Medical school professors and administrators say aspiring doctors should come to terms with the amount of studying and training required to become a licensed physician before they make the decision on whether medicine is right for them. Pursuing a medical degree is a serious commitment that should not be taken lightly, experts say, and it should mark the beginning of a lifelong commitment to fighting disease and promoting wellness.
Medical school typically lasts four years, but once someone receives either an M.D. or a D.O. degree, they generally go onto the next phase of their medical training, typically a residency in their desired specialty, such as surgery or radiology. Aspiring sub-specialists who want to focus on a particular niche of a medical specialty, such as someone who wants to develop expertise in treating a specific type of cancer as opposed to becoming a generalist oncologist who treats multiple kinds of cancer, will ordinarily complete a fellowship in addition to a residency program.