Happiest Specialty

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MrDocNYU

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Hi, do you guys know which specialty has the happiest doctors, just from your observations. Also, which ones seem to be most miserable? Thanks!

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Any specialty that has to deal with patients = misery
 
lol. I am asking because I have heard that the most lucrative specialties are

Radiology
Opthalmology
Anesthesiology
Dermatology

Recently I have heard that cardiologist have very happy lives. Is that what you hear?

I also heard that many surgeons hate their jobs :( . i have not really witnessed this personally.
 
Is there a specialty that deals with anti-depressants? I imagine whoever that does that would be pretty happy.
 
The "ROAD to happiness" is mostly just a measure of time and money. According to this study, the specialties with the best career satisfaction are:

1)Geriatrics
2)Neonatology
3)Dermatology
4)Pediatrics

(So as a general rule: diaper rashes = secret to happiness)


And the most dissatisfied are:
1)ENT
2)OBG
3)Ophthalmology
4)Ortho
5)Medicine

(If you substitute Otolaryngology for ENT, that's "MOOOOing your way to misery")

But stuff like this is worthless, because in the end the only thing that matters is what makes you happy [/hallmark card].
 
lol. I am asking because I have heard that the most lucrative specialties are

Radiology
Opthalmology
Anesthesiology
Dermatology

Recently I have heard that cardiologist have very happy lives. Is that what you hear?

I also heard that many surgeons hate their jobs :( . i have not really witnessed this personally.

Cardiologists can have difficult schedules. They either have in-house call (which can suck), or they have home call, but must live within a certain distance from the hospital. That can lead to (minor) marital strain if your wife/husband really wants to live farther away.

Many surgeons hate the hours, the decreasing salaries, and the increasing threat of lawsuits. (This is probably also true for OB/gyns, who face similar problems.) But I've rarely heard of surgeons who actually disliked the practice of surgery. They just hate the crap that goes along with it.

The happiest specialty is the one that is the best fit for you.
 
The "ROAD to happiness" is mostly just a measure of time and money. According to this study, the specialties with the best career satisfaction are:



(So as a general rule: diaper rashes = secret to happiness)


And the most dissatisfied are:


(If you substitute Otolaryngology for ENT, that’s “MOOOOing your way to misery”)

But stuff like this is worthless, because in the end the only thing that matters is what makes you happy [/hallmark card].

I know a neonatologist. He loves his job. According to him, he's only been sued one time over the past 15 years, and that was for a "wrongful life" lawsuit that was later abandoned...... He saved a neonate that went on to have problems.

He said that when he gets called, he's looked at as the "hero" coming to save the day.
 
I think if you pick the right specialty, you'll be happier than if you pick the wrong one.

Like if I had come into med school wanting to do psych (I didn't), then still went into it even though I hated getting up at 6am every day during the rotation (I liked waking up at 4 for OB/gyn more), I'd be miserable.

I plan on doing ortho, and I don't mind being at the hospital all day working. I'm kinda sad when I have to leave, or when the residents send me home early because there's nothing going on.
 
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This thread pops up every few months and usually lasts for almost as long. People pop in, defend their specialty, attack others, provide anecdotal evidence but treat it as gospel, etc etc.

The happiest doctors are those who are doing what they want to do. You don't make yourself a happy person by trying to pick a career that doesn't fit you, just because others are happy doing it or it sounds better. For example, there are many happy surgeons, yet if I went into surgery I would be miserable and have no stomach lining left from the backup of bile that would result in that career path. Some people want "lifestyle" (whatever that means to you personally), others want $$$, others want respect, others want fewer hours, etc etc.
 
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Are ENTs really that dissatisfied? I thought ENT was considered one of the better surgical subspecialties to pursue because of hapiness. Plus, every ENT attending/resident Ive spoken to always rave about how great their field is and how much they love it.
 
