Ortho vs. EM

[inthepit]

I've already finished my ortho and EM rotations but I'm still torn between the two. Can you guys help me out?

Thanks

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[MrBurns10]

Have you made a pros and cons list of both? They're pretty different fields/lifestyles.

 

[Blade28]

What attracts you to each field?

 

[mtwop]

Same problem as the OP. Torn between ortho and EM

Most important values in my life: Family, a career I feel good about and enjoy, and outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hunting, and that sort of thing.

EM:
Pros- love the initial work up of the patient and diagnostic aspect. Also enjoy the team approach in the ED. Patient variety (peds-geri, rich and poor). Shift work is both a good thing and a bad thing-I hate the idea of working nights and weekends for the rest of my career, but the flexibility and 40 hr week is a plus.
Cons-little in terms of definitive treatment, rare that patients thank you (for some reason I really need this), primary care complaints that have no place in the ED, drug seekers, and from what I've witnessed, a lack of respect from other physicians.

Ortho:
Pros- I enjoy the OR and working with my hands, patients with similar interests (ie. sports and outdoor activities), the immediate satisfaction, patients are very thankful (most, but definitely not all cases), reimbursement is great now, but I'm making this decision assuming everything could very well change.
Cons-5-6 years of 80 hour weeks followed by 60 hour weeks plus call for the rest of life isn't exactly what I pictured. This leaves little time for family and other interests outside of medicine. There is a wide range of personalities in ortho, and I definitely don't mesh well with all of them (more so than EM). I also dislike the lack of diagnosis and patient work up. The whole broken bone/fix leaves a little to be desired, but I enjoy the planning and approach to each fracture.

Sorry for the long post, but I've been trying to decide between the two since before the start of med school. Thanks for reading. I appreciate the advice

 

[Rendar5]

Same problem as the OP. Torn between ortho and EM

Most important values in my life: Family, a career I feel good about and enjoy, and outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hunting, and that sort of thing.

EM:
Pros- love the initial work up of the patient and diagnostic aspect. Also enjoy the team approach in the ED. Patient variety (peds-geri, rich and poor). Shift work is both a good thing and a bad thing-I hate the idea of working nights and weekends for the rest of my career, but the flexibility and 40 hr week is a plus.
Cons-little in terms of definitive treatment, rare that patients thank you (for some reason I really need this), primary care complaints that have no place in the ED, drug seekers, and from what I've witnessed, a lack of respect from other physicians.

Ortho:
Pros- I enjoy the OR and working with my hands, patients with similar interests (ie. sports and outdoor activities), the immediate satisfaction, patients are very thankful (most, but definitely not all cases), reimbursement is great now, but I'm making this decision assuming everything could very well change.
Cons-5-6 years of 80 hour weeks followed by 60 hour weeks plus call for the rest of life isn't exactly what I pictured. This leaves little time for family and other interests outside of medicine. There is a wide range of personalities in ortho, and I definitely don't mesh well with all of them (more so than EM). I also dislike the lack of diagnosis and patient work up. The whole broken bone/fix leaves a little to be desired, but I enjoy the planning and approach to each fracture.

Sorry for the long post, but I've been trying to decide between the two since before the start of med school. Thanks for reading. I appreciate the advice

You sound ortho to me honestly. when you say wide variety of patients, you said peds to geri, not gyn to psych. variety for you is patient characteristics, not fields of medicine. there's enough subspecialties where you'll figure out the diagnosis aspect.

 

[copes]

It sounds like you would be a happier person as a whole doing EM, but you would have more job satisfaction doing ortho.

 

[canjosh]

Same problem as the OP. Torn between ortho and EM

Most important values in my life: Family, a career I feel good about and enjoy, and outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, hunting, and that sort of thing.

EM:
Pros- love the initial work up of the patient and diagnostic aspect. Also enjoy the team approach in the ED. Patient variety (peds-geri, rich and poor). Shift work is both a good thing and a bad thing-I hate the idea of working nights and weekends for the rest of my career, but the flexibility and 40 hr week is a plus.
Cons-little in terms of definitive treatment, rare that patients thank you (for some reason I really need this), primary care complaints that have no place in the ED, drug seekers, and from what I've witnessed, a lack of respect from other physicians.

