MD specialiazation

After my leave I’ve to start thinking about a specialization area but I’m completely clueless.

I don’t want to be a surgeon. It’s just not me. I don’t want anything with lungs (horror!!) and I’m actually not into plastic either.

I’ve considered

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology - But it’s all about diabetes I feel
  • Gynaecology - Not so sure. The clinical training was fun though.
  • infectious disease - They come, get well, go home.
  • Psychiatry?
  • Pediatrician?
  • Dermatology?

I don’t know. I really feel clueless. I still have to do my basics in GP, how is that?

Because of the laws here I actually don’t have so much time to try out different areas before picking one - which was sort of the case before. I don’t want to waste whatever time I’ve left so I need to be efficient when I’m back.

So what does the GS docs or your spouses work with? What is your experience? What do you recommend? Please tell me the positive and negatives within your field even if it’s not on my list.

Re: MD specialiazation

if its not surgery then go for radiology maybe ? or GP training is the best at the moment, you have good working hours + at any point in your career if you wish to have your own surgery , wont be a tough call to get going on that route. Its much easier to find a job as a GP in a particular location , much unlike the consultants who have to travel distances to be able to get into a job ..

Re: MD specialiazation

No radiology! I'd fall asleep during their 7 am morning conferences lol

I do like the working hours of GP especially if you work in the private sector here.

Re: MD specialiazation

I think of all the specialties , becoming a GP is quite rewarding , not only hours of work but flexibility in general , ability to maintain your location needs, work life balance , complexity and stress element .. Salary is pretty good too ..

Re: MD specialiazation

No one else?

What part of the world are you in?
Do you intend to work full time or part? Do you need flexible hrs or are u ok with rigid schedules? How do you feel about calls? Long hours?
Do you like following pts long term or short? Like clinic or hate it?
Like working with sick kids or cant handle it?

Re: MD specialiazation

1: I'm in EU
2: Part time would be ideal at the moment but I don't mind working full time.
3: I want flexible hours.
4: Calls are alright here. Usually it's only 1-2 a month.
5: Long hours are not a problem either
6: Like to know what happened to 'my' pt. So I guess long terms but for the moment I don't have many years behind me - I guess that could change?
7: Like working with sick kids - but their parents can be a handful.

Re: MD specialiazation

also consider Neurology, pain management, reproductive endocrinology, optho (retinal specialist), Nephrology, allergy immunology.

Overall though my feeling is that you can make most any subspecialty whatever you want it to be ... it comes down to negotiating your contract to your liking.

Re: MD specialiazation

What is EM?

Thank you for the answer. I'm glad to hear from someone in the field. I feel very confused and not ready to settle for something already. I'm considering PhD since I've been offered one in cardiology but I don't know if I'm really motivated for it although it'll be great for my resumé.

Re: MD specialiazation

^ you are welcome.
EM = Emergency Medicine

PhD is great ... considered MD-PhD myself but chose not to pursue it in the end. PhD = lots of research/time in lab/writing grants for funding etc (at least in USA) ... so make sure you enjoy that. Post PhD training ... for me would have meant majority of time consumed in writing grants and teaching and not actual lab work ... which I enjoyed most.
Best of luck with your decision.

Re: MD specialiazation

Anesthesiology !!!

Re: MD specialiazation

if you are a woman and wanna work Mon-Fri 9-5 then go for Psychiatry.

Re: MD specialiazation

My mother is in psychiatry. Not exactly the dream scenario you described.

Re: MD specialiazation

I've not looked into it. Please tell me what you like about it? Pro/cons?

Re: MD specialiazation

I have worked n Anesthesiology for 2 years at a resident post. I loved it a lot and I have seen loadsssss of females opting for it now. Only cons here in Pakistan ws limited availability of optimal drugs/machines in most of the hospitals.

Re: MD specialiazation

I would recommend dermatology vs ID , if you are looking for fun stuff, flexible hours, good money. I went through same issue after graduation but now working as a hospitalist because I like them all.

Re: MD specialiazation

Thank you everyone

I’m still a bit confused but I guess there’s no way around except trying it out and then see what happens. I wish the stupid law didn’t exist :hinna:

Re: MD specialiazation

So we are at

Dermatology
General medicine
Gastro
GYN/OB

Anyone in any of the fields, pro/cons?

:hinna:

Re: MD specialiazation

didn't you figure out what you like to do or what specialty you like the most when you were rotating during medical school?

Re: MD specialiazation

Nope, that’s not how it works here. The rotations are randomly distributed - for instance during my surgery rotations I was lucky enough to be at gastro and plastic but a lot of my fellow students ended up in the same department twice :hinna: and I guess I like a little bit of all, which makes harder to make the final decision.