My Choice to Become a Family Doctor

by Michael J. (Jim) Miech

Getting there is half the fun

First off, I've always felt a strong sense of destiny for myself. I think we mortals have less to say about our choices in life than we like to think.

In high school in Wyoming I remember that I gave myself three possible careers--a pianist, a preacher, or a medical doctor. The reality of my musical gifts soon ruled out the first choice!

I entered college with a pre-ministerial course inluding New Testament Greek. Interestingly our Dean of Men at Wheaton College (Illinois) was writing his doctoral thesis on career guidance testing. The freshman class the year I entered college were the ones on whom multiple tests were administered as a part of the dean's project. A career as physician came to the top of my list of scores and I believe I made my most important decision then. I changed my major to pre-medical and I've never doubted that choice.

I worked hard to obtain my M.D. degree from Northwestern University; I am to this day honored to have been accepted to that excellent institution of learning. (Editors Note: I met Dr. Miech across our cadaver in anatomy class!)

I cannot be precise as to why I became a family "doc." As a humanist, I love people and have always wanted to help make things better for them. As a Christian, I believe that God directed me into the career and that He still directs me. As an intellectual (I'm not), I love learning new things and medicine certainly provides enormous challenges for learning-(life-long}. My Polish family and relatives gave me strong
family values so perhaps this contributed also.

To summarize, this Family Doc has had a most exciting, stimulating, challenging and fun career as a doctor of medicine. I've loved my work and as a capitalist, I've been well rewarded!


Michael J. (Jim) Miech