Ortho:
Pros- I enjoy the OR and working with my hands, patients with similar interests (ie. sports and outdoor activities), the immediate satisfaction, patients are very thankful (most, but definitely not all cases), reimbursement is great now, but I'm making this decision assuming everything could very well change.
Cons-5-6 years of 80 hour weeks followed by 60 hour weeks plus call for the rest of life isn't exactly what I pictured. This leaves little time for family and other interests outside of medicine. There is a wide range of personalities in ortho, and I definitely don't mesh well with all of them (more so than EM). I also dislike the lack of diagnosis and patient work up. The whole broken bone/fix leaves a little to be desired, but I enjoy the planning and approach to each fracture.

Sorry for the long post, but I've been trying to decide between the two since before the start of med school. Thanks for reading. I appreciate the advice

Wow, I thought I was the only med student struggling with the same issues...this is exactly how I feel. Good luck!

 

[asmith1121]

Definitely Ortho- EM guys never actually fix anything. Although you would have more of a life as an EM doc and more say in where you'll go for residency.

 

[coldweatherblue]

Definitely Ortho- EM guys never actually fix anything. Although you would have more of a life as an EM doc and more say in where you'll go for residency.

first of all, it's neurologists who don't fix anything. EM gets none of the credit for the things they do fix and all the blame for the things they can't. Ortho fixes fractures s/p asystole.

EGDT in sepsis >> SNF hip replacement.

OP how do you feel about the OR? Do you like spending time in the OR or ED better? is being in the OR worth afternoon clinic/rounds/paperwork?

I think EM and Ortho attract semi-similar students but the actual work environment of both specialties is VERY different. Do you like doing a lot of procedural work on one patient in the OR setting, or a little work on many patients in the ED setting?

 

[cofcemt]

OP how do you feel about the OR? Do you like spending time in the OR or ED better? is being in the OR worth afternoon clinic/rounds/paperwork?

I think EM and Ortho attract semi-similar students but the actual work environment of both specialties is VERY different. Do you like doing a lot of procedural work on one patient in the OR setting, or a little work on many patients in the ED setting?

This right here was key for me making the decision between ortho and em. In the end, hated rounding and the OR and loved the procedures and constant action/movement of the ED.

 

[mtwop]

first of all, it's neurologists who don't fix anything. EM gets none of the credit for the things they do fix and all the blame for the things they can't. Ortho fixes fractures s/p asystole.

EGDT in sepsis >> SNF hip replacement.

OP how do you feel about the OR? Do you like spending time in the OR or ED better? is being in the OR worth afternoon clinic/rounds/paperwork?

I think EM and Ortho attract semi-similar students but the actual work environment of both specialties is VERY different. Do you like doing a lot of procedural work on one patient in the OR setting, or a little work on many patients in the ED setting?

That's exactly where I feel stuck. If EM actually consisted of doing short procedures on MANY patients I think I would choose EM. However, I'm lucky to get a handful of small procedures (ie. maybe some suturing) on any given shift in the ED. I still think I enjoy the ED team focused environment rather than the typical office practice where everything seems to be very solo. However, putting up with crazy ED nurses and patients who try to bite you has its downfalls

 

[Kj615]

Here's my take. Take it or throw it away. Ortho -hands down.I hate the hospital administration politics which tend to affect EM specialty for the most part whether you join a group or not. The drug seeking will drive you nut in the ED. You're also been pull from left to right...by hospital administration or the president of your group...speed up/turn around time/ etc.etc.. If you're an orthopod, if you work for the hospital and you're good, they'll kiss your balls. If you join a group, you'll control your own pace...and don't get push around by anyone.

 

[remote]

how do you guys think urology compares to these 2 fields? also, are urologists pulled left to right by hospital administration or do they run the joint?

 

[upright]

how do you guys think urology compares to these 2 fields? also, are urologists pulled left to right by hospital administration or do they run the joint?

The only joint urologists run is the one dangling from the octogenarian's legs.

