Doubts about OB/GYN

[Messerschmitts]

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Since first year of med school I've always thought I'd be an OB/GYN. I loved the material, and I was passionate about the field. But recently seeds of doubt have been sewn. I loved my OB rotation, but one of the attendings I worked with (an REI specialist) asked what I wanted to do, and I told him OB/GYN. He shook his head and looked at the OB/GYN resident working with us, "it's too late for you, but he's still a med student, I've still got time to convince him!" He would spend our OR time together attempting to talk me out of going into his field. "Don't do it, Victor! Go into anaesthesiology! That's what I'd do if I could."

I just finished my internal medicine rotation (which I had a great time in), and was invited by my attending to his house for a Christmas dinner party. At the party, three attendings (two internists and one anaethesiologist) spent about an hour trying to talk me out of OB/GYN.

"Victor, if you were my brother or my son, I would never let you go into OB/GYN", my preceptor told me. "It's just not a good field. Look, medicine is like a mountain, and you're at the bottom of the mountain right now, and you can't tell which paths are easiest to the top. We're standing at the top and we can see all the paths from our vantage point, and we're telling you, OB/GYN is not a good field." One of the other attendings used to be an OB/GYN, but switched out to internal medicine.

They all cited the malpractise as their #1 gripe against the field. "But but...I've heard that tort reform..." I tried to counter. "Oh, you young naive med student", they would say, or something to that effect. Then they'd bring up all that stuff about you being legally liable to any child you deliver until they are age 18. "You'll be de facto working for an insurance company, they will take all your money".

Can so many attendings be wrong? On the one hand, I shouldn't let other people tell me what I should do, but on the other hand, is it not being hard-headed to ignore the advice of so many attendings? I've not heard other specialties getting such strong reactions from attendings trying to convince med students otherwise.

 

[Babycatcher2B]

Hi Messerschmitts,

I am currently a 4th year med student applying for Ob/Gyn residency. I have been exactly where you have been, so I know exactly how you feel. CONFUSED!!! I've been discouraged by classmates, attendings, and many others. The way I made my decision was that if I didn't do Ob/Gyn I would be jealous of those who were doing what they actually loved. Also, I had to think about the reason that I went into medicine. It was to help my community from which I come from, not for my own selfish reasons to have a nice and easy, wealthy lifestyle. You have to remember that everyone has a different reason for going into medicine and choosing their careers and why they choose to go to certain residencies and what they desire to get out of their training. Some want to be the best of the best and make lost of money and have a name for them self. I on the otherhand am choosing my career based on my goals, passion, and purpose of my life. Only you can define that. Don't let others discourage you because everyone is different. Hope this helps. Once you are confident in your choice, you will be okay. It may take some time (it did for me).

 

[Goober]

Messerschmitts, your attendings have a point of view which I happen to agree with. However, don't listen to us only . What you should do is talk to some OB/GYN attendings and private practitioners and get their feeling on the subject. I have a good idea of what you will find out.

I will tell you my take. Interest in any subject is good and necessary when you choose a specialty, but even that doesn't mean you will be happy with your choice. Just by passion alone is not enough for many people. What constitutes a good job is equally and perhaps more important than interest in the subject matter. A lot of priorities change the further you get along in life once you have a spouse, kids, ect. Now you may still find your niche in OB/GYN but you should go in with eyes wide open so to speak.

 

[Global Disrobal]

People like to talk (often out of the wrong hole) rather than provide constructive guidance. Anyone who bashes a field they have no part in, diminishes their own credibility. Do your research, talk to as many people as you can, but ultimately look at 1) where your heart is 2) what will make you happy in 20 years (without thinking of income, hours, malpractice) and 3) what you partner (if you have one) thinks. You can gear your practice toward whatever life style you choose.

Best of luck & happy holidays!

 

[Goober]

People like to talk (often out of the wrong hole) rather than provide constructive guidance. Anyone who bashes a field they have no part in, diminishes their own credibility. Do your research, talk to as many people as you can, but ultimately look at 1) where your heart is 2) what will make you happy in 20 years (without thinking of income, hours, malpractice) and 3) what you partner (if you have one) thinks. You can gear your practice toward whatever life style you choose.

I was trying to provide constructive guidance. I said go to talk to attendings and private practice OB/GYN docs who have been in the field for a long time. How is that not constructive? I would take their view over somebody who hasn't been in practice a single day. There is a huge difference what a job is like in training and what is like when you out in the real world. I think the moutain analogy that his attendings gave him is in fact very wise. It is not bashing. Why would I feel the need to bash another specialty? Drs are needed in every specialty, not just that highly sought after ones.

I can assure you that almost all of the reputation that the field has derives from the whining and complaints of its own members. If everything was rosy in OB and all the practioners were happy with their career choice, we wouldn't even be having this discussion would we?

 

[Global Disrobal]

Hey Goober, RELAX! I wasn't referring to you or your post! I was responding to the original post.

I sincerely thought about responding to your comments regarding "training" vs "real world" experience, but I'll just let it be.

Happy holidays!

 

[Goober]

ok no worries. 🙂