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- Aug 9, 2013
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I posted before but briefly (STEP1 247, STEP2CK 261, P/F system preclinical, all honors for clinical rotations, 5 abstracts- 4 basic from research year at a Top 3 and all in rad onc). I'm doing aways at good but not elite programs. I have spoken to residents at three institutions: my own (low-mid tier rad onc program), my research year program, and my current away.
All of the residents seem to believe that there are some concerns but they are way overblown. Their friends are doing well and getting good jobs. I have no idea what to believe. I am very confused consolidating opinions. I really enjoyed both the research and clinical side of the field. I like the types of people I have worked with. I like all the interaction with people of different specialties. I like the patient populations, from the very wealthy to the very poor because with oncology, both groups seem to quite interested and attentive about their care, barring a few exceptions. I have enjoyed treatment checks and explaining to patients what radiation is and why it will or won't be done for their cancer (of course under supervision of resident or attending). Yeah I am not a fan of all of the minutia that needs to be learned, but at this stage, I have no idea what parts are truly clinically relevant. But that would probably be my biggest complaint. I thought I wouldn't like the anatomy emphasis way back when I first learned about rad onc in M2. But third year really changed that. I really enjoy anatomy correlates with clinical symptoms, especially for CNS tumors.
Am competitive for the types of programs that would shield from some of the job issues that rad onc is facing?
Just an aside, other specialties I can see myself doing: psych, IM to cardio- electrophysio or heme onc.
Also, some strategies I have considered:
1. Applying broadly to rad onc, and then switching to IM after medicine intern year, if I don't get into the type of program I want that supports its residents and has a good track record placing people into jobs
2. Alternatively, only apply to mid and top tier programs known to place people well and then just double apply to IM.
All of the residents seem to believe that there are some concerns but they are way overblown. Their friends are doing well and getting good jobs. I have no idea what to believe. I am very confused consolidating opinions. I really enjoyed both the research and clinical side of the field. I like the types of people I have worked with. I like all the interaction with people of different specialties. I like the patient populations, from the very wealthy to the very poor because with oncology, both groups seem to quite interested and attentive about their care, barring a few exceptions. I have enjoyed treatment checks and explaining to patients what radiation is and why it will or won't be done for their cancer (of course under supervision of resident or attending). Yeah I am not a fan of all of the minutia that needs to be learned, but at this stage, I have no idea what parts are truly clinically relevant. But that would probably be my biggest complaint. I thought I wouldn't like the anatomy emphasis way back when I first learned about rad onc in M2. But third year really changed that. I really enjoy anatomy correlates with clinical symptoms, especially for CNS tumors.
Am competitive for the types of programs that would shield from some of the job issues that rad onc is facing?
Just an aside, other specialties I can see myself doing: psych, IM to cardio- electrophysio or heme onc.
Also, some strategies I have considered:
1. Applying broadly to rad onc, and then switching to IM after medicine intern year, if I don't get into the type of program I want that supports its residents and has a good track record placing people into jobs
2. Alternatively, only apply to mid and top tier programs known to place people well and then just double apply to IM.