 

[remote]

The only joint urologists run is the one dangling from the octogenarian's legs.

i love how students often feel the need to "poke fun" at the extremely competitive fields to get into as a compensatory mechanism to make up for the fact that they weren't smart enough to get into any of them. it's always the pple going into medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, neurology, etc. that have all the insults ready...just because they're jealous. hey, not my fault you guys can't get into a competitive field. and that doesn't mean you have to always poke fun. let me guess...

ortho = glorified carpenters
derm = pimple poppers
ent = snot docs
radiology = sit in dark all day
etc.....

the only pple that feel the need to make fun and hate on other fields are those who are insecure about their own career choice and are trying to make themselves feel a little better....i feel bad for all of you but do hope you get over it and mature a little bit.

 

[upright]

i love how students often feel the need to "poke fun" at the extremely competitive fields to get into as a compensatory mechanism to make up for the fact that they weren't smart enough to get into any of them. it's always the pple going into medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, neurology, etc. that have all the insults ready...just because they're jealous. hey, not my fault you guys can't get into a competitive field. and that doesn't mean you have to always poke fun. let me guess...

ortho = glorified carpenters
derm = pimple poppers
ent = snot docs
radiology = sit in dark all day
etc.....

the only pple that feel the need to make fun and hate on other fields are those who are insecure about their own career choice and are trying to make themselves feel a little better....i feel bad for all of you but do hope you get over it and mature a little bit.

Oh wow, another medical student that chooses a field based on how competitive it is, and looks at all specialties in medicine through that narcissistic lens of self-doubt and inadequacy. You're truly a special being. Have fun playing with cock all day you brainy SOB.

 

[remote]

Oh wow, another medical student that chooses a field based on how competitive it is, and looks at all specialties in medicine through that narcissistic lens of self-doubt and inadequacy. You're truly a special being. Have fun playing with cock all day you brainy SOB.

first of all, i don't know yet whether i'll pursue urology, but i am at least in a position where i can decide to. second, i have no disrespect for other "less competitive" fields. for instance, when someone tells me that they're going into medicine, i don't immediately respond with "oh god, good luck being the dump service of the hospital" or if someone tells me they're going into PM&R, i don't say "oh so you're going to be a glorified physical therapist", etc...the point is that i will be content with whatever field i choose and thus don't feel the need to hate on other fields in a way to make myself feel better about my own field. that's all i'm saying...but yeh, i'm sick and tired of mediocre/below average medical students making fun and hating on those students who enter the most competitive fields just because they couldn't get into those fields. i mean, if you're happy with your career choice, why make fun of another field? just doesn't make sense to me.

anyway, enjoy internal medicine buddy. i will be more than happy to dump all of my surgical patients onto your service and there will be nothing you can do about it...so make as much fun as you want but you'll be stuck with all the hassle while i make the money.

 

[turkeyjerky]

i love how students often feel the need to "poke fun" at the extremely competitive fields to get into as a compensatory mechanism to make up for the fact that they weren't smart enough to get into any of them. it's always the pple going into medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, neurology, etc. that have all the insults ready...just because they're jealous. hey, not my fault you guys can't get into a competitive field. and that doesn't mean you have to always poke fun. let me guess...

ortho = glorified carpenters
derm = pimple poppers
ent = snot docs
radiology = sit in dark all day
etc.....

the only pple that feel the need to make fun and hate on other fields are those who are insecure about their own career choice and are trying to make themselves feel a little better....i feel bad for all of you but do hope you get over it and mature a little bit.

I think you really overreacted to that guy's post, it seemed like just an innocent joke (although your initial post about "urologists running the joint" was kind of...odd).

I wouldn't make the mistake of believing that all super-competitive students go into ROAD or surgical sub-specialties. I think of the junior AOAers in my class, one each are going into derm and optho, with the rest going into IM, peds, EM, path and FM.

 

[Kj615]

It's a tough battle out there! The competition are insane. Higher board score doesn't guarantee you competitive resident spot. You can look good on paper but don't measure-up in person. I've seen friends w/ killer USMLE scores but lacks interview skills and ends up down south with cold feet and bilateral sweating palms. Imagine that! Don't want to be one. Just my two cent. This days, everyone seem to know it all.

