Ninety-year-old Walter Lawrence Jr., MD, who went to medical school during World War II, has a message to potential medical school applicants: medicine is worth it, despite fears of burnout, administrative burden and a constantly changing industry.
Dr. Lawrence, who still sees patients twice a week at the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Richmond, Va., penned a letter to potential medical students about why he still loves practicing medicine, even after 68 years. The letter was published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
"First, you should understand that the practice of medicine is a moving target, in that both diagnostic and treatment approaches are constantly evolving and improving," Dr. Lawrence wrote. "I should know: I've been trying to keep up with medicine's exponential advances since I entered medical school back in 1944, when America was at the height of World War II." Over seven decades of medical advances, the role of the physician has changed, often to become more of a "technical 'specialist'" than a "compassionate, care and supportive doctor," he added. But despite these changes, he is still able to derive major satisfaction from his career because of the physician-patient relationship, or as Dr. Lawrence calls it, the "human connection."
"I sincerely hope each day that I am providing some service to my fellow man, but I know for certain these clinical interactions benefit my own soul beyond measure," Dr. Lawrence wrote. "This is the touchstone for me, just as I hope it will be for you if you choose medicine as your career. Never forget that it is truly a privilege to enjoy the complete trust of another human being, a person who depends on both your problem-solving ability and your concern for their welfare."
Though medicine has made huge technical strides since Dr. Lawrence embarked on his career, the field still needs — and will always need — compassionate providers, no matter what changes happen in the industry, he wrote.
Read the full letter here.
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