Training to be a doctor

Preparing to be a doctor depends on what field of medicine one wants to pursue. For surgeons, apprenticeships are the main form of training as their type of work focuses on skilled manual labor. A physician's form of education primarily involves classical and theoretical studies of medicine and treatment. (2)

Nearly all the doctors within England have attended school to receive their medical degree. Among the most popular medical schools are Oxbridge and London Universities. As important as it may seem for someone to have their formal education, it is not as necessary for them to have a formal secondary education or even an arts degree to move on to earn a medical degree. (4)

Training by a father or uncle who is a doctor is frequent for many individuals training in medicine. With this method, someone being trained to become a doctor could be taken to the hospital to gain first hand experience with help and guidance from their family member. (5)

Who became doctors and why?

We have found that people are entering the medical field here in England for numerous reasons. While some have been choosing to study medicine for economic reasons, personal tastes, and the dreams of earning a higher income, none has been more prevalent than family influence. After careful examination of this issue, we have discovered that people entering medicine are arriving with a familiarity of this profession that they gained from living in a household with doctors. This has been a source of immense influence as these individuals are being provided with a sense of comfort about what the medical field entails. Thus, this second hand knowledge of medical practices enables individuals to enter this field prepared, but also knowing the occupation is one they want to pursue. (6)

In addition, the high costs of having a medical education are very difficult for those who do not come from a medical family. For those who have family members that are already in this field, their financial burdens of becoming a doctor are significantly lower. (7) While the cost of a medical education is high, many people are still able to reduce the expenses by doing things such as living at home, studying with a local practitioner or working at a nearby hospital. (8)

Although it may seem probable that someone with the talent and ability to study and comprehend medicine well would be most likely to enter this field, we have found this not to be the case. Medical costs, family influence, and desire to attain prestige and a high income all outweigh what would seem to be necessary to succeed in becoming a doctor. (9) While, though family influence has had an impact on those choosing to study medicine, the expectations placed on these people are apparently high, because of their family background of doctors. (10)

An interest for science does not play a big role in people choosing to become doctors. Other reasons, aside from family influence, for why someone chooses this career field include personal incidents with health, disease, or even a childhood illness. (11)

So, as you can see, choosing to become a doctor can depend on numerous factors ranging from family influence, economic status, personal incidents with health, or even personal tastes. Having family members who are already doctors can have a positive influence in drawing someone towards medicine, but that certainly does not limit anyone from exploring this as a possible career.