 

[remote]

I think you really overreacted to that guy's post, it seemed like just an innocent joke (although your initial post about "urologists running the joint" was kind of...odd).

I wouldn't make the mistake of believing that all super-competitive students go into ROAD or surgical sub-specialties. I think of the junior AOAers in my class, one each are going into derm and optho, with the rest going into IM, peds, EM, path and FM.

yes, i agree that i may have overreacted. but i mean i can't be the only one who feels this way. i just think enough is enough...i understand that not all AOAers go into the most competitive fields but at the same time i don't think that it's right for medical student to poke fun at their fellow students who did well academically and are going into fields like uro, ent, ortho, derm, etc...b/c after all, it's not as if they couldn't pick fields like internal medicine, psychiatry, neurology, anesthesia, etc....no they consciously turned those fields down and not because they couldn't get into them. so just think about that. that's all. i just hate it when someone going into a "less" competitive field feels the need to make fun of another student going into an extremely competitive field and of course the latter student can not respond with "well, sorry for being smarter than you and being able to get into XX field" b/c that would be unacceptable of course but it's completely fine if the former student hates on the competitive specialty...oh well...i'm okay with it as long as i get into that competitive specialty and am not stuck with medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, etc...

 

[Kj615]

Am sick of the politics in medicine. I've also seen ppl that match in competitive residency spot not because they're smarter or measure up better than you and I. It simply the old boys club style. Folks, it's survival of the fittest! And who you know. Multiple factors are in play. My Dad is a surgeon who's friend chair/director of UCLA neurological surgery residency program. **** I have multiple publications and first authorship (an author on ****). who are you deceiving? I can read between the line. Enough said.

 

[mtwop]

Haha, so now that the dust has settled, anybody else have anymore advice based on the original question?

 

[upright]

yes, i agree that i may have overreacted. but i mean i can't be the only one who feels this way. i just think enough is enough...i understand that not all AOAers go into the most competitive fields but at the same time i don't think that it's right for medical student to poke fun at their fellow students who did well academically and are going into fields like uro, ent, ortho, derm, etc...b/c after all, it's not as if they couldn't pick fields like internal medicine, psychiatry, neurology, anesthesia, etc....no they consciously turned those fields down and not because they couldn't get into them. so just think about that. that's all. i just hate it when someone going into a "less" competitive field feels the need to make fun of another student going into an extremely competitive field and of course the latter student can not respond with "well, sorry for being smarter than you and being able to get into XX field" b/c that would be unacceptable of course but it's completely fine if the former student hates on the competitive specialty...oh well...i'm okay with it as long as i get into that competitive specialty and am not stuck with medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, etc...

You sound like a mess. Good luck with your pursuit of male genitalia - I'm sure it's been a long-lived fascination.

 

[remote]

You sound like a mess. Good luck with your pursuit of male genitalia - I'm sure it's been a long-lived fascination.

hahah. soo funny and original..never heard that before. and what field will you be going into?

 

[partydoc]

Haha, so now that the dust has settled, anybody else have anymore advice based on the original question?

I would pick ortho. I think EM is great, but personally I would rather be an expert in a narrow field rather than something so broad.

 

[canjosh]

I would pick ortho. I think EM is great, but personally I would rather be an expert in a narrow field rather than something so broad.

Would you really call ortho a 'narrow field'? To me, being an expert in a narrow field means being a retina specialist or the trans-sphenoidal sella expert or something.

 

[Green Grass]

i love how students often feel the need to "poke fun" at the extremely competitive fields to get into as a compensatory mechanism to make up for the fact that they weren't smart enough to get into any of them. it's always the pple going into medicine, gen. surgery, psychiatry, neurology, etc. that have all the insults ready...just because they're jealous. hey, not my fault you guys can't get into a competitive field. and that doesn't mean you have to always poke fun. let me guess...

ortho = glorified carpenters
derm = pimple poppers
ent = snot docs
radiology = sit in dark all day
etc.....

the only pple that feel the need to make fun and hate on other fields are those who are insecure about their own career choice and are trying to make themselves feel a little better....i feel bad for all of you but do hope you get over it and mature a little bit.

