Short answer is to help people.
Medium answer is that I felt that I was moving in a pathway where I could be a part of another person's life such as a teacher or counselor or coach. I had a nurse mom who worked in an FP clinic so I knew some about this area. I had a college advisor encourage me to apply. I had a great preparation at Baylor COM and then Waco FP. I had an opportunity to teach and set up a solo rural practice and I went to Nowata OK where I had lots of opportunities to serve in many ways.
Long answer has to do with God working in my life, sometimes with me, sometimes in spite of my efforts. It has to do with allowing Him to take control of my life all the time, not just in the critical times (like deciding for solo rural practice when He did all the work or when we finally turned over control of our teens to Him). There is also realization of workaholism in this package.
Strong desire to help, to be a part of others lives, to right injustices.
Obstacles - knowing when not to help when this is in the best interest of family or patients, realizing that I have not been called to stamp out all the darkness, I just need to be a good, consistent, obedient witness to Christ.
Rural medicine is a great challenge, this would be enough, but the rewards of rural medicine are actually so great that it is addictive. There are limits and balances. The bond between a rural doc and the community is incredibly powerful, and sadly is often not fully appreciated until you have left your town.
Are you sure you do not want to become a journalist? Great question….. Actually I do care for urban somewhat inner city patients and have done so in Houston, Tennessee, and Nebraska since 1987, longer than my 4 years of rural practice, so I will modify your question to answer the rich sick part.
From my perspective, my selfish one, I just don't get motivated to take care of people that tend to come in with minor problems that they think are great crises. I lasted one year caring for yuppies like me in western Omaha before moving in to my current 11 year long practice in east Omaha caring for a mix of employees, students, and underserved. These are patients that tend to appreciate me as a physician and friend. The folks out west just want convenience and really have little need of a physician.
Nurse - really did not think about this, probably gender block, now being a nurse to me is one of the best opps for pure service, similar to schoolteacher and public servant
PA - really did not know about the other professions in 1980
Administrator - My administrative skills are not good.
Helping people feels good. It is what I was born to do, it is one of my gifts, it is how I have been put together, just like my teaching part.
Real science is very hard work, being very consistent, and constantly asking Why, Why, Why. Real science is about being passionate, about getting up to go to the office early and staying late and being immersed in data or concepts or conversations or interactions. It is about making a difference in people's lives in a different way, not for monetary reward, but because you learned something special and want to share it.
It is very hard for me to do research because you have to become very focused and to some degree very selfish, making sacrifices in a different way, one that has long term rewards rather than short term.
Character: the Narrow Road, Suffering, Perseverence, Hope, Heart
Students Interested in Becoming a Rural Physician
http://www.ruralmedicaleducation.org
