Many people believe that one chooses to become a doctor merely to satisfy a hunger for knowledge—and that may be true; who doesn’t love knowledge? But the reality is that as the years pass, that knowledge inevitably fades to some degree for various reasons: time, lack of repetition, and so on. And then the question returns: Why does one choose to be a doctor?

The truth is that this profession is chosen for many reasons. First and foremost, one chooses it because we are called to serve. And this is my story, and why I chose this beautiful profession.  Demanding? Yes, but I can say that every sacrifice has been worth it.

My name is Tabata Canelos MD, and I am Ecuadorian, 32 years old, and fulfilling  my residency in Family Medicine in Spain, in the province of Navarra.

I witnessed a great example of service to the community through my mother—she is a plastic surgeon. I clearly remember her dedication: sleepless nights, long hours of studying, 24-hour hospital shifts. Witnessing all her sacrifices, yet also appreciating the satisfaction she carried even in her exhaustion, made me interested in medicine from a very young age. I dreamed of practicing in a profession that, although demanding, would make me fulfilled. I dreamed of being like her.  I dreamed of being a doctor.  

Many times, my mother had no place to leave me, so I  accompanied her to the hospital. Who could have imagined at the time that these commonplace moments would become the spark that ignited my dream of becoming a doctor?

Her team often organized events called “Free Care Days for Children with Congenital Malformations.” The work involved identifying children from low-income families, evaluating them to determine if they were candidates for surgery, organizing hospitals, operating rooms—many tasks! Appreciating the satisfaction and generosity each participating physician showed, despite receiving no financial compensation, was both truly moving and admirable.

Watching these dedicated, selfless physicians, I began to understand something: that true satisfaction does not come from money—that is such a limited way of thinking. Real fulfillment comes from applying our skills to each and every patient. During these events, it was astonishing to see how fulfilled the doctors felt when witnessing the dramatic changes in each child after surgery—how their lives changed, even their emotional state—because their physical problems were now resolved thanks to these procedures.

I learned something important from these surgeries: every decision I make in life must be chosen with a wide-angle lens. Yes, I must ensure that what I choose benefits me in my daily life—we all have needs. But what is essential is remembering that others have needs too. If I begin with empathy, helping others with their needs, some of my own needs may be fulfilled as a natural consequence. And that cycle is repeated with each patient in the medical profession.

During medical training one must maintain balance, and the best way to do that is by remembering we have wants and desires; burdens and needs; limitations. But here is the special part: I am just a normal human being—yet when I put on that white coat, which represents being a physician, I am sending a message: “I am here to serve.”

Every patient is a world unto themselves, with unique characteristics, and each one represents something different. Sometimes, they may not be seeking relief through medicine; they may be seeking companionship, or encouragement, or simply someone to reassure them, “I am here for you and everything is going to be alright.” This can be fundamental to the healing process.

Being a doctor is a world unto itself—a special life—and whoever chooses it must be clear about why. Yes, it is a long path. Yes, it requires sacrifice. Yes, it is exhausting.  Yes, it can be frustrating.  But when you reach the final days of your own life, it's likely you will conclude that being a doctor was well worth it.

 Tabata Canelos MD is a Family Medicine resident in Spain