A few things...

First, nearly every Urologist that I know is willing to make fun of themselves with the penis jokes and banter. They are honestly a very funny and intelligent group of people and if you decide to go into Uro, you better learn to adapt to that setting.

Second, I think everyone would agree that Ortho is now more competitive than Urology. How many times do you hear carpenter or gorilla jokes when you are talking about Ortho guys? Nearly everyday. Have you heard one Ortho guy complain about this? Nope. They too have a good sense of humor and the thick skin to go with it, in addition to being self-assured (this is key) that they earned their way into Ortho (and didn't end up there by doing average in med school).

And lastly, you need to get off your high horse. Everyone in medical school is working their ass off and doing their best. Just because it appears you managed to get a few A's and maybe have a high Step 1, doesn't mean you should act like you are God's gift to medicine - because you aren't. High grades and Step scores mean very little to patients and hopefully you will realize that sooner rather than later.

 

[Substance]

A few things...

First, nearly every Urologist that I know is willing to make fun of themselves with the penis jokes and banter. They are honestly a very funny and intelligent group of people and if you decide to go into Uro, you better learn to adapt to that setting.

Second, I think everyone would agree that Ortho is now more competitive than Urology. How many times do you hear carpenter or gorilla jokes when you are talking about Ortho guys? Nearly everyday. Have you heard one Ortho guy complain about this? Nope. They too have a good sense of humor and the thick skin to go with it, in addition to being self-assured (this is key) that they earned their way into Ortho (and didn't end up there by doing average in med school).

And lastly, you need to get off your high horse. Everyone in medical school is working their ass off and doing their best. Just because it appears you managed to get a few A's and maybe have a high Step 1, doesn't mean you should act like you are God's gift to medicine - because you aren't. High grades and Step scores mean very little to patients and hopefully you will realize that sooner rather than later.

Being able to laugh at one's self is an indicator of not only their perceived self-worth but their inherent external worth. Orthos and Uros can laugh and joke about gorillas and balls all day because they know they have highly coveted careers with high respect and income, and they know that only the best of the best can get in.

You never hear FP make self-deprecating jokes about not knowing anything, or OBs about vaginas, etc. precisely because these fields are not highly coveted nor are they well respected or paid, and even the worst of the worst can find a spot in them.

 

[copes]

Income is the key there really. Every specialty has it's pro and cons and none of them are "easy" to master. From what I heard OB was pretty competitive back in the day before malpractice rates became so high. IMO OB has a good mix of surgery and medicine similar to ENT/Urology and would have similar income if not for the 100K+ malpractice insurance rate.

Also there are studies showing that among the happiest specialties are geriatrics, pediatrics, which are neither highly paid or prestigious. I am surprised that as a resident you are still making such broad sweeping statements. Even with my limited clinical experiences as a third year I know that you can meet nasty or happy people in any specialty.

Being able to laugh at one's self is an indicator of not only their perceived self-worth but their inherent external worth. Orthos and Uros can laugh and joke about gorillas and balls all day because they know they have highly coveted careers with high respect and income, and they know that only the best of the best can get in.

You never hear FP make self-deprecating jokes about not knowing anything, or OBs about vaginas, etc. precisely because these fields are not highly coveted nor are they well respected or paid, and even the worst of the worst can find a spot in them.

 

[Green Grass]

Income is the key there really. Every specialty has it's pro and cons and none of them are "easy" to master. From what I heard OB was pretty competitive back in the day before malpractice rates became so high. IMO OB has a good mix of surgery and medicine similar to ENT/Urology and would have similar income if not for the 100K+ malpractice insurance rate.

I think income has very little to do with it actually. I think urology and orthopedic physicians are all self-confident with good senses of humor. I think the income is just gravy. It's ridiculous to say that income is the only factor here when we are not mentioning private practice plastic surgeons or ophthalmologists.

