If you found out your family doctor's GPA was 2.3 in Med school, would you continue to see him?

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If you found out your family doctor's GPA was 2.3 in Med school, would you continue to see him?

by Unmistakably Liz Posted November 02, 2009 03:48:14

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+5 raves Lynn November 02, 2009 19:42:07

Answered: It depends
I am reminded of the old joke: "What do you call a doctor that finished last in his class and barely passed the boards?"

Answer: "Doctor"

There is a lot more to being a good doctor, engineer, lawyer, or any serious professional than book smarts.
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+1 raves
melo November 04, 2009 07:47:45

Answered: It depends
if hes done a good job, and youve never had a problem with him before, why would it matter? keep him if hes good, cuz what secret is the next doctor gona have?
+1 raves
Op4 November 04, 2009 05:09:32

Answered: It depends
It would depend on how well they get the job done. Grades and standardized test results aren't necessarily ideal indicators of real world performance. I've seen far too many people who were 'perfect' on paper prove to be completely useless clusters in the real world. I've also seen many people who struggled in training or schooling become become top performers because they learned not to panic or quit when things get tough.
+1 raves
Lyana November 04, 2009 04:39:20

Answered: It depends
A 3.5 could have gotten those grades because they cheated, and I sure as hell wouldn't want them as my doctor.
Better one who actually knows what he's doing than one who doesn't
+1 raves
frere November 04, 2009 02:58:56

Answered: It depends
If he's not after my money, and he knows what he's talking about, why the hell not?
+1 raves
Paul Revere November 04, 2009 02:41:39

Answered: yes
Absolutely. I've worked with 3.85 MBAs and PhDs who had no common sense. A good GPA only tells me that you test well.
+2 raves
grumpy November 04, 2009 02:34:46

Answered: It depends
he's certainly qualified to be president, since his GPA is higher than baraks
+2 raves
Lisa~in~Texas November 04, 2009 02:21:38

Answered: yes
We learn a ton of stuff in school. But MDs learn a LOT more once they are actually out there, working.

I wouldn't so much care about school. But I would never choose a new doctor. Experience really matters.
+1 raves
Darling of Ville November 04, 2009 00:28:58

Answered: no
Highly unlikely. What you learn in med school is the basis for all that you will learn during your residency and/or fellowship following graduation. If you can't pass biochemistry or anatomy, that's a little worrisome...especially when you have four years to develop that GPA and, alternatively, four years to better poor grades in difficult classes.

Also, if you struggle with the course load in med school your first two years, and continue to struggle balancing exams and all of your in-clinic sessions and rotations during your last two years in med school, what makes you think you won't struggle balancing all of the pressure and work and re-education after your graduation?

No offense, but society complains about the incompetency of our doctors repeatedly, and yet some are readily willing to allow incompetent students to graduate prematurely. You can't have it both ways. I would rather the student who has a poor GPA retake the courses he/she did poorly in, even if it requires a later graduation date, so that they will hopefully be more competent and knowledgeable about their soon-to-be career, than allow a so-so student graduate who lacks the knowledge to properly diagnose and assist the public with their health problems.
+1 raves
divajinx November 04, 2009 00:00:16 (edited)

Answered: no
Probably not. They still had to pass their bar exams so what difference does it make where they placed in their Med. School rankings? They still got their license to practice medicine, right? And we're still alive to answer the question, right?
+1 raves
justmehere November 03, 2009 21:28:39

Answered: It depends
if he/she has been successful in his/her diagnoses and remedies,YES
+2 raves
snipe November 03, 2009 19:09:55

Answered: yes
If ObamaCare passes they'll have to stop keeping test scores and just give everyone a Diploma. There will be such a shortage of Doctors they'll have a hard enough time finding anybody who wants to go to Med School let alone the need to worry about GPA.
+1 raves
Born in the Stars November 03, 2009 18:49:27

Answered: It depends
if he is a good doctor and has taken care of my family really well. then i would stick with him.
+1 raves
JCLadybug November 03, 2009 18:37:05

Answered: It depends
If I found that out about my doctor....I wouldn't care in the least b/c I know he is competent and he still became a doctor.

However, for newer ones....just think about how useful they were in your conversations with them.

