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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	It depends 43% 28 votes
	yes 40% 26 votes
	no 17% 11 votes

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melo November 04, 2009 07:47:46

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?
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.
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
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?
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.
grumpy November 04, 2009 02:34:46

Answered: It depends
he's certainly qualified to be president, since his GPA is higher than baraks
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.
Caitlin November 04, 2009 01:39:47

Answered: no
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Darling of Ville November 04, 2009 00:29:04

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.
divajinx November 04, 2009 00:00:17

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?
Baberlp November 03, 2009 23:19:36

Answered: It depends
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justmehere November 03, 2009 21:28:41

Answered: It depends
if he/she has been successful in his/her diagnoses and remedies,YES
snipe November 03, 2009 19:02:12

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.
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.
vra November 03, 2009 18:46:20

Answered: no
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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.
paleale November 03, 2009 18:05:51

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

Answered: yes
Book smarts and practical application of knowledge are totally different things.
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)
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.