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So why did you choose family practice. This is the area that I am interested in. What do you view as the advantages and disadvantages of FP?
Why choose Family Practice
- Thread starter desertscholar
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The short answer: I'd get bored doing one thing for a lifetime.
I dunno, I like the thought of being someone's doctor. Knowing all the members of a family. Plus I want to live in a small place without a hospital (maybe I'll be the only doctor). I want to be the one people call during Christmas dinner for help.
What else? I like the life-style of being my own boss. There will always be endless work opportunities for someone trained as broadly as FPs, so you can make good money if that's what you want. Conversely, I've seen people on these boards describe part-time FPs working a few days a week.
Why are YOU interested in FP, desertscholar?
I dunno, I like the thought of being someone's doctor. Knowing all the members of a family. Plus I want to live in a small place without a hospital (maybe I'll be the only doctor). I want to be the one people call during Christmas dinner for help.
What else? I like the life-style of being my own boss. There will always be endless work opportunities for someone trained as broadly as FPs, so you can make good money if that's what you want. Conversely, I've seen people on these boards describe part-time FPs working a few days a week.
Why are YOU interested in FP, desertscholar?
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This message was originally posted under a different thread, but I think it belongs here better.
I am not into bashing other specialties; we need to learn to work WITH each other, for heaven's sake. But for anyone like Mamadoc who is considering joining my esteemed speciaty, this is why I chose FP. FP is really an outpatient specialty. While many other fields spend the majority of their training learning inpatient medicine, FP's focus is on perfecting skills in the office setting. As the title implies, we take care of entire families, which affords us the unique ability customize our treatments to the patient as a person. For instance, in my field I can deliver a woman's baby, AND follow through by caring for the child. We focus very much on the psycosocial aspect of health.
Another reason for my choosing FP was the ability to treat all sorts of patients. In one day in the clinic, I can see a newborn, an adolescent, a pregnant woman, a grandfather, and yes- they may all in fact be members of the same family!!! Or, if I chose, I could tailor my practice to any particular interests- for instance, gyn, peds, alternative and complementary medicine, etc.
I also get to perform procedures like Pap smears, circumcisions, suturing, casting, flex sigmoidoscopies, etc.
Finally, for all those who might judge their success by the admiration of their sub-specialist colleagues: I would much rather be known around town as everyone's favorite doctor than for my extensive knowledge on some esoteric subject. But again, I am not everyone. You will find what works for you in the end. My advice, follow your heart and your gut.
1st year Family Practice Resident
I am not into bashing other specialties; we need to learn to work WITH each other, for heaven's sake. But for anyone like Mamadoc who is considering joining my esteemed speciaty, this is why I chose FP. FP is really an outpatient specialty. While many other fields spend the majority of their training learning inpatient medicine, FP's focus is on perfecting skills in the office setting. As the title implies, we take care of entire families, which affords us the unique ability customize our treatments to the patient as a person. For instance, in my field I can deliver a woman's baby, AND follow through by caring for the child. We focus very much on the psycosocial aspect of health.
Another reason for my choosing FP was the ability to treat all sorts of patients. In one day in the clinic, I can see a newborn, an adolescent, a pregnant woman, a grandfather, and yes- they may all in fact be members of the same family!!! Or, if I chose, I could tailor my practice to any particular interests- for instance, gyn, peds, alternative and complementary medicine, etc.
I also get to perform procedures like Pap smears, circumcisions, suturing, casting, flex sigmoidoscopies, etc.
Finally, for all those who might judge their success by the admiration of their sub-specialist colleagues: I would much rather be known around town as everyone's favorite doctor than for my extensive knowledge on some esoteric subject. But again, I am not everyone. You will find what works for you in the end. My advice, follow your heart and your gut.
1st year Family Practice Resident
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Originally posted by Kellishka
This message was originally posted under a different thread, but I think it belongs here better.
I am not into bashing other specialties; we need to learn to work WITH each other, for heaven's sake. But for anyone like Mamadoc who is considering joining my esteemed speciaty, this is why I chose FP. FP is really an outpatient specialty. While many other fields spend the majority of their training learning inpatient medicine, FP's focus is on perfecting skills in the office setting. As the title implies, we take care of entire families, which affords us the unique ability customize our treatments to the patient as a person. For instance, in my field I can deliver a woman's baby, AND follow through by caring for the child. We focus very much on the psycosocial aspect of health.
Another reason for my choosing FP was the ability to treat all sorts of patients. In one day in the clinic, I can see a newborn, an adolescent, a pregnant woman, a grandfather, and yes- they may all in fact be members of the same family!!! Or, if I chose, I could tailor my practice to any particular interests- for instance, gyn, peds, alternative and complementary medicine, etc.
I also get to perform procedures like Pap smears, circumcisions, suturing, casting, flex sigmoidoscopies, etc.
Finally, for all those who might judge their success by the admiration of their sub-specialist colleagues: I would much rather be known around town as everyone's favorite doctor than for my extensive knowledge on some esoteric subject. But again, I am not everyone. You will find what works for you in the end. My advice, follow your heart and your gut.
1st year Family Practice Resident
I totally agree
