The Pros and Cons of Becoming a Cardiologist

What is a Cardiologist?
Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart as
well as some parts of the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis
and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure,
valvular heart disease and electrophysiology.

Pros of becoming a cardiologist

• Pay: Doctors' salaries are high in the United States; it's one reason why everyone's mom wants them to become a doctor. Cardiologists can earn over $325,000 annually.
• Respect: "Doctor" is the most-respected profession in the United States and in the world. Second place? In the US, it's "scientist"; in the world, it's "lawyer".
• Save lives: To quote a TV doctor, Derek Shepherd of Grey's Anatomy fame, "It's a beautiful day to save lives." You'll get to do exactly that as a cardiologist.
• Specialization: A complex system like the heart and blood vessels opens the doors to specialization. Whether it's interventional cardiology or pediatrics, you'll likely find a cardiac specialty with study and practice.

Cons of becoming a cardiologist

• Cost: Becoming a cardiologist isn't cheap; the average medical school debt is close to $200,000.
• Time: Undergrad, med school, residency, fellowship: all combined, it can take 15 years (or more) to become a practicing cardiologist. These medical school tips can help you along your way.
• Hours: You will work long and unconventional hours as a cardiologist, and you'll often be on call.
• Bearer of bad news: You will frequently have to deliver bad news to patients and their families. It can be emotionally draining.
• Malpractice: Even doing your job perfectly—and who does any job perfectly?—there's no guarantee you won't be sued. According to Medscape, 60 percent of cardiologists are named in a malpractice lawsuit at least once in their careers.
• Stress: It seems obvious, given the aforementioned hours, heavy emotional toll, and potential legal issues. As a cardiologist, the responsibility of saving the lives of patients can put stress on your own heart, and even raise your blood pressure.

Reference:

https://www.noodle.com/articles/the-pros-and-cons-of-becoming-a-cardiologist