Criteria for deciding between fields

[eskimo]

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Hi,

I'm currently in a pickle. I have do decide pretty soon which field of practice I want to go for. I have narrowed it down to Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, and General Surgery (then going for Pediatric Surgery). Every day I wake up feeling certain that I have made my choice and then the next day it changes.

I was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences and what criteria did you use to decide what exactly to go into. The problem is that I am really interested in all 3 of these and I'm sure that I'd be happy with either of these choices.

Thanks 🙂

 

[napoleondynamite]

I just gotta say..we are so freaking lucky. All of us are in the "predicament" of deciding between many positive choices..not a bad pickle to be in.

Good luck as you make your choice 🙂

 

[eskimo]

I just gotta say..we are so freaking lucky. All of us are in the "predicament" of deciding between many positive choices..not a bad pickle to be in.

Good luck as you make your choice 🙂

Thanks. Your post brought a smile to my face 😀 And we really are lucky!!

 

[dynx]

I have narrowed it down to Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, and General Surgery (then going for Pediatric Surgery). 🙂

If you're deciding between surgery (esp. peds) and any other field you should consider any other field and eliminate surgery from your list.

 

[eskimo]

If you're deciding between surgery (esp. peds) and any other field you should consider any other field and eliminate surgery from your list.

Would you like to give me some more insight into your opinion please?

 

[dynx]

Would you like to give me some more insight into your opinion please?

Some people say if you are happy doing anything else you should do that since the price for surgery is only worth it if you're only happy doing that.

 

[H_Caulfield]

At the risk of saying something straight out of a speech to a bunch of highschool kids at graduation:

If the main "con" you're considering regarding surgery is that it's too much work....then choose surgery. I know plenty of IM and EM residents working 80 hours per week; don't take FREIDA's "61 hours," or some other such nonsense, too seriously. The truth is that it's all difficult, and that, regardless of field, in the end you WILL be able to set your schedule (all professionals can). Surgeons work more because they WANT to, and because they make so much money by doing so.

What's more exciting than surgery? If it's on your list, I'd say you have to pick it...

 

[Lonestar]

Dear eskimo,

how badly do you want to cut? if you cannot live without it, then you have an answer. It seems to me that you don't want surgery that badly otherwise you would have made up your mind right now. As for the other two choices, i can give you insight into one. I am currently a 3rd yr anesthesia resident. Anesthesia residency is tough regardless of where you go. The number of hours might not be that much, but the amount of time actually doing cases/procedures is high. Most residents are happy. Job prospects are pretty good. Satisfaction in the private world is high. When i made my decision, i really looked at the satisfaction/happiness of the private groups. There are multiple fellowship options if that is your cup of tea. But most residents are currently opting out. All in all, i am currently happy with anesthesia and my program. I know it will only get better once I graduate (i can choose the amt of hours i want to work).

 

[Leukocyte]

Some people say if you are happy doing anything else you should do that since the price for surgery is only worth it if you're only happy doing that.

I agree with you on this.

Eskimo, please go to the Surgery forum and take a look at the posts by the Surgical residents there.

If you want advice regarding General Surgery, get it from General Surgery residents....not from some resident in some other specialty.

No, general surgery residency is not like any other residency. Was your General Surgery core similar to your Psychiatry Core?!!!! All residencies are demanding, but some residencies and fields are just more demanding than others.

Again, for general surgery advice, go to the surgery forum and read posts by the SURGICAL RESIDENTS like Kim Cox, Pilot, Supercut, Boston....

And as for Peds Sx, I am sure you are aware that it is one of the MOST competitive Fellowships . Would you be happy practicing pure GS if things do not work out as far as Peds go? Would you be happy going into other (less competitive) surgical fellowships?

I am biased, but I encourage you to go into Surgery IF you love it, do not mind the hours (it is not always "80 hours"🙄 ), and cannot picture yourself doing any other medical task.

Again, for questions on how demanding GS is, please go to the surgery forum and ask the seasoned surgical residents there.

In the end...choose what you like doing the most. When we do something we enjoy, we do not notice the time go by, and we will never regret doing it. P.S.: Did you look at the time when you did your Surgical core and Sub-I's?😉

Yes..Peds Sx is the best!!! (at least for me). Just too bad it is so damn competitive and hard to get in.🙁

Good Luck!