The Daily Campus

Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Matt Lin Dr. Laurence A. Savett told pre-medical students that doctors can have time for family and a social life outside of their careers.

Laurence A. Savett, M.D. met with the Pre-medical Society Monday night to not only offer advice but reassurance students about entering the medical profession. Dr. Savett, a practicing physician for over 30 years, is now teaching at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Macalester College and the University of Saint Thomas. He also is author of the book, "The Human Side of Medicine."

One thing that Dr. Savett made clear to his audience was that as a physician one should never make assumptions.

He recounted one of his first experiences where he wrongly assumed because a woman was elderly, she was also hard of hearing.

"[I went up to her in a loud voice] and said 'I am Dr. Savett,' and she responded with, 'good for you.'"

While doing market research, Dr. Savett came across interesting figures, which he admits were roughly calculated. There are more than 250,000 students who go into college with a pre-med concentration.

When the graduating class applies to medical school there will be 16,000 to 17,000 openings in med school, yet only approximately 36,000 students will apply for these positions, according to Dr. Savett. He questioned what happened to the missing 214,000 students.

Dr. Savett's goal was to make sure that these students weren't having second thoughts due to common myths of the medical profession.

"You don't need to be a genius to be a doctor, you simply need to have a good head and a good heart," Dr. Savett said. You also need to know "the limits of your own knowledge."

There is also the common myth that current doctors do not have any time to develop the relationship between patient and doctor. Dr. Savett stressed that it is the relationship that "will enhance the quality of the diagnosis and treatment." He explained to the audience that it takes time for the patients to tell their story and find meaning in their illness.

This relationship is even more important today because so much information is available to patients via the Web. It is the doctor's job to provide "context and reassurance in a thoughtful way."

Continued...

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