 

[copes]

What I meant is that income is the primary factor for "prestige" and level of competition for entry into the specialty. All surgeons are confident...otherwise no one would let them operate. Yes, urologists and orthopods stereotypically are fun people to hang out with.

I think income has very little to do with it actually. I think urology and orthopedic physicians are all self-confident with good senses of humor. I think the income is just gravy. It's ridiculous to say that income is the only factor here when we are not mentioning private practice plastic surgeons or ophthalmologists.

 

[remote]

A few things...

First, nearly every Urologist that I know is willing to make fun of themselves with the penis jokes and banter. They are honestly a very funny and intelligent group of people and if you decide to go into Uro, you better learn to adapt to that setting.

Second, I think everyone would agree that Ortho is now more competitive than Urology. How many times do you hear carpenter or gorilla jokes when you are talking about Ortho guys? Nearly everyday. Have you heard one Ortho guy complain about this? Nope. They too have a good sense of humor and the thick skin to go with it, in addition to being self-assured (this is key) that they earned their way into Ortho (and didn't end up there by doing average in med school).

And lastly, you need to get off your high horse. Everyone in medical school is working their ass off and doing their best. Just because it appears you managed to get a few A's and maybe have a high Step 1, doesn't mean you should act like you are God's gift to medicine - because you aren't. High grades and Step scores mean very little to patients and hopefully you will realize that sooner rather than later.

well, first of all, i wouldn't necessarily automatically say that ortho is more competitive than uro in the sense that i think that prob. >95% of students who get into uro could get into ortho and vice versa. for instance, this year the U.S. senior match rate for urology was only 77%. compare that with last year's match rate for ortho which was 79%. so overall, i think they're both pretty damn competitive. it's hard to say which one is more so...

second, i really don't think i'm on a high horse. i was just commenting on the fact that it gets annoying when students who maybe are not up to par in terms of applying for the most competitive fields always seem to have the need to hate on those who are going into such fields. i'm pretty sure it's a defense mechanism to make themselves feel better but that doesn't make it right. like i said, i'm thinking of either urology or ortho and when i tell that to my friends or residents during rotations, they immediately follow it with jokes about those fields and all. on the other hand, when a friend of mine tells me that they want to go into EM (just randomly picking a "less" competitive field, nothing against EM) i don't immediately respond with "oh, so you want to be a triage nurse??" and the reason i don't do that is because i'm not jealous or envious of those going into EM b/c i like the fields that i am considering and don't feel the need to "bring down" other fields to make my choices seem superior...does this make sense to anyone?

 

[Substance]

well, first of all, i wouldn't necessarily automatically say that ortho is more competitive than uro in the sense that i think that prob. >95% of students who get into uro could get into ortho and vice versa. for instance, this year the U.S. senior match rate for urology was only 77%. compare that with last year's match rate for ortho which was 79%. so overall, i think they're both pretty damn competitive. it's hard to say which one is more so...

second, i really don't think i'm on a high horse. i was just commenting on the fact that it gets annoying when students who maybe are not up to par in terms of applying for the most competitive fields always seem to have the need to hate on those who are going into such fields. i'm pretty sure it's a defense mechanism to make themselves feel better but that doesn't make it right. like i said, i'm thinking of either urology or ortho and when i tell that to my friends or residents during rotations, they immediately follow it with jokes about those fields and all. on the other hand, when a friend of mine tells me that they want to go into EM (just randomly picking a "less" competitive field, nothing against EM) i don't immediately respond with "oh, so you want to be a triage nurse??" and the reason i don't do that is because i'm not jealous or envious of those going into EM b/c i like the fields that i am considering and don't feel the need to "bring down" other fields to make my choices seem superior...does this make sense to anyone?

I see what you are saying. It's really all about self-confidence, and for most people in medicine, self-confidence is determined by external motivators. Being in an FP program with Johnny Carib and Dervish the FMG whose Step 1 was 187 on second attempt and whose last clinical exposure was 15 years ago in Burma/Myanmar doesn't inspire one's self confidence.Nor will it instill self-confidence in current practitoners or good people in good programs, since the bar is lowered enough for Johnny Carib and Dervish the FMG to get in.

