My daughter recently told me that I write a lot ot listicles, so here is another one: seven things I love about being a general internistGetting paid to answer people’s questions and work toward making them betterThis realization inspired this post. I love the puzzle of trying to make a diagnosis parsimoniously, causing the patient the least trouble and spending the fewest healthcare dollars. Although I deeply love this challenge, when I occasionally, invariably, get things wrong, the last thing I am thinking is, “Isn’t it great that medicine is so hard!” Being a good general internist means knowing what every specialist can and will offer. You’ll never get rich as a primary care general internist, but if you live within your means, you’ll be fine.