Thanks for all the replies. I understand that everyone should just do what fits their personalities, but if we imagine that everyone was doing exactly what was fitted their personalities (impossible), whose job would have the "most crap that comes along with it"?
 
i found this interesting study, too bad i could not access the full text:

ORIGINAL RESEARCH


Predictors of Physician Career Satisfaction, Work–Life Balance, and Burnout
Kristie Keeton, MD, MPH1, Dee E. Fenner, MD1, Timothy R. B. Johnson, MD1 and Rodney A. Hayward, MD2
From the 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; and 2Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Center for Practice Management and Outcomes Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System; the Michigan Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program and the Departments of Internal Medicine and Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

OBJECTIVE: To explore factors associated with physician career satisfaction, work–life balance, and burnout focusing on differences across age, gender, and specialty.

METHODS: A cross-sectional, mailed, self-administered survey was sent to a national sample of 2,000 randomly-selected physicians, stratified by specialty, age, and gender (response rate 48%). Main outcome measures included career satisfaction, burnout, and work–life balance. Scales ranged from 1 to 100.

RESULTS: Both women and men report being highly satisfied with their careers (79% compared with 76%, P<.01), having moderate levels of satisfaction with work–life balance (48% compared with 49%, P=.24), and having moderate levels of emotional resilience (51% compared with 53%, P=.09). Measures of burnout strongly predicted career satisfaction (standardized ß 0.36–0.60, P<.001). The strongest predictor of work–life balance and burnout was having some control over schedule and hours worked (standardized ß 0.28, P<.001, and 0.20–0.32, P<.001, respectively). Physician gender, age, and specialty were not strong independent predictors of career satisfaction, work–life balance, or burnout.

CONCLUSION: This national physician survey suggests that physicians can struggle with work–life balance yet remain highly satisfied with their career. Burnout is an important predictor of career satisfaction, and control over schedule and work hours are the most important predictors of work–life balance and burnout.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II
 
The happiest people are the ones who enjoy what they do and make the most amount of money/time for it. I enjoy porn but I couldn't make much money doing it so treating the skin of porn stars well do for now. It's just a job people get a life outside of it. The more time I have for friends, family and dating porn stars and strippers the happier I am.
 
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Tha happiest doctors are neurologists!
Duh.
 
I think if you pick the right specialty, you'll be happier than if you pick the wrong one.

The greatest, most brilliant statement...ever...
 
From purely personal perception of physicians that I have met:

1. Anesthesiologists
2. Pathologists
3. Dermatologists
 
It's interesting to see the surgical specialties like ortho and ent so dissatisfied. I've always heard the more "balanced" people go into them and the psychos stay in general surgery, but this is much more like my first hand experience. At my institution the general surgeons all seem happier and friendlier than any of the "more chill" surgical specialties like optho, ent, or ortho (urologists are pretty cool guys though). ENT's in particular look like they're about one step from snappingat any given time.
 
It's interesting to see the surgical specialties like ortho and ent so dissatisfied. I've always heard the more "balanced" people go into them and the psychos stay in general surgery, but this is much more like my first hand experience. At my institution the general surgeons all seem happier and friendlier than any of the "more chill" surgical specialties like optho, ent, or ortho (urologists are pretty cool guys though). ENT's in particular look like they're about one step from snappingat any given time.

That's because the ENTs at your hospital are unhappy. It is unlikely to be because of the field, although there may be issues related to the field that come into play at their hospital which make things unpleasant. As I said above, be careful about putting too much stock in anecdotal evidence and your own personal bias. I am sure many people could give you equally compelling evidence that at their hospital the ENTs and orthos were very happy and friendly and the general surgeons were bitter and hostile. You want my anecdotal evidence? I have seen physicians in every specialty who are thrilled about their career and can't wait to get into work and talk glowingly about their job and the challenges they face. And I have seen physicians in every specialty who hate their job, spend most of their time complaining about it to other people, and only continue because they have nothing else to do and need to work.

I don't know why I keep visiting these threads I just keep getting more annoyed.
 
The guy above me posted the truth.

I've met people in every specialty who are resoundingly happy, and people who are bitterly dissapointed. It has more to do with innate personality and the reasons why people chose the field they went into.

