How tough is residency?

[aauerba1]

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I hear that anesthesiology, radiology, and then of course derm, optho are good "lifestyle" specialties. What about for residencies? Are rad and anesthesiology residencies less difficult? What about internal medicine vs peds residencies?
I've tried so many times to research this, but I keep getting different answers, so I just want opinions. I like a wide variety of things (I'm a third year, not good enough to get into derm or optho) and I want a job where I could eventually work part-time (but I really mean maybe 30-40 hours a week) and that still pays reasonably well.

 

[Pir8DeacDoc]

do Gas.... it's 40 hours a week of straight up money..

 

[iron]

Anesthesia residency was more stressful than my medicine internship. I took more in-house call as an intern, but had ironically more free-time. In medicine, if you work efficiently you can get out at a reasonable time. As an anesthesia resident, getting your work done means more work. There are always more cases to do. I developed a bad case of GERD in residency. Two PPIs a day didn't touch it.

As far as being an attending, most jobs are over 40hrs/week. Late call/overnight call/call backs wherever you are (except for primo surgicenter jobs - usually not for new grads). I spend 2-5 nights/month in house (one a Friday night or 24 Sat or Sun). That doesn't sound as great as you thought, I bet. But I'm also in academics, trauma center, open 24/7, busy ob dept.

 

[GoPistons]

don't go into gas for money... they will certainly face reimbursement cuts in the future... nobody really can explain why they make so much... can you explain why they make more than the surgeon that's actually doing the cutting???... but anyway, it's not going to last...

 

[GoPistons]

anyway, to respond to the post... yes... generally anything surgical... you will be working your arse off... internal medicine it depends... lifestyle specialties tend to have easier residencies... I'm going into rads and I expect to work ~45-60 hrs/wk during residency... I will never touch close to 80 unlike my surgical counterparts and some intenal medicine residencies... where that is the norm...