Is Rads right for me? [M3]

[Cremaster reflex]

Hi,

I am a M3 at a top 15 school, >260 step 1, all honors on clinical rotations thus far (except 1), and ~8 publications in another medical speciality.

I have to make my fourth year schedule very soon and I am unsure of what I want to do with my life so I am now considering rads. Below are my thoughts and concerns about pursing this field:

1. I hate the BS and inefficiency associated with other specialities. I hate rounding, I hate having to call nursing homes for collateral information on patients, I hate coordinating social aspects of medicine. I am a very social person but I hate my work being dependent on others; I haven't really enjoyed M3 at all. I enjoyed M1/M2 much more.

2. I actually like medicine, I see myself as a thoughtful person and identify as a "medicine" person in that regard; I just really hate the aspects listed above.

3. I would like to make decent money with a decent lifestyle. I am actually not sure about this as I have heard it is the norm to read 60 hrs/week of virtually straight sitting and reading; I am not sure if I would call that lifestyle friendly but that is why I am here asking those more knowledgable.

4. In a very *general* M3 level sense I have found imaging and the physics behind it interesting. However, its not something I am going crazy about reading into in my free time. In general I think the science behind it is cool but a lot of times I have found myself zoning out during these lectures as it gets more complicated for a M3

Not worried about AI. Would love to hear what advice residents/attendings have for me. Thank you.

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[Cognovi]

Everyone zones out when it gets more complicated. Learning and interest go in lock step as you build up your knowledge. I sat through some radiology resident conferences when I was a medical student and found it difficult both to understand and to maintain interest. Topics seemed esoteric - the orbital gyri and sulci, osteochondritis dissecans, anterior mediastinal tumors, crazy paving. Now, years later, I know more context and background and would find those same lectures more interesting: I know what the basic words mean, what kind of studies they apply to, what the clinical presentation might be, what other clinical specialists share this knowledge and speak the same language, and when I might use such knowledge on the job.

 

[Rad2013]

Rads sounds like a good fit for you. Unless you have no debt. Then I’d do something else entirely.

 

[Cremaster reflex]

Rads sounds like a good fit for you. Unless you have no debt. Then I’d do something else entirely.

I have debt so no worries there haha. I think part of the issue I have committing to Rads is that I am very good with patients. Patients almost unanimously like me and I admittedly do get enjoyment out of being liked by patients, which I know I would largely be giving up in Rads.

Also, I am not sure that I would be able to sit there and read for 10+ hrs straight. How is this possible? What is the day-to-day actually life for Residents vs. Attendings?

 

[bananasewq]

To OP- You might be me...I have very similar sentiments and resonate with this post lol. Especially with the patients liking me part- I know I'm good with patients, but it gets so absolutely draining that I can't do too much of it. I feel like I'm putting in so much effort to come off as friendly and approachable, which is compounded even more with patients

Rads sounds like a good fit for you. Unless you have no debt. Then I’d do something else entirely.

Can you explain the no debt part? You're saying if you have no debt, you should not go into radiology and should pick something else instead?

 

[Rad2013]

I am very good with patients as well. I have been told more than once "it's a shame you're going into radiology... you won't see many patients." I wouldn't let that deter you. In my opinion, the rare truly positive patient encounter is dwarfed by the bad ones and all of the paperwork nonsense that comes with most other medical specialties.

You're going to be doing something for 10+ hours straight. Only you can know what you'd dislike least. Compared to the alternatives... sitting and reading for 10+ hours is better than the other options. And, if you choose the right job.. you can get up... chat with colleagues, get coffee, etc. They're not all a ridiculous, unending grind.

Day to day life is so dramatically different for different radiologists, that's a hard question to answer. It's probably been posted on here many times before. But, I'll give you my current job experience. I work nights, 10 hours, 7 on 14 off. It's usually 5 fast-paced hours and 5 mild-moderate paced hours. I have time to get up.. get food, coffee. I have time to read the news (or post on this site and others) during the slow hours. That amounts to working 17 weeks a year. I don't make what many partners make... but my salary is nothing to scoff at.


Regarding my no-debt comment. I meant, if you have no debt, you could afford to leave medicine entirely.

 

[Cremaster reflex]

To OP- You might be me...I have very similar sentiments and resonate with this post lol. Especially with the patients liking me part- I know I'm good with patients, but it gets so absolutely draining that I can't do too much of it. I feel like I'm putting in so much effort to come off as friendly and approachable, which is compounded even more with patients



Can you explain the no debt part? You're saying if you have no debt, you should not go into radiology and should pick something else instead?

Haha I was actually just reading your thread for last yearish when some people were ripping you for not having your "soul in medicine" whatever....total nonsense. I identified a lot with what you were saying in that thread. Have you figured out what you are applying to yet?

 

[bananasewq]

Haha I was actually just reading your thread for last yearish when some people were ripping you for not having your "soul in medicine" whatever....total nonsense. I identified a lot with what you were saying in that thread. Have you figured out what you are applying to yet?

Yup! Radiology Check out the update post I wrote in that same thread! It's kinda long so I don't wanna repost it here lol. tldr- I don't hate medicine, I just hate the BS- all the same stuff you mentioned. I enjoy the efficiency, I enjoy the imaging, I enjoy the technology, I enjoy the potential lifestyle, I enjoy having an option to move out of medicine into tech companies/AI stuff. Good luck whatever you decide!!

 

[TCOM12]

Radiologists have their own BS to deal with. It's mostly with clinicians, PACS and voice recognition. Generally, though, you don't have to take the BS home with you. The clinician BS is mostly phone calls about what and how to order something (which isn't bad, its actually what we are trained to know).

Also, you can find jobs where you get just enough patient contact in the diagnostic world. If you do general diagnostic, you'll probably do "light" IR. It's typically brief and most patients are appreciative. If you want to still consult on a more personal basis with patients, you can do mammography.

Other less common radiology avenues are pain management and palliative care (yes, palliative care). The ABR has their own added qualifications for that.

Generally, if you like working at work, thinking about medicine, and knowing more about a patient collectively than their subspecialist clinicians, then it's a good job.

One weird thing to think about if you have an ego.... many people outside of medicine don't realize we are physicians. If you need someone to give you a pat on the back for saving a life, then this profession isn't for you (exception-- IR embolizing a bleed).