It also has alot to do with how that particular field is set up at a particular institution.
 
RAD

Rads
Anesthesia
Derm

Ophtho has fallen off b/c of the pittance they're getting paid these days.

Don't believe the crap you read from the tree huggers around here. If you don't like patients, RADS is the clear choice. If you like patients, DERM makes a bit more money. If you're not competitive for those, go for ANESTHESIA.

These are the best gigs in medicine and surgery. Everything else blows after about 5 years of practice. Then you'll spend the rest of your life wishing you would've gone into RAD.

Unless of course, staring at a screen in a dark room all day would make you go crazy.
 
Unless of course, staring at a screen in a dark room all day would make you go crazy.

That wouldn't be an issue for anyone with over 1,000 posts on SDN.

[edit] Dang, just realized that I am close to that number and I used that very excuse about my dislike for radiology. Actually it had more to do with the comfy chair in the warm, dark room making me way too tired.
 
To ApacheIndian

I love the comment about anesthesia except the it actually takes scores >220 know to get into a good program. Some prgram the average score was 235 and if you did not meet it you did not get an interview. ROAD is the way to go but anesthesia is not for just everyone else that did not make derm or rads.
 
To ApacheIndian

I love the comment about anesthesia except the it actually takes scores >220 know to get into a good program. Some prgram the average score was 235 and if you did not meet it you did not get an interview. ROAD is the way to go but anesthesia is not for just everyone else that did not make derm or rads.

In terms of competitiveness:

Dermatology > Ophthalmology > Radiology >> Anesthesiology

It takes high scores to get into the BEST programs in any specialty. In the ROD part of ROAD it takes good scores to get into EVERY residency.
 
Can you throw Otolaryngology in there with Optho in "ROAD"? I would think that would be as competitive and rewarding with regards to $/lifestyle/coolness of surgeries.
 
Can you throw Otolaryngology in there with Optho in "ROAD"? I would think that would be as competitive and rewarding with regards to $/lifestyle/coolness of surgeries.

Otorhinolaryngology is the type of medical specialty that drives the layperson to despair, both of pronouncing the word properly and of having any notion of what it means.
 
Come on, everybody wants to be the neurosurgeon.
 
Any field where you (or a friend) can prescribe anti-depressants to yourself...happy pills rock.
 
Otorhinolaryngology is the type of medical specialty that drives the layperson to despair, both of pronouncing the word properly and of having any notion of what it means.

ENT had the worst ranking in one of those "how satisfied are you with your specialty" polls. I have yet to hear anyone give a convincing reason why this is the case. Anyone want to take a stab at it?
 
I thought everyone knew that urologists are the happy surgeons!
 
CT Surgeons- the last of the true badassses in the joint

these men who have sacrifced to attain the pinnacle of surgery ARE the most satisfied by their choice of career, prestige and income.

CABG and valves are not going away in our lifetime, and the job market is opening back up.
 
In terms of competitiveness:

Dermatology > Ophthalmology > Radiology >> Anesthesiology

It takes high scores to get into the BEST programs in any specialty. In the ROD part of ROAD it takes good scores to get into EVERY residency.


Funny, in some countries Derm is the least sought after specialty. They have to deal with STDs. Primary Care, including OB/Gyn doesnt even bother diagnosing or treating 'em, and just dump them on derm.
Wonder why.
 
Funny, in some countries Derm is the least sought after specialty. They have to deal with STDs. Primary Care, including OB/Gyn doesnt even bother diagnosing or treating 'em, and just dump them on derm.
Wonder why.
Maybe it just shows how superficial this country is and where it's values are at. Some people well let their insides roit to hell but when the first blemish pops up they stop everything and rush to get it taken care of.
 
ENT had the worst ranking in one of those "how satisfied are you with your specialty" polls. I have yet to hear anyone give a convincing reason why this is the case. Anyone want to take a stab at it?

Because the survey is BS.

