Anyone regret switching out of surgery?

[train111]

For residents out there who switched out of a surgery residency to another field, do you regret it? I've read a couple stories here on SDN, and most people seem to be happy with their choice, but I was curious if anyone ended up trying to switch back into surgery.

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[mTOR]

http://www.twincities.com/ci_17120448?nclick_check=1

count your blessings

 

[Buzz Me]

surgery sucks. just sayin

http://www.twincities.com/ci_17120448?nclick_check=1

count your blessings

I would refrain from making comments such as this one if you're not actually in the field of surgery.

 

[mTOR]

^whatever.

Anyways OP, I posted this elsewhere, but hopefully it helps you out in your decision (if it is fueled in part by lifestyle considerations, that is)

Job Satisfaction by Specialty based on the 1996-1997 Community Tracking Physician Survey (CTS) data:

Source: Physician Career Satisfaction Across Specialties (Leigh, et. al. 2002)

Job Satisfaction by Specialty based on the 2004-2005 Community Tracking Physician Survey (CTS) data, ranked from most satisfied to least:

Source: Physician career satisfaction within specialties (Leigh, et. al. 2009)

The best specialties of them all -- Path, Rads, and Gas -- were excluded from the survey. Otherwise they'd obviously pawn the rest (lulz).

Anyways, hope this helps. 🙂

Best of luck in whatever you decide

 

[turquoiseblue]

I dont' know what it is, but I totally miss surgery. It is so cool! I wanna go back if I ever can, but it may not be in my stars.

 

[dynx]

For residents out there who switched out of a surgery residency to another field, do you regret it? I've read a couple stories here on SDN, and most people seem to be happy with their choice, but I was curious if anyone ended up trying to switch back into surgery.

I'm in surgery and staying so thats the context of my statement. My opinion is if you're not fully sure its what you want to do then get out for your own benefit. I love it but if I couldnt do my chosen subspecialty I'd leave the field of surgery and never look back. The sacrifice isnt worth stapling colons together all day.

 

[deuist]

I've always wondered why general surgery has to be the gateway for so many specialized fields such as breast and burn that have nothing to do with bowels and bellies. At least for cardiothoracic, vascular, and plastics there are some options to forgo general surgery and do an integrated path.

 

[dragonfly99]

I'm not sure what to make of that article above.
Ophthalmology is pretty cushy, from what I know of it, so not sure why they'd be so unhappy. Also, private practice ortho makes crazy bank...perhaps their call is bad, but I would think it wouldn't be for your average knee or elbow ortho guy in the community. Also, I'd stab myself in the eyeball with a sharp object repeatedly before I'd do geriatrics, but most of the docs who do geriatrics are SO ridiculously nice that they are like Mr Rogers. They probably are so kind hearted they would have 10/10 job satisfaction working in the slums of Calcutta like Mother Theresa. I think you have to take these surveys with a grain of salt in the sense that they reflect not only the effects of the specialties on people but maybe the types of people who choose certain specialties.

That said, if you are going to do surgery then you need to realize that the residency is going to be more hours, and more pressure, than a lot of other fields. There is pressure to perform because you can easily hurt people when you are cutting them open, and there are crappy work hours because you have to learn to operate and so some floor work/patient management as well, while some other specialties can take 1/2 the day to round. Also, most surgical specialties put a lot of stock in their yearly in-service exams, and my impression is this creates more stress. I did internal medicine and at some programs this can be a pretty demanding residency, particulary during intern year, but at least there are certain months that are cushier, and the in-service exam isn't SUCH a big deal, and if you decide you'd rather slack off a bit long term, it's a broad field and once you've done your residency you can find a job where you'll work less hours. Surgeons don't really have as many options (even as attendings) for a cush work schedule, etc. You've got to love what you do it it will probably grind you down rather quickly.

 

[BlondeDocteur]

Of the people I know who have left-- and 100 percent left because of lifestyle concerns-- all will say that they're happy, on balance. They made their choice to spend time with their families, and that's what they're doing. But they miss surgery. They miss the drama. They still hold surgical stereotypes about their new field (frequently anesthesia.) they still joke around with the surgical team, wanting to be thought of as "one of them."

Some people do try to switch back. It's a little bit of a deal with the devil- you do a specialty that honestly you're not all that passionate about in exchange for loads of intangibles.

There are definitely some people who find they're genuinely not interested in surgery. I think a small minority of people (this is based on nothing more than just looking around) are scared of the situations you can find yourself in in surgical training and want to prove to themselves that they can do it, that they're tough enough. They find they're still scared and they hate the stress. They perhaps aren't confident in, or reasonably competent at, their technical skills. They IMHO tend to become unhappy fast and switch early. The first group (lifestyle group) switch after 2-3 yrs.

 

[Orange Julius]

I love it but if I couldnt do my chosen subspecialty I'd leave the field of surgery and never look back. The sacrifice isnt worth stapling colons together all day.

Awesome!!