The New England Journal of MedicineOn Calling — From Privileged Professionals to Cogs of Capitalism?

Navigating the Shift: From Calling to Job in Modern Medicine

In a world where the ethos of work undergoes continuous evolution, the medical profession finds itself at a crossroads, caught between the traditional view of medicine as a calling and the emerging reality of it as just another job. This article presents the complexities and challenges faced by physicians in training and practice, set against the backdrop of a healthcare landscape increasingly influenced by corporatization and changing societal values. The insights offered shed light on the internal and external forces reshaping medical professionals’ views on their work and its impact on patient care and the healthcare system at large.

Key Points:

• The notion of medicine as a calling is increasingly questioned, with concerns about how this concept is used to justify poor working conditions and subjugation of medical trainees.
• The corporatization of healthcare and a shift in hospital priorities towards financial success have created a disconnect between educational missions and the realities of medical practice.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated feelings of workforce exploitation among medical trainees, contrasting sharply with other sectors where remote work and financial gains were more common.
• There is a growing critique against the idea of “workism,” where work is seen as central to one’s identity and purpose, particularly among millennials facing unfulfilling jobs and significant debt.
• Efforts to balance work and life among medical professionals have led to a perceived increase in “quiet quitting,” where the commitment to going above and beyond for patients or educational requirements wanes.
• The narrative of medicine being a calling is challenged by the realities of systemic inequities, mistreatment of trainees, and the need for a more compassionate approach to patient care.
• A generational critique calls for a reevaluation of what it means to serve in medicine, emphasizing the need for systemic change to align the profession’s values with contemporary societal expectations.

A study by the Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortage of up to 139,000 physicians in the United States by 2033, underscoring the critical need to address the evolving attitudes towards medical careers and ensure a robust future workforce.

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