Diagnostically interesting specialties?

[behindthemask]

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I attempted to find another thread on this topic, but didn't see one -- apologies if I missed it.

As a rising med student in the class of '13, I am researching potential faculty mentors to possibly become involved with some kind of interesting research, but with an eye towards the future, I was wondering which specialties tend to be the most diagnostically challenging/interesting? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

Plastic Surgery. Definitely a diagnostic dilemma. How big can them titties be!?

 

[behindthemask]

(see below)

 

[behindthemask]

Plastic Surgery. Definitely a diagnostic dilemma. How big can them titties be!?

That's what I hear from Drs. Troy and McNamara...yikes.

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I attempted to find another thread on this topic, but didn't see one -- apologies if I missed it.

As a rising med student in the class of '13, I am researching potential faculty mentors to possibly become involved with some kind of interesting research, but with an eye towards the future, I was wondering which specialties tend to be the most diagnostically challenging/interesting? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Diagnostic medicine, obviously.

I've heard Princeton has a great program. Watch out though, the attending is known to be kind of malignant. And possibly psychotic.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I attempted to find another thread on this topic, but didn't see one -- apologies if I missed it.

As a rising med student in the class of '13, I am researching potential faculty mentors to possibly become involved with some kind of interesting research, but with an eye towards the future, I was wondering which specialties tend to be the most diagnostically challenging/interesting? Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Medicine and pediatrics are going to have the broadest range of diagnoses. Within these, subspecialties like rheumatology, nephrology, oncology, and ID have plenty of zebras.

Neurology is chock full of zebras and involves lots of diagnosis. The nice side is that unlike the subspecialties mentioned above, neurology doesn't really focus on any particular pathogenesis, as e.g. rheumatology > autoimmunity, oncology > cancer, ID > infection. In neurology you can see infections, cancer, autoimmunity, thrombosis, psychiatric issues converting into pain issues, etc.

The downside of neurology, and the reason why I would never go into it, is that the treatments are still pretty poor for many of these conditions and the conditions can be pretty devastating.

 

[Mayhem]

Internal medicine always brings out the Sherlock in me. It's what happens after the diagnosis that I'm not so in love with. If you're non-clinical I found forensic path really interesting but missed the hospital.

 

[Mr hawkings]

Infectious disease in Florida.

 

[ThisLittlePig]

Any of the internal specialties would be a great place to start if you are in search of an area of medicine that will keep you in its thrall.

Endocrinology,Renal medicine,Respiratory,Cardiology,Haematology,Gastroenterology. They all make for some exciting times.

 

[MrBurns10]

No mention of diagnostic radiology?? 😱 It's almost all diagnosis!

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

MrBurns10 cannot be ruled out, however clinical correlation is recommended.

 

[neurolddoc]

Neurology is chock full of zebras and involves lots of diagnosis. The nice side is that unlike the subspecialties mentioned above, neurology doesn't really focus on any particular pathogenesis, as e.g. rheumatology > autoimmunity, oncology > cancer, ID > infection. In neurology you can see infections, cancer, autoimmunity, thrombosis, psychiatric issues converting into pain issues, etc.

The downside of neurology, and the reason why I would never go into it, is that the treatments are still pretty poor for many of these conditions and the conditions can be pretty devastating.

Not quite true...
MS-lots of Rx available and most patients do really well for many years
Epilepsy- many treatments including new meds, implantable devices and surgical options.
Parkinsons- again teatable with multiple medications that make a large impact on quality of life.
Alzheimer- Treatment are less effective than in other diseases.
Stroke- Acute treatment available, most of the time you are dealing with secondary prevention.
Migraine- highly effective rescue and prophylactic treatments.

Of course every field has conditions that are chronic and for which limited therapies exist. I would not characterize neuro as being worse than most other field therapeutically

 

[cleothecat]

I make dozens of new diagnoses each and every day.

Pathology also is in the running, especially if you enjoy the molecular basis of disease.

 

[MrBurns10]

MrBurns10 cannot be ruled out, however clinical correlation is recommended.

Well played, sir. Well played.

 

[JPmamd09]

My vote's for pathology - I love diagnosis and that's the reason I've chosen to apply for it. I guess it depends on the types of dx you'd like to make. You make diagnoses in outpatient peds for example, but they're very different from the ones you might make as a pathologist/radiologist/IM or peds hospitalist or specialist. I'd suggest keeping an open mind and trying out as much stuff as you can. Try to diversify your shadowing opportuninties in med school as much as possible, and be open to any specialty. Good luck!

 

[greatnt249]

I've heard Princeton has a great program. Watch out though, the attending is known to be kind of malignant. And possibly psychotic.

I'll make sure to check it out; I've always wanted to get away with nearly killing my patients before discovering that the patient did not, indeed, have lupus.😉

 

[Dwindlin]

I'll make sure to check it out; I've always wanted to get away with nearly killing my patients before discovering that the patient did not, indeed, have lupus.😉

It's never lupus...

 

[gluon999]

I make dozens of new diagnoses each and every day.

Pathology also is in the running, especially if you enjoy the molecular basis of disease.

You don't post much in the rads forums, do you?

 

[Tiger26]

Gotta be EM--you see almost everything that enters the hospital unless it's a planned surgery or direct admit.

You don't always find out the final diagnosis during their time in the ED, but you can at least break it down into three groups: benign, badness, and drug-seeking/lazy

 

[Pathjob]

My vote's for pathology - I love diagnosis and that's the reason I've chosen to apply for it. I guess it depends on the types of dx you'd like to make. You make diagnoses in outpatient peds for example, but they're very different from the ones you might make as a pathologist/radiologist/IM or peds hospitalist or specialist. I'd suggest keeping an open mind and trying out as much stuff as you can. Try to diversify your shadowing opportuninties in med school as much as possible, and be open to any specialty. Good luck!

Although my status lists me as "dentist", I am an anatomic pathologist. As a practicing pathologist for over fifteen years and, now, an attending pathologist at a medical school, my advice is to avoid pathology as you would a rattle snake or a scorpion. Apart from Chairs of departments and partners in practices (it is almost impossible these days to become a partner in a practice), the money is simply not very good. I never had a base salary above $175,000. With some luck, I may be able to become a full professor in three years, at which point my salary will be about $185,000. Whereas about twenty or thirty articles may suffice to generate a clinical professorship in medicine, you can forget about applying for a pathology professorship these days with less than about 80 articles. Even then, the chances are meager of anyone ever granting it to you. As for tenure, if you can get grants, that's wonderful, but grants are infinitely easier to obtain if you practice medicine than if you practice pathology. There are few academics who earn $300,000, but they are also those who acquire grants or international fame. There have been almost no jobs for decades now. It is astonishing how frequently the news comes of another friend's being unemployed after years of dedicated, competent service.