Crises

[medhead100]

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Ok, so here's the story. I am currently a first year podiatry resident who hates my job. I have had odubts about podiatry for a while, mainl,y because I was interested in going to medical school, but I was hesitant to quit school. I was determined to finish school. I went to residency because I was not sure if I should pursue med school.

Now that I am here, I def know that this is not for me. I want to take my mcat over and apply to med school. I have never applied to traditional med school. I graduated in the top 3 at podiatry, so I have stellar grades. I am doing well on my med rotations in residency. I am 28 right now, so I want to make the right decision with my life. I feel like I have missed years doing somethig I should not have done. Please tell me there is hope for me!

 

[kami333]

Podiatry residencies are what, 3years? Do you think you could stick out for another 2.5years so you have a fall-back just in case medical school doesn't work out?

28 is still young😀 (I'm 28 too)

 

[QofQuimica]

Ok, so here's the story. I am currently a first year podiatry resident who hates my job. I have had odubts about podiatry for a while, mainl,y because I was interested in going to medical school, but I was hesitant to quit school. I was determined to finish school. I went to residency because I was not sure if I should pursue med school.

Now that I am here, I def know that this is not for me. I want to take my mcat over and apply to med school. I have never applied to traditional med school. I graduated in the top 3 at podiatry, so I have stellar grades. I am doing well on my med rotations in residency. I am 28 right now, so I want to make the right decision with my life. I feel like I have missed years doing somethig I should not have done. Please tell me there is hope for me!

It's not a question of whether there is hope for you, but rather of what you can do to get yourself into a career you enjoy as painlessly as possible. If you had to put your finger on it, what exactly is it that you hate so much about podiatry? If it's the general practice, have you considered subspecializing? If it's the academic setting, have you looked into going into private practice, working for the government, etc.? In other words, are you absolutely sure that there is no niche in podiatry for you? What is it that you think medicine will give you that podiatry won't? Also, you should consider that what you do during residency may not be like what you do once you're in practice.

On some level, I can understand where you're coming from. I mean, I probably would have enjoyed pharmacy more than medicine, and I definitely don't want to be a general internist. But there are lots of subspecialties out there for people who do residencies in IM, and I'm sure as heck not going to try to get into pharmacy school at this stage of the game. I think if there is any way you can avoid starting over, you should give it some serious consideration. You are so far along in your training already, and you don't need me to tell you how huge of a price you would have to pay in terms of time, money, and soul to go back and start over again in medicine. Whatever you decide, best of luck. 🙂

 

[medhead100]

It's not a question of whether there is hope for you, but rather of what you can do to get yourself into a career you enjoy as painlessly as possible. If you had to put your finger on it, what exactly is it that you hate so much about podiatry? If it's the general practice, have you considered subspecializing? If it's the academic setting, have you looked into going into private practice, working for the government, etc.? In other words, are you absolutely sure that there is no niche in podiatry for you? What is it that you think medicine will give you that podiatry won't? Also, you should consider that what you do during residency may not be like what you do once you're in practice.

On some level, I can understand where you're coming from. I mean, I probably would have enjoyed pharmacy more than medicine, and I definitely don't want to be a general internist. But there are lots of subspecialties out there for people who do residencies in IM, and I'm sure as heck not going to try to get into pharmacy school at this stage of the game. I think if there is any way you can avoid starting over, you should give it some serious consideration. You are so far along in your training already, and you don't need me to tell you how huge of a price you would have to pay in terms of time, money, and soul to go back and start over again in medicine. Whatever you decide, best of luck. 🙂

I think the problem is that the scope is limited. Although I think podiatry is important, esp wrt diabetics, I want to do more in medicine. It is somewhat difficult to subspecialize in podiatry, as your general fieldof practice is limited, and you endup treating everything to make a living. The field is mainly surgically oriented, and I am realizing more and more how I'd rather be a cliniciaan, rather than a surgeon. I have had this thought process over and over rin my head...it only makes me even more depressed. I do reaalize how much more it will take to change field...buti feeell like I have limited options...