Remember that people learn more on the job than they do from a textbook (when they have to apply knowledge that is the real test). I bet some of the smartest scientists don't have the best GPAs b/c it doesn't matter.
+1 raves
paleale November 03, 2009 18:05:51

Answered: yes
Why not?
+1 raves
ARoomWithAMoose November 03, 2009 16:56:50

Answered: yes
Book smarts and practical application of knowledge are totally different things.
+2 raves
Jack November 03, 2009 16:34:18

Answered: It depends
I would base my decision on his general appearance of competency, and here's why: every time I've needed a doctor, if it was anything serious, anything at ALL, he just redirected me to a specialist who repeated all the same tests. I'm actually not terribly sure what non-specialized doctors ARE qualified to do, other than read a pressure cuff. (Pardon me, ye doctors reading this post - I'm about half joking. If you like, you can comment and tell me how I'm wrong. I'm sort of blandly interested.)

My GPA at Albany is 4.0 (for Literature and Composition classes) but I can contend that it means very little in the scheme of things. (My classes required a lot of writing and a LOT of referencing and cross-referencing... it seems that individuality and creativity have been swept aside in favor of articulate, long-winded paraphrasing. XD)
+1 raves
Lisa~in... to Jack November 04, 2009 02:23:23

I think you're right. They know a little about a lot. Hopefully, they know enough to direct you to a specialist when you need it.

But we sure don't need a cardiologist to tell us we have an ear infection.
+1 raves
Wayne November 03, 2009 13:06:59

Answered: It depends
If we measure the worth of a medical professional merely on academic demonstration of intellectual prowl, yes. Even then, GPA is not necessarily an accurate assessment of intellectual ability, but of knowledge absorption for a period of time (test time). Some folk learn quickly and forget quickly. Some folk toil to learn and it sticks with them. Rare folk learn quickly and it sticks with them. Many folk toil to learn and forget quickly.

Then there is the question of wisdom with the knowledge. I know a number of people who are very intelligent, but make foolish choices based on preconceived thought patterns.

Then, What of the medical professional's virtues? I would hate to have a cracker jack medical professional forget about my heart surgery due to preoccupation with an affair with that cute young nurse ... or a golf game.
+1 raves
(David)-(The)-(Strange) November 03, 2009 12:41:53

Answered: yes
my friend's father was an average student in college but was still able to get a Ph.D later on.
+1 raves
Radlad November 03, 2009 09:36:16

Answered: It depends
There are people that just cannot take test. They know what they're doing but if they takeoff for spelling they might barely squeak by...............
+1 raves
Angelique November 03, 2009 06:22:49

Answered: no
For the first time in months my 15 year old daughter agrees with me. "Oh Gosh! No!"
+1 raves
nightlight November 03, 2009 04:21:05

Answered: no
No. Better safe than sorry.
+2 raves
Mark5610 November 03, 2009 01:50:45 (edited)

Answered: yes
The last student in class will be stilled be called Doctor.
+1 raves
diaverde08-MolecularGastron... November 03, 2009 01:33:43

Answered: It depends
I would judge him/her by how he/she did his/her job.
+3 raves
Smokey November 02, 2009 23:58:37

Answered: yes
It has been proven that there are MANY people who have scored low or made average grades, but became excellent in his/her profession.
+1 raves
ellomotto November 02, 2009 23:27:46

Answered: yes
now is not the time to be picky with medical care
+3 raves
Kino November 02, 2009 23:21:16

Answered: yes
Sometimes the best doctors don't graduate at the top of their class.
+1 raves
kormster November 02, 2009 21:47:03

Answered: yes
I have been seeing the same guy for all most 20 years. that is the same as no liking a food only after you found out what it is.
+1 raves
Devilsangel November 02, 2009 20:52:43

Answered: It depends
lol I never trust doctors
but do not judge intelligence off of school!
+1 raves
Nicky November 02, 2009 20:45:27

Answered: It depends
Some people simply don't test well, but practically they are quite intelligent. So, if the GP was doing a good job, I'd stay, but if the doctor didn't do a good job, I wouldn't care what the gpa was, I'd find a different one. I would prefer to have a doctor with a better proof of intelligence doing surgery on me...
+1 raves
♥Abby_YOU♫want♫ME_fOrEvEr♥ November 02, 2009 20:18:57

Answered: It depends
It depends, because obviously since he is a doctor, he passed the boards, so he knows what he is supposed to know.

And also, the doctor could've improvede a lot since Med school.
+5 raves
Lynn November 02, 2009 19:42:07

Answered: It depends
I am reminded of the old joke: "What do you call a doctor that finished last in his class and barely passed the boards?"

Answer: "Doctor"

There is a lot more to being a good doctor, engineer, lawyer, or any serious professional than book smarts.
+1 raves
divajinx to Lynn November 03, 2009 23:59:53

So true!

