Anyone else questioning their choice of specialties?

[dr. maybe]

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Hi,
I am 5 months into internship. I am not sure I am doing the right thing with my life. I know I want to practice medicine, but I am not really sure what to do now as my 4th year of school was geared toward my specialty. I sometimes wish that medical school was a little longer to give me exposure to a larger variety of things. Of course, everything is 20/20 in hindsight.
There are areas I think I might be interested in, but how am I supposed to know now?

I would love to hear from people who have been in / are in the same boat. Please PM me or leave your response here.

Thanks.

 

[doctawife]

Most programs - IM or peds or surg or whatever - offer electives in the second and third years of residency. I used those electives to figure out that yes, I like peds, but NO I did not want to be a general pediatrician. By bopping around the hospital (GI elective, ID elective, multiple EM and ICU months) I finally figured out that pedi EM is the place for me. So I've buckled down and signed up for a fellowship.

Just 'cause you're in residency doesn't mean that your options are over. There is always an opportunity for redirection. Each area of medicine has huge variety. Hold out through residency and re-evaluate in second year. Internship is a horrible time to make any decisions.

 

[NinerNiner999]

Internship is a horrible time to make any decisions.

ditto.