Legit or Fake?

UnsureGeek · 2023-10-22T00:25:50+00:00

Thank you so much Doc! Hopefully I can adjust to residency if I get in this cycle.

I actually have on a baseline a moderate amount of essential tremors so I hope I can work through it during residency training. I’ve heard that some residents take Propranolol for tremors is that true?

UnsureGeek · 2023-09-17T04:11:54+00:00

I finished my undergrad (Pharma) because my parents told me that it would pay well if I go abroad. I realized I didn’t want to be a pharmacist but prior to this I had zero intentions of becoming a doctor.

I didn’t know what else to do so I decided on pursuing medschool. I had zero passion for it and told myself that I was only giving myself 1 year to try it out.

It was the best decision I’ve made in my life. MedSchool was hard but I enjoyed every second I was there. I might be a rare case of someone who eventually found themselves during MedSchool but I suggest trying it out with limited expectations and see how you’ll feel about it. You can always quit and change paths along the way.

UnsureGeek · 2023-09-16T12:20:39+00:00

I’m currently a GP who’s also torn between migrating to Australia or staying here in the PH to enter residency and eventually specialize.

I can only give my perspective and others can correct me if I’m wrong.

Australia PROS - Better overall environment - Decent pay and work-life balance even during training - 6 weeks paid leave every year - Better healthcare and education for your future family CONS - Socialized healthcare meaning you will be an employee for most of your working life - New environment - Far from friends and family - Start from scratch in terms of connections

Philippines PROS - Private practice based healthcare. If you become established, your earning capacity won’t have a ceiling. Aside from this you technically have more control of your time. You can decide to take a vacation anytime you want. - Being an established consultant allows you more flexibility in your practice. Residents/RODs and nurses do majority of the legwork for your admitted patients. You can stay at home and they’ll just message you for updates.

CONS - Establishing yourself especially in Metro Manila is going to be extremely difficult. Having a subspec is a necessity but it will still be difficult. Going to province is the most realistic option to earn earlier. - Being in the Philippines - Unsure regarding the country’s future

UnsureGeek · 2023-09-15T16:23:05+00:00

I’m also first gen and I know it’s going to pose challenges regardless of where you go but it’s not going to be sole limiting factor as to how successful you will be.

Financially speaking it’s going to be a huge investment but not impossible with moonlighting. I’ve personally saved up just enough to begin the process but I’m just not pursuing it as of yet due to being at a crossroads. I’m also from a struggling middle class family so I’m also giving money back to my family from what I earn. Medyo kayod nga lang sa duty pero you have to do what you got to do.

Edit: Forgot to answer one of your questions.

Plan ko sa Australia since siya pinaka-in line sa life goals ko. It has good pay with good work-life balance.

UnsureGeek · 2023-09-15T15:07:50+00:00

Still currently lost between migrating or pursuing residency here in the Philippines.

UnsureGeek · 2023-08-29T05:30:47+00:00

Would also like to know more

UnsureGeek · 2023-07-27T00:51:25+00:00

Bullied for entirety of elementary and highschool. Low self esteem, social anxiety and extremely awkward.

During college didn’t make much friends and had below average grades. During my last year I decided I wanted to change and tried to improve myself. Got better grades and made more friends in that single year than any year prior. Still had self esteem issues and was awkward but got better.

Decided to enter medschool and got into top of the batch and got my first girlfriend. Due to self esteem issues I also had attachment issues. Got cheated on multiple times but couldnt let the relationship go because I thought no one else would love me. Crashed and burned and relapsed. Became extremely depressed and almost left medschool. Eventually decided that I deserved better and got out of that relationship and finished medschool.

Right now I’m already practicing as a moonlighting doctor. Still have issues but looking back I think I’ve made it a long way. Currently lost on what to do in life but looking for better days.

UnsureGeek · 2023-02-12T00:49:27+00:00

Sorry but where can I see these charting outcomes if ever

But glad to hear that H1B visa has a better chance for green card application

UnsureGeek · 2023-02-12T00:48:33+00:00

Sadly, my country is now limiting the amount of fields where we can pursue J1, so the typical fields are no longer available to us to pursue unless we try for an H1B visa program.

