Internship if deciding between GP and IM?

[kittylady03]

Hi everyone,

I know this is a commonly discussed topic, so I apologize for redundancy (I just couldn't find anything that fit my two interests). I'm a current fourth year at Tufts and until now I was very set on going into GP and pursuing ABVP canine and feline practice. I've so far spent 2 out of 3 weeks on small animal internal medicine and I love it. Right now, I'm trying to figure out if I should pursue a rotating internship, even if there's a chance I still end up in GP. If I end up in GP, my goal would to be like an elevated GP who works up and manages complex medicine cases (because of my interests and goals of improving access to care). Would an internship still be beneficial to a certain degree if I ended up in GP? Is it still worth doing an internship in the case that more exposure to IM will push me towards residency? I also would love to hear thoughts/experiences on internships and what questions I should ask when scoping out places.

Thanks in advance!

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[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

If you are entertaining the possibility of specializing in IM, I would do the rotating internship. Aside from the financial hit and a year of questionable QoL there isn't really a negative to it. If you decide you want to continue with specializing, great, and if not you got a year of intensive experience under your belt.

It's not that you can't go back and do IM after being out in GP, but there would likely be more hoops to jump through.

I generally tell students if they are considering specializing (or wanting to do straight ER) just do the internship so it's done and the door is still open later on regardless of what they decide. It's really really hard to commit to going back into internship/residency lifestyle after you've been out experiencing real world salary and hours.

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

In regards to questions to ask and general pros/cons, I would refer you to a number of previous threads where those are described in detail.

 

[JaynaAli]

I agree. I don’t recommend people who want to go into traditional GP do internships, but in this instance where you’re considering specialization or making a name for yourself with non-specialist medicine workups, I think it is smart to go ahead and do the internship. I’m sure by the end of the year you’ll have a better idea if specializing is for you or not. It will be much easier (mentally, financially, and because of better access to people for letters of rec) to do an internship immediately after graduation and then choose to abandon the specialization train for GP than it would be to jump back on the specialization train after you’ve been away from academia in GP for a few years.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

Aside from the financial hit and a year of questionable QoL there isn't really a negative to it.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

 

[TheGirlWithTheFernTattoo]

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?

There is no need to be rude. I am a current intern who is suffering both the financial and QoL penalties right now, hence why I did mention those. OP asked if the internship would be a disservice to them if they elected not to specialize. My point is that medically it will not hurt them, the opportunity cost is your lost income and time.

 

[CalliopeDVM]

I am a current intern who is suffering both the financial and QoL penalties right now, hence why I did mention those.

You mentioned them in a way that made them sound inconsequential, which is the exact opposite of what they are (as you know, if you're a current intern).