FM vs Psych

[ENS]

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Currently, I'm an intern in FM. I'm stuck...FM or Psych. I can't help but project how my lifestyle is going to be like as FM doc. I'm beginning to realize that lifestyle is huge on my list, and I would love to continue doing the things that I enjoy. I have never been hard core in the sciences, and my background is in the social sciences. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy all the aspects of FM. It's just overwhelming at times, and I would hate to be just average. I do enjoy psych, and it definitely meets a lot of the criteria. Once civillian, I can make decent money, a doable lifestyle, and a less stressful one. However, I know I'll miss medicine. It's like a no win situation. I know I'm early in my training, but the Navy forces you into deciding what you're going to do in the next 2-3 yrs. I know I can go GMO/Flight/Dive. Any advice or input would be appreciated.

 

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Isn't there enough psych in FM anyway????
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sorry😀

 

[RugbyJC]

Currently, I'm an intern in FM. I'm stuck...FM or Psych. I can't help but project how my lifestyle is going to be like as FM doc. I'm beginning to realize that lifestyle is huge on my list, and I would love to continue doing the things that I enjoy. I have never been hard core in the sciences, and my background is in the social sciences. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy all the aspects of FM. It's just overwhelming at times, and I would hate to be just average. I do enjoy psych, and it definitely meets a lot of the criteria. Once civillian, I can make decent money, a doable lifestyle, and a less stressful one. However, I know I'll miss medicine. It's like a no win situation. I know I'm early in my training, but the Navy forces you into deciding what you're going to do in the next 2-3 yrs. I know I can go GMO/Flight/Dive. Any advice or input would be appreciated.

Now...im only a fourth year medical student, but I went back and fourth between these two careers also and then chose psych. I've done a few rotations and what bascially won over this decision was that there is a lot of diversity to the field and it can also function as a medicine subspecialty if you want it to. When on consult for a medical patient, you need to know the medicine to figure out what is going on. I kinda see it like IM, but with not much of a physical exam. I am doing this weird program where I am mostly in FP now and when I think about it, most patients that I see in the clinic setting I could just as easily figure out what is going on without the physical exam, as harsh as that sounds.

I know I am just a fourth year and not in your position, but this and that there are options like child psych, forensics, (even sports psychiatry) and other crazy disciplines that are options. Then again, you are throwing away your stethoscope and medical knowledge, but if you go into peds you are throwing away the adult medicine knowledge and vice versa. If you become a hand surgeon you only focus on medicine of the hand and forget everything else.

At least that's how I see it.

 

[NavyFP]

Currently, I'm an intern in FM. I'm stuck...FM or Psych. I can't help but project how my lifestyle is going to be like as FM doc. I'm beginning to realize that lifestyle is huge on my list, and I would love to continue doing the things that I enjoy. I have never been hard core in the sciences, and my background is in the social sciences. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy all the aspects of FM. It's just overwhelming at times, and I would hate to be just average. I do enjoy psych, and it definitely meets a lot of the criteria. Once civillian, I can make decent money, a doable lifestyle, and a less stressful one. However, I know I'll miss medicine. It's like a no win situation. I know I'm early in my training, but the Navy forces you into deciding what you're going to do in the next 2-3 yrs. I know I can go GMO/Flight/Dive. Any advice or input would be appreciated.

I think to start, internship is overwhelming. One of the "problems" with family med is that you do need to know a lot about alot. You don't have to know everything though. You need to know when to refer. That is something you learn over time and it certainly becomes easier as you go. You will also build a large fund of experiential knowledge as time goes by. The Navy programs are all excellent and you will be properly prepared by the time you graduate. We won't let you out if you are not.

Lifestyle will be primarily based on how much you want to make. There are many practices where you can work 4 days a week, all outpatient, and still make a good living. If you want more than $200K, you will be working hard.

I find it ironic that you feel the Navy is pushing you to decide early as to what you want to do. Most MS-4s have to pick a specialty much earlier. If you decide to become a GMO, you will have 2 years to decide. What would you do if you were a civilian?

PM me if you would like to talk further about this. I am always happy to assist.

 

[ENS]

The thing is that I have always been interested in the psychosocial issues involved in every patient. I don't have a complete appreciation for every patient in that respect as of now, and I enjoy listening and talking to patients about their daily problems and ways to resolve them. I do enjoy FM, but I think I'll be happier in Psychiatry.