Inspira Advantage met with Dr. Emil Shakov to better understand his motivation for pursuing medicine. Dr. Shakov is a board-certified general surgeon in Central New Jersey with his own practice, Specialty Physicians NJ. He is also fellowship trained in Minimally Invasive Surgery (laparoscopic surgery).
What motivated you to pursue a career in medicine?
I always knew I wanted to become a physician from my earliest years; perhaps my mother planted that thought in my head. When I was 12 years old, I had a head trauma that resulted in a scalp laceration. The ER doctor who took care of my wound was so great and kind and put me at ease, and she had a wonderful bedside manner. It gave me such a positive experience that it inspired me to want to do the same for others.
What do you wish you had known about the medical school application process before you applied?
Don't waste your money on all the primary and secondary applications if you do not meet the minimum requirements for their program. The whole process is corrupt with how expensive it is to just apply to medical schools.
What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the MCAT?
I do not feel I was caught off guard, as I studied extensively for this exam. I did a course and reviewed all of their material and practice questions.
How much work experience did you gain before applying to medical school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process?
I volunteered in a hospital radiology department and in a research lab. I do not believe these experiences prepared me or improved my chances for applying. I did several interviews but it was extremely difficult to get into a US program. Fortunately, Caribbean medical schools are available for those of us that are denied the future pursuit of medicine in the USA.
Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the med school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences?
I learned that I had wasted a lot of money applying to every program. Every program responds and accepts your primary application and then wants a secondary application, which costs even more than the primary. I realized this was nothing more than a cash grab by these programs. I had some interviews in osteopathic programs but got no acceptances. I didn't get any interviews for the allopathic programs. Ultimately, I applied to AUC and was accepted and could finally realize my dreams of pursuing a medical career.
What led you to specialize in general surgery? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty?
I became a general surgeon. I fell in love with the specialty during my third-year core rotation. The first time I was given a scalpel as a medical student to make an incision was surreal for me. I knew right then and there this was the specialty for me. I also loved how surgeons have a level of command in the hospital system. Don't give up if you want to be a surgeon if you don't match. You could pursue a preliminary year of general surgery like I had to and eventually work hard and get into the program.
If someone wants to start their own practice, what does that path look like after finishing medical school?
It definitely is not an easy endeavor. Residency does not teach you the business side of medicine. Having a business foundation would make it easier to open and run your practice. The essentials: malpractice, billing company, hospital privileges, deciding whether to be in-network or out of network or both, credentialing with Medicare, hiring office staff (receptionist, medical assistants, maybe nurses), and needing to lease or buy an office. This is just a small sample of what you need but not the complete picture!
What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to start their practice today?
Get yourself a mentor that has a successful private practice. They can give you valuable advice to avoid costly mistakes. As tough as it may be to run the business, if successful, it will be worth it. There is no better feeling than knowing you are the boss and you make the decisions for how to best treat your patients and the schedule you want to work.
Inspira Advantage is proud to interview experts like Dr. Emil Shakov, FACS to help future doctors understand the challenges and rewards of a medical career. Learn more about how our experts can help you get into medical school today.
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