how the heck do i pick a specialty

[blz]

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Ok, so I made it a point to try to do as well as possible on the boards to give myself options since I had no clue what I wanted to match in. Ok, now that my scores are in and they went very well (263/99), I have more options now and still have no clue what I want to do. I like being challenged and working through convoluted cases where the diagnosis isnt always apparent. I also don't want to do primary care and the idea of having a life is very appealing to me. I don't like paperwork and writing stupid notes. I like doing presentations though and being in leadership positions. Any idea what this dream specialty might be? Besides running through all my clerkships (im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah) what can I do to get me hooked on a field? I figure you guys in the residency board would have the best input on this matter.

 

[THP]

Infectious diseases at a large tertiary referral center. If you are on a consult service you won't have to admit patients. Your job is to solve the problems other doctor's couldn't figure out and then you just sign off when you are done. no discharge summaries or arranging follow-up. You would also have clinic duties with interesting referrals.

 

[mlw03]

if you're about making hard diagnoses, that's internal medicine. it may seem blah to you now because a lot of IM is straightforward stuff, but every now and then the unexpected happens, and it's the good IM docs who can figure out the diagnosis by cominbing the clinical info, lab tests, and imaging. it's probably not the greatest lifestyle, at least during residency.

seriously though, i would implore you not to pick your career based on your score on step 1. yes, your score now opens most every door, but pick something you like. first decide: surgeon or non-surgeon, then go from there.

 

[jennyboo]

You pick a specialty by trying a bunch out for two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, or eight weeks at a time. It's called "clinical rotations" and guess what, everyone does them. You simply have to be patient, sit through them, wait, and pontificate until it comes to you. Sad and disappointing, but true. Asking here is not going to help you much!

> working through convoluted cases where the diagnosis isnt always apparent.

That's internal medicine.

> I don't like paperwork and writing stupid notes.

That's a shame, because unfortunately you will have to do this in all specialties.

> I like doing presentations though and being in leadership positions.

Haha. Medicine again! Or maybe peds.

> im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah)

Awwwww.....

But no, you really do just have to sit through your rotations until you figure out what stuff you like and what you don't.

 

[docB]

Besides running through all my clerkships (im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah) what can I do to get me hooked on a field?

1. Tape hospital department phone list to wall.
2. Throw dart.
3. Live happily ever after.

 

[fun8stuff]

Ok, so I made it a point to try to do as well as possible on the boards to give myself options since I had no clue what I wanted to match in. Ok, now that my scores are in and they went very well (263/99), I have more options now and still have no clue what I want to do. I like being challenged and working through convoluted cases where the diagnosis isnt always apparent. I also don't want to do primary care and the idea of having a life is very appealing to me. I don't like paperwork and writing stupid notes. I like doing presentations though and being in leadership positions. Any idea what this dream specialty might be? Besides running through all my clerkships (im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah) what can I do to get me hooked on a field? I figure you guys in the residency board would have the best input on this matter.

blah, let me know what you do. i also am looking for the same things...

 

[brewmeistervi]

I don't know if this helps ( I think its fun) but this is the medical aptitude test forum... here is the link



http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/Home.cfm

 

[tkim]

 

[yaah]

Maybe you can just take the boards over and over again. Sounds like most parts of medicine aren't for you and aren't going to make you happy. Ultimately you have to expose yourself to different fields and hope that one appeals enough to you - hope you get good teachers or role models, whatever.

But having a high board score doesn't really give you more options if your interests aren't there. Board scores are only a small part of your application. Every residency program ranks people with high board scores low down on their list every year.

 

[pathfme30]

I found IM kind of Blah too. Complex cases that were really interesting were in the rheum dept at a major academic center (very complex). I like the rheum, ID. I am in the same shoes. I also reall like path. I am only saying this because I seem to have the exact same feelings about things as you. Maybe you should check these out...just to see.

Ok, so I made it a point to try to do as well as possible on the boards to give myself options since I had no clue what I wanted to match in. Ok, now that my scores are in and they went very well (263/99), I have more options now and still have no clue what I want to do. I like being challenged and working through convoluted cases where the diagnosis isnt always apparent. I also don't want to do primary care and the idea of having a life is very appealing to me. I don't like paperwork and writing stupid notes. I like doing presentations though and being in leadership positions. Any idea what this dream specialty might be? Besides running through all my clerkships (im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah) what can I do to get me hooked on a field? I figure you guys in the residency board would have the best input on this matter.

 

[MavsFan08]

Ok, so I made it a point to try to do as well as possible on the boards to give myself options since I had no clue what I wanted to match in. Ok, now that my scores are in and they went very well (263/99), I have more options now and still have no clue what I want to do. I like being challenged and working through convoluted cases where the diagnosis isnt always apparent. I also don't want to do primary care and the idea of having a life is very appealing to me. I don't like paperwork and writing stupid notes. I like doing presentations though and being in leadership positions. Any idea what this dream specialty might be? Besides running through all my clerkships (im on medicine right now, and its kind of blah) what can I do to get me hooked on a field? I figure you guys in the residency board would have the best input on this matter.

I found all of my rotations boring except for emergency medicine. If you don't want to be there for your rotation, it probably isn't the specialty for you. Do some electives in things you haven't done that are interesting....

 

[Substance]

You did well on step I. Good job!

Now, here's how you pick.

1. What do you find boring or uninteresting? Rule these out completely

2. Do you find anything particularly interersting and could you see yourself doing that in 20 years from now?

3. If the answer to #2 is "I don't at the moment", then jump on a hard-to-get specialty and gun for it, even if you know nothing about it. ie plastics, derm, gas, etc.

Remember, its easier to switch down than up.

 

[CatsandCradles]

What a neat picture! 🙂

 

[blz]

You did well on step I. Good job!

Now, here's how you pick.

1. What do you find boring or uninteresting? Rule these out completely

2. Do you find anything particularly interersting and could you see yourself doing that in 20 years from now?

3. If the answer to #2 is "I don't at the moment", then jump on a hard-to-get specialty and gun for it, even if you know nothing about it. ie plastics, derm, gas, etc.

Remember, its easier to switch down than up.

yea I like your suggestion. thanks

 

[speyeder]

Consider ophthalmology. Lots of interesting, complicated cases with no straight-forward answers, a great deal of overlap with medicine without having to do medicine or write long, tedious notes, lots of cool procedures & gadgets, the ability to see and visualize pathology, lots of opportunities to do presentations/research, pretty laid back atmosphere with very decent residency hours...

I'm biased of course.