Seriously though, I have not met an ENT who is unhappy with the practice of ENT. We are the only field of medicine who does it all within our own area, sees neonates to octagenarians, both males and females, has a medical clinical practice and get to fun in the OR - we even control our own referrals for the OR (so no kissing up to GI). No other field is like this (urology is close, but male patients >> female patients.).

A few years back sinus surgery reimbursement tanked - and I would guess that the survey came out around that time. I'd be pretty upset, too, if my reimbursemet for a procedure was cut by 50%. Same thing 15 years ago when everyone ran from Anesthesia, but the tide changed.
 
Because the survey is BS.

Seriously though, I have not met an ENT who is unhappy with the practice of ENT. We are the only field of medicine who does it all within our own area, sees neonates to octagenarians, both males and females, has a medical clinical practice and get to fun in the OR - we even control our own referrals for the OR (so no kissing up to GI). No other field is like this (urology is close, but male patients >> female patients.).

You just described the field of ophthalmology my friend.:laugh:
 
well if you can get by the whole optometry thing, I guess.
 
From Canada (the national physician survey, 2004):

Happiest physicians

In case the link doesn't work: June 20, 2006 • 174(13) p.1831

Top 5 (with 1 being the happiest):
1. Immunologists
2. General Pathologists
3. Physiatrists
4. Opthalmologists
5. Psychiatrists

Bottom 5 (with 5 being the unhappiest):
1. Endocrinologists
2. Gastroenterologists
3. Medical oncologists
4. Hematologists
5. Biochemists

:)

Nice! Number 3!
 
Are cross-system comparisons really that valid though? I imagine the environment in which you practice influences your satisfaction at least as much as the actual content of your specialty.
 
Hi, do you guys know which specialty has the happiest doctors, just from your observations. Also, which ones seem to be most miserable? Thanks!

This is similar to asking "where are the safest parts of Afghanistan?".
 
I saw a pediatric Heme-onc being interviewed on television. He said that a lot of people assume that his job is depressing. He said, it isnt. Most of his patients actually do well, and they are great to interact with. Bad days are in almost every field. I thought that was interesting.
 
In terms of competitiveness:

Dermatology > Ophthalmology > Radiology >> Anesthesiology

It takes high scores to get into the BEST programs in any specialty. In the ROD part of ROAD it takes good scores to get into EVERY residency.

Agreed.

Although I'd probably make a slight revision to the above comparison:

Derm > ENT > Ophtho = Rads >> Anesthesia

ROADE to happiness.
 
I have NEVER met an unhappy dermatology resident or attending.
 
But stuff like this is worthless, because in the end the only thing that matters is what makes you happy [/hallmark card].[/QUOTE]

I totally agree with that last sentence!! I'm in one of the "MOOOO" specialties (Ob-Gyn) and I'm totally happy, couldn't imagine doing anything else (well, nothing else in medicine . . . I could totally be a chef). Anyhow, every other resident in my program is really happy too. It just depends on what you like, and where you feel like you will be able to enjoy what you do 30 years from now!
 
RAD

Rads
Anesthesia
Derm

Ophtho has fallen off b/c of the pittance they're getting paid these days.

Don't believe the crap you read from the tree huggers around here. If you don't like patients, RADS is the clear choice. If you like patients, DERM makes a bit more money. If you're not competitive for those, go for ANESTHESIA.

These are the best gigs in medicine and surgery. Everything else blows after about 5 years of practice. Then you'll spend the rest of your life wishing you would've gone into RAD.

That's pretty good advice.

The best advice is still pick what you love. (Whether or not you'll know what you love based on one year of clinical rotations is a debate for another day)

But failing that, RAD works too. I imagine people who work relatively low hours and make relatively good money are pretty happy. If they aren't, they probably shouldn't complain anyway ;)
 
These surveys are largely useless due to the fact that specialty stereotypes about personalities usually hold a decent grain of truth. Geriatric IM ain't the happiest specialty because geriatric IM is so hot. If you made geriatric IM and CT surgeons switch jobs, I bet the former-geriatric IM people would still be happier because they were the type of people likelier to be "happy" in the first place.
 
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