I did a quick search, and most of the threads are dated, so I figured it would be permissive to post a new one.
I'm anticipating having a difficult time making a decision on what residency to ultimately choose, and if someone could give me something to chew on, I'd appreciate it. I scheduled IM and Surgery before the winter break because I realize that's the big "breaking point" - deciding between clinic and the OR. However, I'm having a rough time figuring out which I like more. I'm not asking for you guys to make a decision for me, just to tell me how you reached your decisions or if you're confronted with the same problems, etc.
A little background on me: I did a post-sophomore fellowship in pathology after MSII because I enjoyed pathophysiology, didn't think I would like talking to patients much, and am intellectually curious. I figured it would be a good learning opportunity (which it was), and it would be one of the last chances I would have to try something off of the "beaten path." I thought it was an okay way to make a living, but I wasn't very good at it. I guess that rules out path and radiology.
Enter third year - I started on family medicine. I instantly found that I was very good at talking to patients and establishing rapport. In fact, most of my evaluations reflected my dedication to my patients, ease of establishing rapport, and organizational ability with presenting patients to attendings.
My IM evaluations also reflected the same tone. I realized in IM that I was very good at critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and assembling the puzzle together to arrive at one conclusion with a differential (if I couldn't get it to the final step in the differental, I could always narrow it down to 2 or 3 viable options on the differential). I also met an attending who I felt was very influential. At one point, I said to myself, "I want to be just like him." I also realized that I love treating sick patients. I mean VERY sick patients...Yes, the outcomes aren't always good, but the satisfaction of being able to help someone when no one else can is extremely appealing to me.
Now, I'm on surgery, and I love the surgeon attitude. "There's the problem, let's go fix it." I'm impressed with taking a sick patient at time A and, shortly thereafter, them being better at time B (or at least feeling better). I could do without the callusness and lack of empathy, but there's nothing written in stone that says I have to be a cold hearted surgeon.
I'm fairly certain I won't want to do neurology (lack of intervention), psych (not my cup of tea), or peds. OB/GYN is a (very) distant possibility, but if I'm going to go that route, it would likely be because of the procedures, in which case I could just go with surgery.
I've taken every specialty aptitude test out there. They all give me varied results - mixtures of IM and surgical subspecialties all at the top. Like I said, if anyone out there can give me something to chew on, I'd appreciate it.
I'm anticipating having a difficult time making a decision on what residency to ultimately choose, and if someone could give me something to chew on, I'd appreciate it. I scheduled IM and Surgery before the winter break because I realize that's the big "breaking point" - deciding between clinic and the OR. However, I'm having a rough time figuring out which I like more. I'm not asking for you guys to make a decision for me, just to tell me how you reached your decisions or if you're confronted with the same problems, etc.
A little background on me: I did a post-sophomore fellowship in pathology after MSII because I enjoyed pathophysiology, didn't think I would like talking to patients much, and am intellectually curious. I figured it would be a good learning opportunity (which it was), and it would be one of the last chances I would have to try something off of the "beaten path." I thought it was an okay way to make a living, but I wasn't very good at it. I guess that rules out path and radiology.
Enter third year - I started on family medicine. I instantly found that I was very good at talking to patients and establishing rapport. In fact, most of my evaluations reflected my dedication to my patients, ease of establishing rapport, and organizational ability with presenting patients to attendings.
My IM evaluations also reflected the same tone. I realized in IM that I was very good at critical thinking, deductive reasoning, and assembling the puzzle together to arrive at one conclusion with a differential (if I couldn't get it to the final step in the differental, I could always narrow it down to 2 or 3 viable options on the differential). I also met an attending who I felt was very influential. At one point, I said to myself, "I want to be just like him." I also realized that I love treating sick patients. I mean VERY sick patients...Yes, the outcomes aren't always good, but the satisfaction of being able to help someone when no one else can is extremely appealing to me.
Now, I'm on surgery, and I love the surgeon attitude. "There's the problem, let's go fix it." I'm impressed with taking a sick patient at time A and, shortly thereafter, them being better at time B (or at least feeling better). I could do without the callusness and lack of empathy, but there's nothing written in stone that says I have to be a cold hearted surgeon.
I'm fairly certain I won't want to do neurology (lack of intervention), psych (not my cup of tea), or peds. OB/GYN is a (very) distant possibility, but if I'm going to go that route, it would likely be because of the procedures, in which case I could just go with surgery.
I've taken every specialty aptitude test out there. They all give me varied results - mixtures of IM and surgical subspecialties all at the top. Like I said, if anyone out there can give me something to chew on, I'd appreciate it.
