If you are a doctor with a car loan, you probably have terrible money management skills. The status symbol isn’t driving a fancy car; it’s driving a paid-for car.
If you are carrying credit card debt, you are somebody’s awesome investment. As my 6-year old will tell you, interest is something you should get, not give.
If you are already in debt, YOU’RE ALREADY HAVING AN EMERGENCY. Your emergency began several thousand dollars ago. Use the emergency fund to take care of the emergency and pay off that credit card.
Most of my financial success comes from the fact that I lived well below my means, eliminating much need for debt. The recipe is (almost) always the same- make a lot of money, save a big chunk of it, and invest it in some reasonable manner.
One issue with a long-term student loan is that you get a crummy rate. Sure, 5.5% beats 6.8%, but if you were going to pay it off in 3 or 4 years, not only could you get a 3.5% fixed, but you would probably be comfortable with a 2% variable rate.