M3: Choosing AIs/sub-Is soon. Need help narrowing my residency choice/pathway (Peds/child neuro/derm)

[smh343]

I'm about done with my core M3 rotations and need to have a specific residency in mind soonish cause that affects AIs, Sub-Is, LORs, etc. Have to schedule my 4th year early January. And with the chance of COVID delaying things I want to be very careful with my planning.

Career interests:

• I really like working with kids and their families. #1 priority.
• Non-interventional, more outpatient but maybe some inpatient
• I like longitudinal care, counseling, teaching, physical exam, medical therapy
• I prefer shorter training time. Don't care much about money. Will have average debt ($240k at start of residency)
• Prefer opportunities for teaching from more clinical perspective and academic environment but also no high research pressure.
• Specific fields: I like interpreting imaging but also like talking to patients. I do neuro research and like it. Also some intrinsic interest in sports medicine.

Stats are ~260 Step 1, several pubs in child neuro/neurosurg, volunteering.

Options I'm considering are:

• Peds (3-6yr). Can do primary care, 1 year sports med fellowship w/ primary care, several options for 3 year fellowships
• Child Neuro (5yr). Much easier route than Peds first. Most interesting field to me, some imaging too. But seems very sad to me honestly with how many things can't be fixed. Can't do child neuro rotation until later in 4th year.
• Derm w fellowship (4yr)
• Rad w fellowship (6yr)
• Psych w fellowship (5yr)

Having a tough time especially deciding between peds and child neuro since neuro is such a commitment! Appreciate any input.

 

[cookiegrub]

I say go with peds and dont look back. You could also do derm with fellowship but harder match with many research pubs

 

[Tangerine123]

Career interests:

• I really like working with kids and families. #1 priority.
• Non-interventional, more outpatient but maybe some inpatient
• I like longitudinal care, counseling, teaching, physical exam, medical therapy
• I prefer shorter training time. Don't care much about money. Will have average debt ($240k at start of residency)

Family Medicine 👍🏻

 

[You shall know the Truth]

I think be a dermatologist that specializes in peds neuro

 

[You shall know the Truth]

The most important question is what is the number one thing you want/like.

 

[radsisrad]

You get the same advice from me as I always give to these Qs: fight tooth, nail, and claw to get a derm spot.

 

[longhaul3]

Why do you say neuro is such a commitment compared to the others?

 

[aSagacious]

You get the same advice from me as I always give to these Qs: fight tooth, nail, and claw to get a derm spot.

To each their own. I would literally kill myself if I had to be a dermatologist. Even for 500k+ and 40 hrs with no call.

 

[zero0]

Psych and rads are both not terrible options

Derm too but with none of the checkboxes filled other than step score I don't think you'll have much luck there, at least apply with back up

Peds is floundering, terrible job market

Neuro is a hard no for me personally