What you are contemplating is the exact opposite of what I did. In 2009 I applied to med school after flight instructing for 2 years, deferred for a year (got married), and am now in my 3rd year of med school. So far, I am overall happy with my choice and would do it again, although I definitely question the decision on a regular basis.
For me, med school came out as the winning option because of some lifestyle requirements I have being a Torah-observant Jew. I don't work on Saturday (difficult in medicine, virtually impossible in aviation outside of instruction), I plan on sending my kids (2 so far and hoping for more) to private school to the tune of $15-20K/year, and I need to be able to live near a large Jewish community. However, without these needs, medicine would have been a much more difficult sell.
Basically, what I've learned in the past 2 years is that med school is an unbelievable grind, beyond anything I had imagined. I have gotten minimal sleep (often 3-4 hrs/night), received average grades despite working harder than ever before, spent countless hours memorizing minutiae that is boring as nails, and been profoundly humbled. It's been a growth experience, but it's also been a drag.
However, I'm halfway to an almost guaranteed salary of $45-50K growing to $60K for 3-6 years (residency/fellowship), and then an almost guaranteed $150-500K salary for the rest of my career depending on what field I go into. And, for the most part, I will get to do 2 things that few in aviation can do: 1) choose where I live, as physician jobs are generally available everywhere, and 2) maintain my salary if I change jobs (i.e. no seniority system).
But there are lots of changes coming in healthcare, and no one knows what the future will look like in 10-20-30 years. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise.
And, I've learned that many doctors are not happy. The reality of caring for patients is rarely what an aspiring doctor thinks it will be when they write their personal statement for their med school application. Many doctors struggle to find satisfaction, and many choose money over work they enjoy, often paying for it with their happiness. Some of those who truly love their work trade the traditional doctor's salary for that privilege, and would be lucky to be able to afford an ultralight.
However, medicine is a much broader field than aviation, and there are more opportunities to grow one's career in a myriad of directions. Our society reveres and honors physicians more than it does pilots, and this leads to more opportunities in business and other areas where good leadership and initiative can flourish.
So my advice to you is: get your ratings AS CHEAP AS YOU CAN. Try out flying. Instruct for a few years, fly freight, or take whatever other opportunities come your way to see where you are after you've really spent some time in the cockpit. Right now you have more dreams than experience and you don't want to make permanent life decisions on that basis. Fortunately, you don't have to. Medicine will always be there for you. You can apply when you are 25, 30, and even later. And, med schools absolutely adore pilots.
The best of luck to you!