They don't teach "people skills" or "bedside manners" in Med. School! If they can speak in plain English (instead of medical terminology) then that's a plus, too!
+1 raves
wpsark November 02, 2009 19:12:57

Answered: It depends
it depends, if he is a doctor then he apparently passed the boards so he knows what he needs to.
+2 raves
on and on1 November 02, 2009 17:28:57

Answered: It depends
It depends on how competent they are now as opposed to what their grade was in biochemistry.
+2 raves
Caroline™ - a registered tr... November 02, 2009 17:22:24

Answered: It depends
Ooh...I guess it very much depends.
Originally, I thought no; but then I realised that said doctor could've improved a lot since med school. If he's a good doctor, who treats you well and seems legit, then yes. But it might worry me slightly; just as I wouldn't take my car to a mechanic whose only experience with tools was hanging a picture on a wall with a hammer to knock the nail in...if you understand my analogy.
+3 raves
Consersoldier November 02, 2009 16:51:35 (edited)

Answered: yes
The best physicians are usually the less intellectual ones. They are truly in it for the medicine and to help sick human beings as opposed to Joe intellectual who tends to be cocky and sometimes obnoxious. I can make these statements because I have worked around them for 30 years. Many are in it for the money not the science but these days we are concentrating on physicians and national health care and we should be concentrating on ridding the country of a bunch of lawyers and tort reform. No tort reform in the health care bill but talk of cutting doctor's salaries, medicare payments not doing anything about the liability. When was the last time someone sued a stupid lawyer for misrepresentation. Lawyers are part of the problem, not the solution. Physicians are also much smarter, with higher IQ's, SAT's and professional entrance examinations. There is no comparison as it is much harder to get in medical school than law school.
+1 raves
Callista to Consers... November 02, 2009 18:36:16

Your answer is quite humorous. You do realize that they have to continue to attend professional development training throughout their careers. Stop with the GOP myth about intellectuals. Your prejudice is showing.
+2 raves
ORTNmom to Callista November 02, 2009 19:18:33

As a paralegal and mother of a premed, it is well known that it is much harder to get into medical school than law school. Lawyers are bright, but mostly wordsmiths....their success is not based on actually producing anything, but rather on playing sleight of hand in such a way that they can convince a judge or jury to follow their reasoning. They make a mistake, they appeal the case.

Doctors have to actually produce tangible results. They make a mistake, somebody dies. Any student even bothering to apply to med school needs at least about a 3.7 gpa in college, and that means mostly A's in subjects like: Organic Chemistry I and II, Molecular Biology, Quantitative Chemical Analysis....subjects that would have a lawyer curled into a fetal position and sobbing for mercy.

Most doctors are not in it for the money....it is do darn hard. No social life in college, grueling entrance exams, four years of the most extreme stress in med school, followed by 36 on , 12 off shifts for 2-4 years as an intern. On call constantly, always missing birthdays and holidays....$300,000 medical school loan debt that will take 30 years to pay, in addition to $10,000/mo malpractice insurance bills....because lawyers are hovering, waiting for anything that could conceivably be twisted into getting ...

As a paralegal and mother of a premed, it is well known that it is much harder to get into medical school than law school. Lawyers are bright, but mostly wordsmiths....their success is not based on actually producing anything, but rather on playing sleight of hand in such a way that they can convince a judge or jury to follow their reasoning. They make a mistake, they appeal the case.

Doctors have to actually produce tangible results. They make a mistake, somebody dies. Any student even bothering to apply to med school needs at least about a 3.7 gpa in college, and that means mostly A's in subjects like: Organic Chemistry I and II, Molecular Biology, Quantitative Chemical Analysis....subjects that would have a lawyer curled into a fetal position and sobbing for mercy.

Most doctors are not in it for the money....it is do darn hard. No social life in college, grueling entrance exams, four years of the most extreme stress in med school, followed by 36 on , 12 off shifts for 2-4 years as an intern. On call constantly, always missing birthdays and holidays....$300,000 medical school loan debt that will take 30 years to pay, in addition to $10,000/mo malpractice insurance bills....because lawyers are hovering, waiting for anything that could conceivably be twisted into getting them a 33% legal fee.

However, no human being is going to put himself through so much, give up 12 years of his life, never see his kids, take on crushing debt and the responsibility for a human life, if there is not going to be generous compensation. Premed students are watching very closely what happens with Obamacare....if physician rates are cut and no tort reform is included, thousands of them will choose another field, rather than take the chance of being saddled with all that debt and no way to repay it.

Hopefully no one you love will be needing a doctor 10 years from now....they'll be in short supply. Maybe you can get a lawyer to sue Obama?
(more)
+1 raves
Callista to ORTNmom November 02, 2009 19:26:45

You really don't understand my answer. You are really off base.Please learn to respond to an answer and give talking points.