Can FM Physician's also do a fellowship to specialize?

[DrPresident]

So I'm currently a junior in college, aspiring premed student. Before you tell me, I know I have time to decide and I will do all my fun clinical rotations in medical school and learn everything, but it helps to push me when I sort of "think" that I have some kind of path. SO...

I pretty much think that I want to do either IM, FM, or EM. I work on an ambulance and love EM (have also shadowed doctors), but I have just learned a little about FM and got curious - I was chatting with my dermatologist and he told me that he did a FM residency, and after a couple years decided to take a fellowship in dermatology. I didn't know this was possible - I honestly thought that only IM physicians could do that (and surgeons of course). So, is this a rare thing? Is if a fluke? Or is this real life?

I ask because I think I'd enjoy working in Family Practice, and I'd be able to have a family and my weekends perhaps. But I fear that 15 years down the road, as a young 40 year old man, that I might grow bored or just maybe want to specialize. I also don't particularly want to go into IM based on what I know (but I don't know too much about it...).

On a different note, all of the "salary" websites say that FM is somewhere around 140k-180k average. Doing a little research I came to find that depending on area and medicaid vs private insurance patients, and how many patients you take on, FM have the potential to make 300k+. Now, I have to say I'd be MORE than happy making 160k, but I am just curious (as an extra incentive, perhaps?), does this still apply? The research in which I found this information is from around 2003-2004, and I know a little has changed since then.

Thank you for your help. Again, I'm just trying to find out a little information to give me some sort of path that I can push myself towards. Just saying that all these BS physics and organic chem classes will get me into medical school someday makes me want to cry. I would like to be working towards an end goal that isn't just more school and debt . Thanks!

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[meliora27]

Google:

https://nf.aafp.org/Directories/Fellowship/Search

 

[hallowmann]

There are fellowships in most of the fields. Like you mentioned IM fellowships comprise some pretty hefty ones, but there are fellowships in almost everything. FM has Sports medicine, geriatrics, etc. See the post above for more info.

I wouldn't worry about that right now though, you'll get a better idea in med school/during rotations.

 

[NurWollen]

As far as I know, family medicine fellowships lead to certificates of added qualifications rather than board certification in a different sub specialty. (Anyone know if I'm wrong? Are there any exceptions?) I've heard it said that FM fellowships are designed to augment their scope of practice rather than narrow it to a specific sub specialty.

 

[hallowmann]

As far as I know, family medicine fellowships lead to certificates of added qualifications rather than board certification in a different sub specialty. (Anyone know if I'm wrong? Are there any exceptions?) I've heard it said that FM fellowships are designed to augment their scope of practice rather than narrow it to a specific sub specialty.

I've heard of people being boarded in sports that did it after FM. Not sure if it's still the case, but it might be.

 

[DrPresident]

Well thank you everyone. I appreciate the input. I know I'll certainly learn more about it all in medical school when I'm finalizing my decision.

On a separate note, does anyone know the income ranges? I'd like a few examples if possible. HMO vs non-HMO areas, patients/day, etc. I know it's ever changing but I'd like a general idea. Thanks again.

 

[UTsksk]

As far as I know, family medicine fellowships lead to certificates of added qualifications rather than board certification in a different sub specialty. (Anyone know if I'm wrong? Are there any exceptions?) I've heard it said that FM fellowships are designed to augment their scope of practice rather than narrow it to a specific sub specialty.

Not sure about the certificate stuff, but I was talking with a sports med FM and I asked him if he did both sports med and FM. He said he started out as both, but sports medicine took up too much time so he focused on that. So essentially it does broaden your scope, but you can narrow it as much as you want.

 

[NurWollen]

Not sure about the certificate stuff, but I was talking with a sports med FM and I asked him if he did both sports med and FM. He said he started out as both, but sports medicine took up too much time so he focused on that. So essentially it does broaden your scope, but you can narrow it as much as you want.

That's true, your career is always up to the individual of course. After all,
some FM docs end up just doing hospital medicine or emergency medicine or urgent care work. I think that versatility is one of the great things about family medicine and I think it's sad that FM has had its scope eroded by specialists who constantly insult FM and make absurd claims like they can't handle complicated patients like an internist can, etc.

 

[D4C]

That's true, your career is always up to the individual of course. After all,
some FM docs end up just doing hospital medicine or emergency medicine or urgent care work. I think that versatility is one of the great things about family medicine and I think it's sad that FM has had its scope eroded by specialists who constantly insult FM and make absurd claims like they can't handle complicated patients like an internist can, etc.

Someone's crushing on FM.

 

[NurWollen]

Someone's crushing on FM.

Lol. You're not wrong, I think it's a very underrated field.

 

[Silent Cool]

So I'm currently a junior in college, aspiring premed student. Before you tell me, I know I have time to decide and I will do all my fun clinical rotations in medical school and learn everything, but it helps to push me when I sort of "think" that I have some kind of path. SO...

I pretty much think that I want to do either IM, FM, or EM. I work on an ambulance and love EM (have also shadowed doctors), but I have just learned a little about FM and got curious - I was chatting with my dermatologist and he told me that he did a FM residency, and after a couple years decided to take a fellowship in dermatology. I didn't know this was possible - I honestly thought that only IM physicians could do that (and surgeons of course). So, is this a rare thing? Is if a fluke? Or is this real life?

I ask because I think I'd enjoy working in Family Practice, and I'd be able to have a family and my weekends perhaps. But I fear that 15 years down the road, as a young 40 year old man, that I might grow bored or just maybe want to specialize. I also don't particularly want to go into IM based on what I know (but I don't know too much about it...).

On a different note, all of the "salary" websites say that FM is somewhere around 140k-180k average. Doing a little research I came to find that depending on area and medicaid vs private insurance patients, and how many patients you take on, FM have the potential to make 300k+. Now, I have to say I'd be MORE than happy making 160k, but I am just curious (as an extra incentive, perhaps?), does this still apply? The research in which I found this information is from around 2003-2004, and I know a little has changed since then.

Thank you for your help. Again, I'm just trying to find out a little information to give me some sort of path that I can push myself towards. Just saying that all these BS physics and organic chem classes will get me into medical school someday makes me want to cry. I would like to be working towards an end goal that isn't just more school and debt . Thanks!

Can FM Physician's also do a fellowship to specialize?


No, but Physicians can.

https://www.facebook.com/CheckYourSpellingPlease

Yes, they can.