Author: Sohail Sethi, Des Moines University, MS2
For those pursuing a career in medicine, it is common to fantasize about what your future will look like. The lengthy training path only exacerbates this of course. As premeds, we all knew of the undergraduate who aspired to be the future ‘pediatric cardiothoracic neurosurgeon.’ But, as medical students in the odd position of making it past the first hurdle but simultaneously just beginning the ‘race,’ the future seems just the tiniest bit closer and all the more scary.
With a year-and-a-half of medical school under my belt, I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit daydreaming about my future career. It should come as no surprise considering the namesake of this blog that I want to specialize in psychiatry. But, of course, my inner premed wants more. After some key experiences – before and during med school – I’ve decided that I do not want to be just a psychiatrist. I want to be a rural psychiatrist.
It is my hope that in writing this brief article, I not only convey why I am passionate about rural medicine, but also convince one of you reading to consider a career in rural psychiatry as well.
The primary motivator that draws me to practice in a rural area is undoubtedly the positive impact a physician can have. We all entered the medical profession to help people. This principle of commitment to others manifests itself throughout our education and training. And yet, there is a significant proportion of the population who go without medical care. Almost twenty percent of Americans have not seen a doctor in over five years. According to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, nearly two-thirds of non-urban counties lack a psychiatrist. The CDC found that rural Americans are not just sicker on average, they also have poorer outcomes for the same pathologies as their city-dwelling counterparts. By practicing in a rural environment, you will not only be able to help people, you will be able to help people who need care the most.
As previously illustrated, there is a great shortage of psychiatrists in the country, particularly in rural regions. This means that for those who choose to work in underserved areas, you may be the only psychiatrist around, and herein lies another reason to choose rural psych. As a rural provider, you are able to practice at the top of your license. You can serve as coordinator for your patient’s healthcare team, work with local leaders to shape policy, identify and dedicate resources to community-specific issues, and expand mental health services as needed. The increase in autonomy also means that you won’t be beholden to hospital administrators and quotas as much as your colleagues. For those interested in a challenge, the opportunity is there in rural psychiatry.
Lastly, rural psychiatry deeply interests me due to the community you can foster. In smaller, less populated towns, you are more likely to know your fellow physicians better. This will surely lead to you better understanding the perspectives of your referring physicians, and they can better grasp your role as a psychiatrist and the benefits of specialized care. Furthermore, the chance to be a resident of the community you serve will grant a provider unique insight into the lives of their patients, culminating in a stronger doctor-patient relationship.
While rural psychiatry is not for everyone, it is the path I am most excited for as I advance through my medical training.