anyone Infectious Disease?

[phllystyl]

I read many posts about rad. and anesth., ranging from difficulty of getting into these residency programs to salary to quality of life.

But as of right now (and I know pre-ms1 is VERY early in the process) I am interested in Infectious Disease, as I have been working in an ID/Imm lab for the past 2 years. Anyone know anything about the current residency situation for ID as far as difficulty, quality of life after residency, etc?

Thank you!

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[Voxel]

Infectious disease fellowship is after an internal medicine residence. Allergy&Immunology is a different fellowship after an internal medicine residency.

I have heard that ID is not very competitive. I hear that A&I is also not competitive but starting to get more applicants.

ID lifestyle depends upon who much of your time is spent in the hospital vs outpatient world. Will you be doing a lot of inpatient consults or will most of your patients be managed as an outpatient (ie HIV+ patients).

Allergy and Immunology is becoming more popular because they have great lifestyle 9-5 and almost no call with similiar or greater compensation (depending on the # of procedures one does). They are also doing rhinoscopy and allergy shots for those who need to do procedures.

 

[neutropeniaboy]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Voxel:
•Allergy and Immunology is becoming more popular because they have great lifestyle 9-5 and almost no call with similiar or greater compensation (depending on the # of procedures one does). They are also doing rhinoscopy and allergy shots for those who need to do procedures.•••••I've often wondered about all these allergy and immunology professionals doing anterior rhinoscopy. And if they find a deviated septum? And if they find polyps? And if they find significant sinus disease?

Otolaryngic allergy is also becoming more and more popular, especially in private practice sectors. You get the diagnosis, medical treatment, and surgical treatment if needed.

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

Infectious disease is, as mentioned above a fellowship after 3 years internal medicine residency. I believe it is 2 years (not sure about it). The majority of ID these days is HIV patients, with other stuff mixed in. Also, I know of a ID doc who does Occuptional Health at a hospital for a pretty nice salary (200K) and in addition does her own clinic 3 half days a week. I think the lifestyle is similar to general internal medicine, with call schedules based on your group size and not that many overnight problems. Its a pretty interesting field but the heavy emphasis on HIV kinda turned me off to it.

 

[phllystyl]

Actually the emphasis on HIV is one of the major reasons why it intrigues me so much. The work I do now as a technician is with peds HIV. I've always been interested in how microorganisms attack the host and how was can defend or defeat them. Immunology was one of my favorite courses in undergrad.

Thanks to everyone who replied!

Can anyone offer me any experiences they had in their clinical rotations if they had ID experience?

 

[Whisker Barrel Cortex]

If you are interested in Peds ID, you would have to do a 3 year peds residency followed by peds ID fellowship. There are 60 such programs according to FREIDA (residency search program on AMA website). Most Peds subspecialists end up working at large univerisity medical centers and the majority are academic physicians. This usually makes for a relatively good lifestyle in terms of hours (residents take call for you) but a trade off in pay. Many peds subspecialties make in 100K-150K range with some making more. Also, many peds subspecialists do a good deal of research (which it sounds like you might be interested in). I'm assuming peds ID is similar to other subspecialties.

 

[quaileggs]

phllystyl...I'm an Infectious Disease wannabe too. Strange bedfellows...

 

[Fanconi]

<---- also very interested in infectious disease, esp. HIV

And I will be getting cultures and DNA probes on any of my future bedfellows. :wink:

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