For physicians, how choose subspecialty?

LynneJ

So my fellowship application is due Sept 15th but I have to have letters etc before that. I'm waffling between pediatric cardiology and neonatology. How did others make the decision and what would you do differently if you had to do it again?(besides not go to med school- I already missed that boat). Thanks in advance for comments.

Lynne

Coach Patrick

I think you might have better luck asking them for music preferences, but let's see what the DRs have to say!!!

P

Al Truscott

Posted By lynnette johnson on 17 Jun 2010 01:54 AM

... How did others make the decision and what would you do differently if you had to do it again?(besides not go to med school- I already missed that boat). 

Lynne

You have to LOVE what you do, especially at the level of specialization you're considering. Don't look for logical reasons - go with your feelings, then try to find out why you feel that way.

twilkens

I am with Al you have to love what you do.  Especially these days when the pay off is much less and the paper work and reimbursment issues are much more painful.  I tried to like my rotations in ER and Rads etc but just could not get into it.  Ended up doing Gen Surg and then Vascular fellowship.  It was what I really enjoyed doing, despite the pain of the residency/fellowship.

gjordan

My decision was based upon how I felt at the end of each day during a rotation.  I flet like crud after Gen Surg, Fam Practice, Internal Medicine, etc.  My feet hurt or my brain was fried or my energy felt sapped out of me.  I flet rejuvinated after Rad, Urology, Cardiology, and GI.  Then I dropped Cardiology and GI cuz I had to do Internal Medicine first.  And, Urology was dropped because of Gen Surgery prerequisite.  So, that's how I narrowed the choices.  In retrospect I think the things I liked about my favorites were the attendings - everyone seemed happy.  Then sent out applications and took the best residency of these.  The only thing I would do different would perhaps do a fellowship in maybe Neuro or Interventional.

I hope that helps.

LynneJ

My issue is I really like them both. I've ruled lots of other things out and now I'm struggling with the final decision. My gut feel changes day to day. I've been groomed for neo basically since starting residency but love cardiology too.

Cardiology- intellectually more challenging ,better hours as mostly outpatient, long term relationships with families with complex CHD
Cons- less procedures but still some, somewhat dictates the size of community I have to live in

Neonatalogy- lots of procedures, babies- little big sick better and their families, stay in HI another three years, even small cities have NICUs
Cons- babies come at 3 am, minimal follow up after discharge but that can be pro too, interesting stuff but not quite as intellectual as cardiology

kurshing

I am NOT a doctor but I have many young doctors as clients and my thoughts, simply based on your last post about the pros and cons would be if you want to try to create a life of normalcy, with a family (not sure where you are on this right now), inserting triathlon and anything else in your non-professional life; then the first seems to make more sense as it (based on your description) puts you in a more predictable position.

From my perspective...most of the doctors I have as clients enjoy what they do. They enjoy the work...not all the garbage that goes with it...but, the ones that seem TRULY happy are the ones that have lives OUTSIDE of work too. Yes, you WILL be a doctor and you will wear that label in your community; but, I would urge you to create a world around you in which you can 'BE' something else...a triathlete, a husband, a father, etc.

Just my thoughts...good luck with this one!

Kitboo

When I made the decision to become a General Surgeon, my mom really tried to talk me out of it with the main reason being that I would not have alot of time outside of work with that career choice. At the time, I gave her the gung-ho surgery speech about how it would be my life, my love, my self-identity...I toe the line/Show no weakness (read: Need no sleep---a theme from the other thread)/ Heal with steel blahblahblah. While I have no regrets about my decision, I do wish that I had more free time. I didn't have any hobbies or even think about triathlon during residency. Don't underestimate how important time AWAY from work can be. While my job is fulfilling, it's in NO WAY my life or love or self-identity. I fortunately had and taken opportunities in the last 2 years to significantly reduce the amount of time I spend at work because my life outside of work is so much more important and wonderful. So in the end my mom was right.

TerryO

As a cardiac surgeon, I worked with many pediatric cardiologists during training. They all seemed to have a pretty good life. It was a large academic practice, and I'm not sure how it might be in a private practice environment, but they had it pretty good. They all pretty much had areas of interest so there were some general peds cardiologists, echo specialists, interventional specialists, cardiac ICU specialists, etc. The echo folks especially seemed to really enjoy what they did and they had an enormous variety of cases to keep it interesting. There were also more of them than any others. Their call was virtually non-existent.

sleighcastle

Looks like I'm coming late to the party but I would love to add my 0.02, especially since it seems like I'm closer to your stage of the game than all these incredible people who are already making money. The most important thing for me in choosing a specialty, and now committing to a subspecialty, is that I love it. I'm kind of wandering into a lifestyle that sucks more than others I could have chosen, but at the end of the day I LOVE it. I know those, though, that have chosen things based on what frees them up most for the rest of the stuff in life. I think that in both of those specialties you can find a way to have some degree of freedom (if you get in a NICU in a big enough practice you're dealing with the babies in the middle of the night, yes, but not too often...).. so do what you like!

P.S. It is truly disturbing and yet so encouraging to have so many surgeons on here!