CONFUSED! Anaesthesiology vs Dermatology vs Opthalmology!!

[Myztay]

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Hi

I am a 3rd Year Medical Student at Imperial College Medical School, London, UK, and I have set my sights on practising in the US once I graduate.

In the UK the route to becoming a doctor is different to the US, and the MBBS/BSc is a 6 year undergraduate degree (2 years theory, 3rd year clinical, 4th year BSc, 5th and 6th years clinical). My BSc is going to be in Endocrinology, and I am not able to change it because of the way the application system worked out.

I plan to do the USMLE before I graduate, so when I do, I won't have to work Foundation Year 1 in the UK before going to the States.

The summer of 2009 will be my last chance to get some proper research under my belt (apart from in the BSc) in an area that I could potentially specialise in, because after that I will get no summer holidays. When thinking about what kind of research I wanted to do, I reached the dilema of thinking, Oh my goodness, I actually need to decide what speciality I want to go in, there is no point doing research in dermatology if I would want to apply for an anaesthesiology residency once I graduated. Also, being a UK student applying to the US, I would want to have as much experience under my belt as possible in order to get a good job.

As a female, I plan to eventually get married and have children. It was originally Obs and Gynae that drew me to be a doctor, but I realised that I would have a very hectic lifestyle in that profession and would always be on call. I was naive when I was younger. I have now realised I just want to specialise in a field where I can help people, but I have HIGH aspirations and want to be very successful, I want to make a LOT of money and have a relatively good lifestyle.

Therefore I cancelled Surgery and Obs and Gynae off my list. I love endocrinology but I don't think the opportunity to make a lot of money is in that field.

I have boiled it down to 4 options: Dermatology, Opthalmology and Anaesthesiology.

Please could any of you enlighten me on this, I feel really underpressure at the moment to make a decision and focus on it whole heartedly and not walk blindly into a specialty. I need to start applying for summer research opportunities ASAP!

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to hearing from you

 

[Pilot Doc]

I have HIGH aspirations and want to be very successful, I want to make a LOT of money and have a relatively good lifestyle.

You don't get to do all that. Especially as a parent. Doubly so as an IMG.

You need to go back to the drawing board and reassess what you really want.

 

[Bertelman]

Hi

I am a 3rd Year Medical Student at Imperial College Medical School, London, UK, and I have set my sights on practising in the US once I graduate.

In the UK the route to becoming a doctor is different to the US, and the MBBS/BSc is a 6 year undergraduate degree (2 years theory, 3rd year clinical, 4th year BSc, 5th and 6th years clinical). My BSc is going to be in Endocrinology, and I am not able to change it because of the way the application system worked out.

I plan to do the USMLE before I graduate, so when I do, I won't have to work Foundation Year 1 in the UK before going to the States.

The summer of 2009 will be my last chance to get some proper research under my belt (apart from in the BSc) in an area that I could potentially specialise in, because after that I will get no summer holidays. When thinking about what kind of research I wanted to do, I reached the dilema of thinking, Oh my goodness, I actually need to decide what speciality I want to go in, there is no point doing research in dermatology if I would want to apply for an anaesthesiology residency once I graduated. Also, being a UK student applying to the US, I would want to have as much experience under my belt as possible in order to get a good job.

As a female, I plan to eventually get married and have children. It was originally Obs and Gynae that drew me to be a doctor, but I realised that I would have a very hectic lifestyle in that profession and would always be on call. I was naive when I was younger. I have now realised I just want to specialise in a field where I can help people, but I have HIGH aspirations and want to be very successful, I want to make a LOT of money and have a relatively good lifestyle.

Therefore I cancelled Surgery and Obs and Gynae off my list. I love endocrinology but I don't think the opportunity to make a lot of money is in that field.

I have boiled it down to 4 options: Dermatology, Opthalmology and Anaesthesiology.

Please could any of you enlighten me on this, I feel really underpressure at the moment to make a decision and focus on it whole heartedly and not walk blindly into a specialty. I need to start applying for summer research opportunities ASAP!

