OK, I'm a 7th year MSTP... and its time to start thinking about going back to med school. If I can finish my thesis by December, I can graduate in May 2008.
Problem is... I don't really know what I want to do. I'm interested in Pathology, but I'm worried about a lack of patient interaction and having to do a post-doc (which adds to the relative residency time) to gain a faculty spot.
I would be interested in some sort of combined research-residency program developed for MSTPs- the one's I occasionally hear about that also give you a fat wad of cash for doing it (some like $70,000 stipend- I heard about it years ago- in Pittsburgh I believe, a combined pediatrics/research residency).

Anyone have any suggestions/comments? I am horribly indicisive, which is part of the reason I became a MSTP in the first place.

I hope someone actually sees this....;)

With pathology, you don't HAVE to do a postdoc any more than you do with any other field. In fact, if you do AP only or CP only, some of your postdoc time will count towards residency time and you'll be done with residency plus postdoc much quicker than, say, IM + fellowship + postdoc. That said, we're talking about plus or minus a year or two, and at the position you (and I) are in, who's counting anymore?:laugh: You shouldn't choose a field based on how long until you're done training in it.

That said, we're talking about plus or minus a year or two, and at the position you (and I) are in, who's counting anymore?

How sad....
Thanks for the post. I wouldn't chose a specialty based on how long it takes, but it certainly goes into the consideration. I like path because of the great research opportunities associated with it, its lifestyle, and its short residency. I don't want to be 40 before I get my first job!

http://www.dpo.uab.edu/~paik/rr.html

Good luck.

Thanks!!!

OK, one more thing... anyone know anything about the NIH residency programs?
I've heard very negative things about them... but they pay better and are in Bethesda... I am tempted to have something outside the match, in case things don't go my way there. Am I being paranoid? Are these research/residency programs really competitive?

Another possibility for Diagnostic Radiology and Radiation Oncology:
http://www.theabr.org/RO_Holman.htm

The Holman Pathway allows ~ 21 months of dedicated research time AND doesn't increase the total time of residency (5 years).