2 answers
Laurie
Student
Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
3
Questions
Updated
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As an Obstetrician/Gynecologist, will work interfere with personal time with your family?
I am a young high school student who is still trying to decide the right career choice that will not only make me happy and help me become successful in life, but to allow me to make time for my family. I admire careers that allows me to take care of babies or in this case deliver babies, so I would like to know if this career as an Obstetrician/Gynecologist would fulfill my desires. #doctor #obstetrics #gynecologist #science #medicine #hospital-and-health-care
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2 answers
Karyn Auger, MHA
Medical Practice Executive
24
Answers
Valrico, Florida
Updated
Karyn’s Answer
Hello Laurie,
First and foremost it is important to recognize that any career you choose can/will interfere with your personal/family time IF YOU LET IT. Certainly the educational path to becoming a physician leaves little time for extracurricular activities but once you have completed your education and are ready to begin your career it is entirely up to you how pervasive it becomes. Ob/Gyn is challenging because babies don't always arrive Monday - Friday between 8am and 5pm but you can choose to limit the number of pregnant women you manage at any given time so you can better predict how often work might take you away from your family. You could also choose not to have an Obstetric practice at all but only Gynecology which would give you even more control over your schedule. If you choose to work for yourself in a private practice that will take up much more of your time than if you join a larger group or hospital where you can share the patient care and administrative activities. I don't think you will find any doctor who doesn't think work has interfered with his/her family time at some time or another, it is a sacrifice those in the profession choose to make. The question is to what degree are you willing to let it interfere. I hope this helps, good luck Laurie.
First and foremost it is important to recognize that any career you choose can/will interfere with your personal/family time IF YOU LET IT. Certainly the educational path to becoming a physician leaves little time for extracurricular activities but once you have completed your education and are ready to begin your career it is entirely up to you how pervasive it becomes. Ob/Gyn is challenging because babies don't always arrive Monday - Friday between 8am and 5pm but you can choose to limit the number of pregnant women you manage at any given time so you can better predict how often work might take you away from your family. You could also choose not to have an Obstetric practice at all but only Gynecology which would give you even more control over your schedule. If you choose to work for yourself in a private practice that will take up much more of your time than if you join a larger group or hospital where you can share the patient care and administrative activities. I don't think you will find any doctor who doesn't think work has interfered with his/her family time at some time or another, it is a sacrifice those in the profession choose to make. The question is to what degree are you willing to let it interfere. I hope this helps, good luck Laurie.
Richard A.
physician
2150
Answers
Updated
Richard’s Answer
During medical school and residency, you won’t be in control of your own schedule which makes family time difficult to obtain. However, after training, you can be in more control and can choose what practice to join based on your needs. You can work less and have more time for family at the cost of making less money and possibly consulting on less interesting cases.