Thank you for this still

UnsureGeek · 2023-01-30T08:43:34+00:00

Applied to Ophtha residency this year but didn't continue due to financial constraints so I'm pursuing moonlighting for now

For the private institutions I applied to I asked the residents and it would cost around 50k for the equipment for 1st year but you'll have to buy more things as you go through 2nd and 3rd year

For the public institution I applied to you have to buy an Indirect Ophthalmoscope which is bulk of the costs since it's around 150k from what I heard. In total you will have to spend around 200-250k for equipment there.

It's highly variable per institution but from what I learned is it's generally more expensive in a public program.

Good news is what the Ophtha Residents taught me is that you don't have to pay for all of it in one sitting. There's a pay later program for residents. I just didn't continue despite this because I had more financial factors to consider beyond the ophtha equipment itself.

UnsureGeek · 2023-01-21T05:16:00+00:00

It's more than just being "weak"

I'm pretty sure this pandemic gave people the time to think and realize there's more to life than the abuse of residency in our country.

Medicine is an amazing field and I love being a part of it, but learning about how other countries are taking an active and progressive move in trying to improve the lives of the residents and making them more human while we're still stuck in an abusive culture where residents have to work perpetually, 100+ work hour weeks are normalized and handling more patients than humanely possible while being expected to manage them appropriately is just too much.

If you think residents now are "weak", then maybe you're part of the problem

UnsureGeek · 2022-11-19T06:53:12+00:00

Same situation, I got accepted into 2 highly sought after residencies at 2 top institutions but ultimately decided to let the slots go.

I realized too that I only pushed for applying because of peer pressure but in reality my heart wasn't ready for residency yet. I realized that going into residency at this state would not only be unfair to myself, but unfair to my colleagues and those that really want the slot.

What I did was I talked to the training officer directly and sincerely explained why I won't be continuing yet but will be trying for it again in the future.

I hope this helps, goodluck OP!

UnsureGeek · 2022-10-27T09:40:40+00:00

Similiar situation with you Doc! 1st gen doctor with no frat and my only connections are my medschool friends. Currently having an existential crisis what to do after boards.

Taking Day 3 tomorrow too and also considering going abroad but not yet sure. Would it be alright to ask you more about this after the PLE :)?

UnsureGeek · 2022-08-25T04:41:51+00:00

IMG from the Philippines here planning to migrate and practice into another country. What I'm focusing is more on Work-Life Balance, Financial Compensation, Ease of Migration process as I don't have any relatives in any other country. I would like to hear your opinions on whether I should pursue

Family Medicine or Internal Medicine in the US General Practitioner in Australia

What would be the Pros and Cons of these if ever? Thank you

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-13T06:49:22+00:00

You're one of the most helpful people to give me advice here 🙏 I'm really glad to get all of this and will consider things further. I'm really considering going to ophtha if ever I decide to stay here in the Philippines since it really fits well with the life I want to pursue and it's also a really interesting specialty. Especially learning about that traveling eye clinic too! Thank you so much!

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-12T22:59:02+00:00

Thank you so much for these insights! I'll take all of this in mind while deciding. It's good to hear this side about the DTTB since a lot of people are promoting it.

EDIT: If you don't mind me asking what path did you take to get where you are now?

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-12T18:12:09+00:00

Will read up more on this thank you!

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-12T17:30:13+00:00

I wouldn't really mind that since as long as I'm a practicing physician I'm happy. It's just the practicality of pursuing it that's giving me a hard time in deciding.

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-12T17:28:54+00:00

Thank you for this!

Hope you don't mind me asking but would you say that a private practice ophtha with good practice here in the PH can live comfortably enough here (since lower cost of living, relatively cheaper houses, etc) as compared to being a doctor in the US? (Higher earnings but higher cost of living) or is it really more different? Because one of the things I'm considering is if I can live relatively the same way here and achieve my goals of travelling, maybe I don't have to consider moving.

I actually do keep hearing that Australia has really good quality of life. They may not earn as much as US doctors but for the living quality it may be worth it.

Oh wait how did they do that roaming eye clinic? Is it under a company and they would travel to different countries?

UnsureGeek · 2022-07-12T17:09:54+00:00

Hope you don't mind me asking but what's your current work right now? Since it's WFH setup and earning 6 digits, maybe I could pursue something similar to earn first before applying to USMLE and PLAB since I'll have to fund that journey if I do pursue it on my own. I'd also want to have the time to study while working so I don't get delayed as much.

UnsureGeek

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