Should I reconsider my career choice?

[GKingsburry]

Hello! I am currently a senior in high school and would love to pursue a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. I would love to save lives. I want to dedicate my life to the service of others. However, I do recognize that I will be working arduous hours, but I don’t have a problem with that. My problem is that I also want to have a wife and kids. Would this be a possibility? Or would I have to chose between my career or the type of life I want to have at home.

 

[Retsel]

Or would I have to chose between my career or the type of life I want to have at home.

If you have the ability and desire to become a husband/father/dad you can easily become a physician too!

 

[1ke]

My problem is that I also want to have a wife and kids. Would this be a possibility?

People do it every day. There are married surgeons.

Or would I have to chose between my career or the type of life I want to have at home.

Well, you might. It depends on what you envision.

I would encourage you to start doing some job shadowing and reach out to a career counselor or the HR department at a hospital with the specialty you see interested in so you can shadow and/or interview someone in the field.

 

[IdaCatholic]

I’d reconsider. But that’s just me. You do you.

 

[TheLittleLady]

The man who gave my husband three extra years of life is a well known Cardiothoracic surgeon. He is a happily married man with children. His dad is a Cardiothoracic surgeon.

Get to know some surgeons, call up the best hospital in your area, ask to speak to the chief of Cardiology and make an appointment to sit down with him.