Or additionally, maybe the student is asking legitimately because they want to go into pediatrics, or gynecology, or a number of other fields where they are mor

Or additionally, maybe the student is asking legitimately because they want to go into pediatrics, or gynecology, or a number of other fields where they are more likely to deal with younger patients. We can't know what the conversation was like, or either the doctor or student's story, but I agree it's not necessarily helpful to the student to just wax poetic.