- Joined
- Sep 28, 2009
- Messages
- 780
- Reaction score
- 700
I came in dead set on EM, and various posters in both this and the EM forum have allowed me to go into my later years with an open mind (long time stalker). Thus, I have really started to like surgery and anesthesiology. Its really too bad that so many young minds don't get to see all of the specialities from day one, instead are sort of guided into certain specialties based on the specialties of the good faculty at one's school (EM and FM at my school).
That said, I had my first gas experience today, and I was shocked. In just one shift I saw and took place in more procedures than I did in both EM and surgery, both of which I am interested in. I did have a few questions though about day to day practice and where I need to go from here to see if I like anesthesiology long term.
1. I basically saw anesthesiology in a small rural area, in a hospital with 1 gas doc and about 6 or 7 CRNAs under his control. How common is this, and if I want to work in a medium-big city, how hard is it to find a job? Obviously this doc has it made, 8-5 out patient surgery with CRNAs on staff @ nights and weekends, but that is one doc for an entire hospital.
2. I love surgery (especially SICU) and procedures, but honestly I hate the hours. My respect for my family and friends just won't allow my conscience to do surgery even though I love being in the OR. That said, for docs that do a critical care fellowship, how much are the in the ICU? For example, on my trauma service I got to be in the ICU for 50% of the day and in the OR 50% of the day. I was one of the few people that liked that trauma surgery wasn't 100% operative because you could still use your brain and treat the sick (but the 24 hour shift, 3x a week suck).
3. I also like research, in fact I have a PhD in the basic sciences, and so I would like to explore research at least in some shape or form. Ideally I wouldn't work at the ivory tower, but maybe a level 1 trauma center or something that needs to pump out some research, plus clinic time, would be ideal. How realistic is this in anesthesiology?
4. I am geographically limited. I goto Ohio University (DO) and would prefer to end up in Columbus for residency (while not 100% necessary, sick family make it some what of a priority). Are board scores the be all end all, like in surgery? Scoring 240ish is a must to be competitive for Ohio State on step 1?
Thank you all and I hope to become a future contributor to this forum. It is one of the few intellectual and forums to actually stalk on this site!
That said, I had my first gas experience today, and I was shocked. In just one shift I saw and took place in more procedures than I did in both EM and surgery, both of which I am interested in. I did have a few questions though about day to day practice and where I need to go from here to see if I like anesthesiology long term.
1. I basically saw anesthesiology in a small rural area, in a hospital with 1 gas doc and about 6 or 7 CRNAs under his control. How common is this, and if I want to work in a medium-big city, how hard is it to find a job? Obviously this doc has it made, 8-5 out patient surgery with CRNAs on staff @ nights and weekends, but that is one doc for an entire hospital.
2. I love surgery (especially SICU) and procedures, but honestly I hate the hours. My respect for my family and friends just won't allow my conscience to do surgery even though I love being in the OR. That said, for docs that do a critical care fellowship, how much are the in the ICU? For example, on my trauma service I got to be in the ICU for 50% of the day and in the OR 50% of the day. I was one of the few people that liked that trauma surgery wasn't 100% operative because you could still use your brain and treat the sick (but the 24 hour shift, 3x a week suck).
3. I also like research, in fact I have a PhD in the basic sciences, and so I would like to explore research at least in some shape or form. Ideally I wouldn't work at the ivory tower, but maybe a level 1 trauma center or something that needs to pump out some research, plus clinic time, would be ideal. How realistic is this in anesthesiology?
4. I am geographically limited. I goto Ohio University (DO) and would prefer to end up in Columbus for residency (while not 100% necessary, sick family make it some what of a priority). Are board scores the be all end all, like in surgery? Scoring 240ish is a must to be competitive for Ohio State on step 1?
Thank you all and I hope to become a future contributor to this forum. It is one of the few intellectual and forums to actually stalk on this site!
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