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to hearing from you

You shouldn't cross OB off your list. That specialty is remarkably flexible in terms of part-time practices. You'll never be able to avoid call, but you should be able to find a practice where you split time with another doc, say maybe 2-3 clinical days a week, and limited call.

I wouldn't expect to find too many helpful answers here comparing Derm, Ophtho and Gas. That triad suggests your primary interest is compensation. Each specialty has a very different feel. Anesthesia is all OR all the time. Ophtho is a mixed practice, as is Derm. The common link is all are considered "lifestyle" specialties. In your above post, you stated 4 options, then listed 3. Did you forget to mention Radiology? That would be the final "lifestyle" specialty

Point is, no one here can give you valuable advice if you are chasing the $. If that's your ultimate goal, you'll do whatever it takes to make $, and there's nothing anyone here can tell you to help. You'll ultimately be unsatisfied in your work.

If you're truly interested in the practice of Anesthesiology, Ophtho or Derm, you should follow a physician in that field. Talk to them about what they love and what they hate. If you enjoy the OR, you won't be satisfied with Derm. Ophtho may satisfy that pleasure on OR days. If you like calling your own shots, you will eventually become dissatisfied with Gas. If you hate the clinic, both Ophtho and Derm will drive you crazy.

The best advice anyone here can tell you is to quit thinking that making the most money possible will make your life worthwhile. Find what you enjoy, then accept the money that comes with that field. With the current state of our economy, a new administration and unknown future of healthcare reimbursement, you shouldn't rely on traditional stigmas of specialty reimbursement for your future happiness.

 

[drusso]

Lifestyle is a very legtimate concern in medicine. Being selfless and self-sacrificing all the time does not make you a better doctor.

If you're interested in "life-style" practices in the USA, you can basically choose between the ROAD specialties which are usually more competitive and offer a slightly higher compensation, and the PROUD specialties which also offer a good "controllable" lifestyle, less call, and reasonable compensation.

Radiology
Ophthalmology
Anesthesiology
Dermatololgy

VS

Physiatry/Pathology
Radiation Oncology
Occupational medicine
Urology
Dermatology

 

[Southpaw]

I have boiled it down to 4 options: Dermatology, Opthalmology and Anaesthesiology.

What's the fourth option? It's obvious lifestyle is your top priority, so get a 270 on Step 1 and go Derm. Good luck.

 

[secretasianman]

queue mmd entrance 🙂.

 

[drccw]

sorry to be the jerk.. but don't go into anesthesiology..
pick derm, optho or rads...

I don't want people in this field for the wrong reasons.... all of your reasons are the wrong ones... lifestyle, money, etc etc... this is not the place for you and you will not be happy in anesthesiology...

As an attending you can make solid money but you gotta work to make it.. sure you can move to east bumble and make bank, but you got to be willing to work...

what I want are bad *****, smart, folks who have a good knowledge of pharmacology and physiology, deft with their hands, and able to drink a cup of coffe/surf the internet/intubate/place a central line while doing their sudoko all at once (ie multi-task)...

the guy or gal who is watching the clock, watching the door.. no thank you, not in my practice...

 

[dhb]

Hi

I am a 3rd Year Medical Student at Imperial College Medical School, London, UK, and I have set my sights on practising in the US once I graduate.

In the UK the route to becoming a doctor is different to the US, and the MBBS/BSc is a 6 year undergraduate degree (2 years theory, 3rd year clinical, 4th year BSc, 5th and 6th years clinical). My BSc is going to be in Endocrinology, and I am not able to change it because of the way the application system worked out.

I plan to do the USMLE before I graduate, so when I do, I won't have to work Foundation Year 1 in the UK before going to the States.

The summer of 2009 will be my last chance to get some proper research under my belt (apart from in the BSc) in an area that I could potentially specialise in, because after that I will get no summer holidays. When thinking about what kind of research I wanted to do, I reached the dilema of thinking, Oh my goodness, I actually need to decide what speciality I want to go in, there is no point doing research in dermatology if I would want to apply for an anaesthesiology residency once I graduated. Also, being a UK student applying to the US, I would want to have as much experience under my belt as possible in order to get a good job.

