time from self and from the family. My perspective is based on my long experience in the medical field, where I’ve witnessed both the profound impact physicians can have on their patients and the challenges they face. The ability to improve patient outcomes, the intellectual stimulation of diagnosing and treating complex conditions. However, I’ve also seen the struggles of work-life balance and the need for resilience in managing the demands of the job. Ultimately, if you are passionate about medicine and prepared for the challenges it presents, it can be a deeply satisfying and meaningful career. It can however be very challenging at times and demands a lot of resilience and perseverance.
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