Greetings all. I’ve been a member of SDN for awhile now but just recently came across this site. Being a part of it was something I couldn’t pass up.
My intro here is actually a reply to an SDN thread that I’ve modified for use here.
I just turned 41 and am in my 23rd year as a Florida firefighter / Paramedic. I am a Lieutenant and a paramedic trainer. I hold instructor status in about every discipline that offers one. After completing 25 years of service, which I fully intend to do, I will receive a comfortable pension that I will use to accomplish my goal.
This is something I have been dreaming of doing since my first exposure to medicine in EMT school at 19 years old. I would always look at the docs thinking to myself “that’s what I want to be doing.” So, I’m gonna chase it. I am working on finishing my degree and required sciences and have both science and cumulative GPA’s > 3.7 ( Granted, I have yet to take ochem and physics). I will have completed my degree and plan to take the MCAT and apply toward the very end of my career, depending on how the testing and application cycles run with my exact retirement date.
I am expecting to be ~ 44-45 upon matriculation. Pretty old for this in my estimation, but what the heck. My personal situation will allow me a great deal of freedom in this endeavor as I will have a pension and other personal investments to live off of (as well as a wife that works). I intend to pay loans as I go but I will take the advice of my trusted financial adviser when that time comes, but debt will be a minimal concern. My children will also be grown and self sufficient.
I married and had children at an exceptionally young age, so I spent my 20’s (and 30’s) raising a family and building a career not one moment of which do I regret. And looking back, even had circumstances been different, I never would have had the drive or focus to schlep through rediculously hard classes for such a far off goal in my 20’s. I’m a different person now 10x over.
My age sounds old, but I don’t look or feel it. I am in great health despite the occasional aches and pains. I am lean and strong and I can physically keep up with our newest rookies, some of whom have recently completed military service. I believe I am able to amass and apply information critically waaaaay better than I ever was able to in my 20’s which I think and hope will come to be valuable in my future plans.
If I had to choose now, It would most likely be EM simply because that is where the bulk of my experience lies but I am aware that this is likely to change during med school. I would be kidding myself to believe that anything surgical would be possible for me at this age. I believe I would also enjoy the physio, pharm, and procedures of Ansethesia. But all that is a lonnnng way off and about a million things have to go right before that becomes a decision.
If becoming a Dr. Is in the cards for me, then great. If not, I’ve had an enormously fulfilling career as a firefighter/paramedic, husband and father, and I will be successful in whatever comes next for me.
Sorry for being so wordy.
Glad to be here!
Welcome to OldPreMeds!
One of the first speakers I ever heard at OPM conference in 2003, in fact I think the first, was a paramedic and flight nurse who worked for 19 years prior to going to medical school.
BTW, shouldn’t your screen name be “Lieutenant Obvious”
Technically yes, but that wouldn’t have been so darned catchy now, would it? 
- CaptainObvious Said:
And would have been too obvious! CLICK FOR RIM SHOT
NICE… =)
Welcome to OPM!! Please keep us posted on your progress…you are definitely among kindred spirits around here!
CAPT Obvious,
I wish you the best of luck! What I great plan you have.
I am in the same boat, but just nearing the end of flying for the Navy versus the Fire Service. As one of the Medics turned ER Doc told me, “those 4 years are going to pass either way, you have to decide if you will be a Medic or a Doctor at the end”.
It is all about Perspective Management for me, any day in Med School is better than a Day in Baghdad or your local Knive and Gun Club “the streets”.
Again, CONGRATS. I look forward to following your progress.
Thanks Phrog. It seems there are more of us “old folk” out there with this goal that I would have thought. Every time I feel like I’m out of my depth with this notion (Me? A doctor??) I come in here and start reading. Good luck to you and don’t be a stranger.