As a female, I plan to eventually get married and have children. It was originally Obs and Gynae that drew me to be a doctor, but I realised that I would have a very hectic lifestyle in that profession and would always be on call. I was naive when I was younger. I have now realised I just want to specialise in a field where I can help people, but I have HIGH aspirations and want to be very successful, I want to make a LOT of money and have a relatively good lifestyle.

Therefore I cancelled Surgery and Obs and Gynae off my list. I love endocrinology but I don't think the opportunity to make a lot of money is in that field.

I have boiled it down to 4 options: Dermatology, Opthalmology and Anaesthesiology.

Please could any of you enlighten me on this, I feel really underpressure at the moment to make a decision and focus on it whole heartedly and not walk blindly into a specialty. I need to start applying for summer research opportunities ASAP!

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to hearing from you

😆

ps: if it wasn't a joke it's still funny

 

[badasshairday]

You want to make a boat load of money with as little work possible? Go into derm... but good luck getting into it considering you are going to be an IMG.

 

[tranman]

Is this a real post? Because it's pretty amusing to me.

If so, your reasons for going into medicine are pretty weak: you can have good lifestyle, make good money, help others, and be "successful" doing other things than medicine.

 

[lord_jeebus]

Occupational Medicine

 

[2oRadio]

What's the fourth option? It's obvious lifestyle is your top priority, so get a 270 on Step 1 and go Derm. Good luck.

Not for IMGs.

Get Step 1 on 270 and spend years as lab rat. Then go derm. Maybe.

Either way, derm will weed out people like this interested solely for lifestyle/money. They're not stupid.

 

[DO4lifer]

if you want to make easy money, then why are you doing medicine?

get an MBA and do business!!

 

[DO4lifer]

what I want are bad *****, smart, folks who have a good knowledge of pharmacology and physiology, deft with their hands, and able to drink a cup of coffe/surf the internet/intubate/place a central line while doing their sudoko all at once (ie multi-task)...

you practically described my style, unfortunately haven't mastered sudoku yet.

 

[leviathan]

Hi

I am a 3rd Year Medical Student at Imperial College Medical School, London, UK, and I have set my sights on practising in the US once I graduate.

In the UK the route to becoming a doctor is different to the US, and the MBBS/BSc is a 6 year undergraduate degree (2 years theory, 3rd year clinical, 4th year BSc, 5th and 6th years clinical). My BSc is going to be in Endocrinology, and I am not able to change it because of the way the application system worked out.

I plan to do the USMLE before I graduate, so when I do, I won't have to work Foundation Year 1 in the UK before going to the States.

The summer of 2009 will be my last chance to get some proper research under my belt (apart from in the BSc) in an area that I could potentially specialise in, because after that I will get no summer holidays. When thinking about what kind of research I wanted to do, I reached the dilema of thinking, Oh my goodness, I actually need to decide what speciality I want to go in, there is no point doing research in dermatology if I would want to apply for an anaesthesiology residency once I graduated. Also, being a UK student applying to the US, I would want to have as much experience under my belt as possible in order to get a good job.

As a female, I plan to eventually get married and have children. It was originally Obs and Gynae that drew me to be a doctor, but I realised that I would have a very hectic lifestyle in that profession and would always be on call. I was naive when I was younger. I have now realised I just want to specialise in a field where I can help people, but I have HIGH aspirations and want to be very successful, I want to make a LOT of money and have a relatively good lifestyle.

Therefore I cancelled Surgery and Obs and Gynae off my list. I love endocrinology but I don't think the opportunity to make a lot of money is in that field.

I have boiled it down to 4 options: Dermatology, Opthalmology and Anaesthesiology.

Please could any of you enlighten me on this, I feel really underpressure at the moment to make a decision and focus on it whole heartedly and not walk blindly into a specialty. I need to start applying for summer research opportunities ASAP!

