If you had to choose all over, would you once again choose pediatrics as your specialty and be a primary care physician?

I would: I would because I have this great love of children and being able to help them. But it is different for every individual - it depends what you are in medicine for. If you want to get rich and not have much on call duty, primary care and pediatrics are not for you. But if your reward is hearing that first cry at birth, or a tiny little hug and smile, then pediatrics is your calling!

Absolutely: Being a pediatrician is like having hundreds of children, luckily with hundreds of extra moms and dads to help out. We get to see 'our' kids grow and often, the grown up ones come back to us with their own kids. It's like being a part of the family. Much of our job is education of the parents, and later of the kids also. Most of us love our job and don't retire until we absolutely have to.

Perhaps not: I agree with all the others and absolutely LOVE dealing with kids, but I would not let my own children follow my path. Maybe I'm just bitter or burned out, or maybe I'm just crazy for being a solo-practitioner, but no way. I work way too hard, for way too little, and find little to no respect from anyone anymore. Not that I'm seeking respect, but no common decency anymore. I'd avoid medicine...

Perhaps Not: Even though it is nice to see kids and treating them and well baby care gives you a good feeling but over the years Primary Care has become the least rewarding as far s renumerations are concerned and one has to see too many patients over long hours to be able to pay your bills.And to deal with HMOs,PreCertifications etc I will choose Dermatology or Cardiology or Plastic Surgey or Sport Medicine

Yes: Yes. It is incredibly rewarding. It is more than I thought it would be. I have been greatly blessed. Find a patient population and practice that makes you happy. There are plenty of choices out there.