Pags, that almost (I said, „almost“!) makes me want to go back to the boat. Anyway, I’ll delve. Medicine, aviation, really anything, people are what matter. Taking care of your people is what matters. In that regard, I would argue you may be able to see the immediacy of your efforts better as a doctor; however, thats after a long road in med school, and as folks have said, there’s still a chance for that after some time on the sticks. And man, flying is good medicine. However, if I were to do it all over again, I’d probably scoot my ass over to the CG and do everything I could to get to a helo. Blasphemy? Maybe. But the few weeks I spent working in their wheelhouse was some of most rewarding time in my flying career. But that’s me, I’m not as carnivorous as some of these bomb slinging badasses; I like to take shit to people that need it and the idea of pulling people out of bad situations. As a helo bro, it seems the CG offers that in spades. That said, the peak of my career, the moment of which I am most proud, wasn’t in the cockpit anyway, it was as a divo. And you’ll have the opportunity to positively impact your sailors in any community.
Anyway, if you haven’t read it, check out a book called „When Breathe Becomes Air“. The dude is insightful (and the story tragic), but as I read I realized that while I was jealous of the impact the author had on patient‘s lives, the academic nature of it isn’t for me (nor are the hours). Aviation may offer a nice compromise between altruism and awesome.
Bottom line, would I do it again? Bet your ass. If nothing else for the the friends I’ve made along the way.
Good luck.
Anyway, if you haven’t read it, check out a book called „When Breathe Becomes Air“. The dude is insightful (and the story tragic), but as I read I realized that while I was jealous of the impact the author had on patient‘s lives, the academic nature of it isn’t for me (nor are the hours). Aviation may offer a nice compromise between altruism and awesome.
Bottom line, would I do it again? Bet your ass. If nothing else for the the friends I’ve made along the way.
Good luck.