IM vs Surgery residency lifestyle

[want2beadoc1]

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Is there a significant lifestyle difference between IM and surgery residency (in terms or hours)? I've heard of some IM residencies having pretty bad lifestyles.

I am asking because I have a such a hard time deciding between IM and surgery (particularly ortho and neurosurg), and I'm considering letting go of surgery because I'm hesitant to commit to a grueling stressful residency life. Does it make sense for me to do IM instead or would it be a pretty similar life overall?

I appreciate your feedback

 

[DiverDoc]

my .02

80 hr work weeks for a majority of the rotations for both. On your feet a lot for both. In house call likely similar for both. Do what you want and go into something you will enjoy.
I think it is wiser from a lifestyle perspective to be based AFTER not during residency

 

[want2beadoc1]

So you're saying it doesn't make sense for someone to pursue IM instead of surgery to avoid the horrible lifestyle since IM would be the same (but shorter if no fellowship). Thanks for your two cent.

Btw I don't believe lifestyle AFTER residency is something to stress about unless maybe if you're comparing two extreme opposites like derm vs vascular surgery. If you're willing to move there are plenty of job opportunities that can fit any lifestyle you want for ANY specialty. You can join big physician groups that rotate calls so you're on call only once every couple of months. Hospitals are starting to employ their own surgeons that work in shifts, just like anesthesiologists, radiologists and ER docs. The grueling long hours after residency today is all about to change in the next 5-10 years.

 

[gutonc]

If you NEED to be in the OR, be a surgeon. If you kind of like being in the OR but would be just as happy doing something else, do something else.

And I agree that choosing a career based solely on the length/stress of the residency training is phenomenally short-sighted and will likely result in a lifetime of professional misery.

 

[Buzz Me]

Is there a significant lifestyle difference between IM and surgery residency (in terms or hours)? I've heard of some IM residencies having pretty bad lifestyles.

I am asking because I have a such a hard time deciding between IM and surgery (particularly ortho and neurosurg), and I'm considering letting go of surgery because I'm hesitant to commit to a grueling stressful residency life. Does it make sense for me to do IM instead or would it be a pretty similar life overall?

I appreciate your feedback

What rotations have you taken so far? The difference between IM, Ortho and Neurosurg is quite vast. What interests you about each field?

I would also argue that many IM residencies don't go the full 80 hours per week, especially averaged throughout the year when you factor in elective/clinic/non "ward" months (which Gen Surg doesn't have).

 

[NOsquid]

Agree with above. Gen surg is like a ward month, every month.

 

[Mattchiavelli]

There is a big difference IMO. In general IM is less time intensive compared to surgery but if you're in a crappy IM program where they ride you hard and hang you up wet it can be as bad as surgery. In my experience there are a lot of surgeons that think they can warp spacetime (oh yeah let me go see these 7 patients and I'll be in clinic in 15 minutes)

 

[want2beadoc1]

What rotations have you taken so far? The difference between IM, Ortho and Neurosurg is quite vast. What interests you about each field?

I would also argue that many IM residencies don't go the full 80 hours per week, especially averaged throughout the year when you factor in elective/clinic/non "ward" months (which Gen Surg doesn't have).

So far I've rotated in IM (finished all of cores), NS, and ortho is coming up
IM - I love medicine (it's something we've been studying for the most in our first 2 years of med school), diagnosing, hospital environment, can get really interesting, having a patient coming in sick and seeing him/her get better day after day, fellowship options, ability to possibly start my life during residency and not after
Neurosurg - Always loved and was good at neuroanatomy and neurophys, neuroimaging, managing really sick people, technological advances in the field. I'm not going to lie, the prestige is also pretty nice
Ortho (so far from what I've seen) - Love the biomechanics, trauma and power tools

I have mixed feelings when it comes to the OR, at times I love it and other times it can get really tedious (especially when you just hold retractors and stand on your feet for long surgeries). But I have a feeling the OR becomes a lot nicer once you get more responsibility and become commander of the ship, though I'm hoping the high stress doesn't destroy me. I have pretty high board score and grades, which I feel pushes me towards more competitive specialties. If I do IM, step 1 and 2 scores, and grades won't really matter for competitive IM fellowships.

 

[michaelrack]

Btw I don't believe lifestyle AFTER residency is something to stress about unless maybe if you're comparing two extreme opposites like derm vs vascular surgery. If you're willing to move there are plenty of job opportunities that can fit any lifestyle you want for ANY specialty. You can join big physician groups that rotate calls so you're on call only once every couple of months. Hospitals are starting to employ their own surgeons that work in shifts, just like anesthesiologists, radiologists and ER docs. The grueling long hours after residency today is all about to change in the next 5-10 years.

It's a lot easier to get a shift-work IM position (eg many hospitalist positions) than it is for surgery

 

[smq123]

Moving to allopathic.

 

[Sheldor]

IMO, once you rotate through surgery the answer to this question will be painfully obvious!

Even if you were to say the hours are similar, the pressure you feel during those hours is vastly different.

Agree with above, only do surgery if you can't imagine doing anything else!