Thanks guys, I'm really looking forward to hearing from you

Sounds like you're in medicine for all the very wrong reasons. As it's too late to switch now, I would focus long and hard on finding something that interests you and forget about the pay. If two areas of medicine are close to equal in their interest to you and one pays more, then maybe choose the one that pays more. But to go for a ROAD specialty solely because of the money is a very, very bad idea. You will get used to the money and success very quickly, and all that you will be left with is a crappy job that you hate going to every day.

 

[sestamibi]

But to go for a ROAD specialty solely because of the money is a very, very bad idea. You will get used to the money and success very quickly, and all that you will be left with is a crappy job that you hate going to every day.

Hate to be harsh but sounds like the OP is a *****.

Easy money?

With the DRA in radiology, the slashed cataract reimbursement for ophtho, the slashed MOHS reimbursement in derm, and the ever-brewing CRNA "crisis" threads in the subforum here, there's no such thing as easy money in medicine.

It's not just a trite adage. It's actually good advice. Listen to Leviathan: do what you like. Ignore the $ because there's an excellent chance it'll be gone by the time you actually get to practice.

 

[GassiusClay]

Hate to be harsh but sounds like the OP is a *****.

Easy money?

With the DRA in radiology, the slashed cataract reimbursement for ophtho, the slashed MOHS reimbursement in derm, and the ever-brewing CRNA "crisis" threads in the subforum here, there's no such thing as easy money in medicine.

It's not just a trite adage. It's actually good advice. Listen to Leviathan: do what you like. Ignore the $ because there's an excellent chance it'll be gone by the time you actually get to practice.

Correct. Easy money is out the door even for rad onc folks. The old saying of do what you love will apply more and more in the coming decade. Overall, doctors are losing autonomy, respect from patients, and obviously compensation. So hope you can hold onto just being interested in the science behind medicine if the dark ages roll through.

 

[RxBoy]

The fact that you are an IMG makes you a bad candidate for Derm or Optho.

The fact that you are considering derm or Optho makes you an even worse candidate for Anesthesiology.


My advice: Stay in England, the "American Dream" is on the verge of becoming an "American Nightmare".

 

[zxc1234]

Hate to be harsh but sounds like the OP is a *****.

Easy money?

With the DRA in radiology, the slashed cataract reimbursement for ophtho, the slashed MOHS reimbursement in derm, and the ever-brewing CRNA "crisis" threads in the subforum here, there's no such thing as easy money in medicine.

It's not just a trite adage. It's actually good advice. Listen to Leviathan: do what you like. Ignore the $ because there's an excellent chance it'll be gone by the time you actually get to practice.

What's a DRA and MOHS?

 

[darkmansaad]

anyone who is serious about going into derm/optho as an IMG has to realize that when they list "4 options" ....and only list 3.....its not a good sign

 

[Foghorn Leghorn]

What's a DRA and MOHS?

DRA is the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.
MOHS is a type of "microsurgery" for skin cancer named for Fredrick Mohs.

 

[Pooh & Annie]

Either way, derm will weed out people like this interested solely for lifestyle/money. They're not stupid.

'Weed them out'? What does that leave, people who love skin?

 

[amyl]

it leaves people who like to say erythematous lichenified macule and bullous phempigus instead of red spot and blister ;-)

 

[sestamibi]

'Weed them out'? What does that leave, people who love skin?

Umm...YEAH

Smart people are a dime a dozen in their applicant pool. Assuming the OP is a genius, what edge does that give her over people who take a year off to do derm research?

Over people who take off 4 years to pursue a PhD?

Over people who have connections via their home rotations?

Over people who have toured the country on multiple away rotations?

Over people who have pursued post-med school clinical research fellowships in dermatology?

If you only like it for the $/lifestyle, can you see yourself doing all that? Derm has a way of weeding out those who don't really like it.

 

[deleted59964]

Either way, derm will weed out people like this interested solely for lifestyle/money. They're not stupid.

um yeah - i find lichenification fascinating - that's why I want to do derm. ... oh and acne.