Ortho and Uro doesn't have to deal with this problem - there are more than enough good people - so they can make as many jokes as they want about themselves: they already know they're ballin.

And this kind of thinking isn't med student thinking. in fact, upon observing the specialties and doctors I deal with, I've seen the above play out consistently.

 

[copes]

I think anyone who makes it a point to put down specialties other than their own has some sort of underlying insecurity. There are smart people who go into every specialty, and to most people board scores and grades are just a way to get into a residency or specialty of choice, not a way to feel superior to other people.

well, first of all, i wouldn't necessarily automatically say that ortho is more competitive than uro in the sense that i think that prob. >95% of students who get into uro could get into ortho and vice versa. for instance, this year the U.S. senior match rate for urology was only 77%. compare that with last year's match rate for ortho which was 79%. so overall, i think they're both pretty damn competitive. it's hard to say which one is more so...

second, i really don't think i'm on a high horse. i was just commenting on the fact that it gets annoying when students who maybe are not up to par in terms of applying for the most competitive fields always seem to have the need to hate on those who are going into such fields. i'm pretty sure it's a defense mechanism to make themselves feel better but that doesn't make it right. like i said, i'm thinking of either urology or ortho and when i tell that to my friends or residents during rotations, they immediately follow it with jokes about those fields and all. on the other hand, when a friend of mine tells me that they want to go into EM (just randomly picking a "less" competitive field, nothing against EM) i don't immediately respond with "oh, so you want to be a triage nurse??" and the reason i don't do that is because i'm not jealous or envious of those going into EM b/c i like the fields that i am considering and don't feel the need to "bring down" other fields to make my choices seem superior...does this make sense to anyone?

 

[partydoc]

Would you really call ortho a 'narrow field'? To me, being an expert in a narrow field means being a retina specialist or the trans-sphenoidal sella expert or something.

Haha I knew I was gonna get that response. I meant relatively.

 

[Green Grass]

I think anyone who makes it a point to put down specialties other than their own has some sort of underlying insecurity. There are smart people who go into every specialty, and to most people board scores and grades are just a way to get into a residency or specialty of choice, not a way to feel superior to other people.

I'm with ya. All of us are going to be doctors and everyone should get a certain amount of respect regardless of their chosen specialty. I know plenty of people who are AOA, have grades/Step scores that Ortho and Uro guys would love to have, and chose Family Medicine. Don't think that everyone who chose less competitive fields is "less" than you or doesn't deserve the utmost respect.

 

[2012mdc]

I'm with ya. All of us are going to be doctors and everyone should get a certain amount of respect regardless of their chosen specialty. I know plenty of people who are AOA, have grades/Step scores that Ortho and Uro guys would love to have, and chose Family Medicine. Don't think that everyone who chose less competitive fields is "less" than you or doesn't deserve the utmost respect.

Definitely agree.

But in my experience the people who talk down (not make light-hearted jokes) about competitive fields like rads, derm, ortho etc aren't the ones who did well and chose PC, it's the ones who didn't do as well and had no other choice besides PC.

I have a lot of respect for PCP's as a whole but there are ones who are bitter about their field and harbor jealousy towards the fields with better pay to hours ratios.

 

[DreamingTheLive]

A little shocked at some of the talk here about judging specialties/physicians based predominantly on their board scores. I thought you go into Radiology or Plastics (insert specialty) because you enjoy the nature of the work or learning about said field, NOT because you enjoy being a practicing "271 on Step 1". All this talk about "looking down" on other specialties is just really unfortunate and it sounds like people need to get over themselves and develop some thicker skin.

If you love EM, then f*ckin go for it. If you think you might enjoy Ortho more than do that. If you are basing this decision upon how high your board score is or whether or not other physicians or misguided M3's might "look down" (lol, just sounds funny) on you might end up being really unhappy with your future career.

Remember, this is all cyclical. Healthcare reform could someday bring sweeping changes in reimbursement and turn everything upside down and suddenly occupational health is the "next" derm. 15 years ago you couldn't find enough foreign grads to even pursue GI.

Just saying.