Match

[Zumba]

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So I am trying to decide between anesthesia and radiology as I apply for this year's match. I am wondering how safe you all think it is to go into anesthesia today?

Do you see the decimation of the field, or do you think that anesthesiologists will thrive in the future? I heard all this CRNA stuff and really get scared. The idea that I would be competing for a job with a CRNA or no finding a job because of one is kind of mind boggling. Where do you see the field in the next 10-20 years? I realize there is a lot of uncertainty right now with Obamacare as well, and how do you think that will affect this field?

Also for those residents that are finishing and entering the job market, would you mind sharing your experiences regarding how easy/difficult it is to find a job, and how the salaries are holding up? thanks

 

[MD Dreams]

So I am trying to decide between anesthesia and radiology as I apply for this year's match. I am wondering how safe you all think it is to go into anesthesia today?

Do you see the decimation of the field, or do you think that anesthesiologists will thrive in the future? I heard all this CRNA stuff and really get scared. The idea that I would be competing for a job with a CRNA or no finding a job because of one is kind of mind boggling. Where do you see the field in the next 10-20 years? I realize there is a lot of uncertainty right now with Obamacare as well, and how do you think that will affect this field?

Also for those residents that are finishing and entering the job market, would you mind sharing your experiences regarding how easy/difficult it is to find a job, and how the salaries are holding up? thanks

I was deciding between the two fields when I was trying to choose a specialty. Radiologists are quite concerned about outsourcing, so there is some uncertainty in that field as well. My goal was to do interventional. But I came to the realization that I could not do 5 years of diagnostics. Also interventional has some turf battles. I encourage you to think hard about what you want. The two specialties are VERY different. Just some thoughts to get the discussion started.

 

[Zumba]

I was deciding between the two fields when I was trying to choose a specialty. Radiologists are quite concerned about outsourcing, so there is some uncertainty in that field as well. My goal was to do interventional. But I came to the realization that I could not do 5 years of diagnostics. Also interventional has some turf battles. I encourage you to think hard about what you want. The two specialties are VERY different. Just some thoughts to get the discussion started.

Thanks for replying. Yes, I am aware of the issues happening in rads and definitely taking them into account as well. I would also be interested in doing interventional. I am not so much concerned about the diagnostics part length of training, but I am concerned regarding the job market situation. I am also concerned about the viability of having a career in anesthesia 30 years down the line. Do you think midlevel encroachment will be a threat or do you think it is safe to pursue anesthesia?

 

[house4]

got same question as zumba

which field will have better job security rads or anesth?

 

[MD Dreams]

I guess my gut feeling is that it is and will be a threat. How things will pan out in the long run remains to be seen. Mid level encroachment is a threat in many specialties, however. Anesthesia just happens to be a very visible one.

The reason I choose anesthesia was because I wanted to be very good at taking care of sick, sick patients. I love hearts and critical care. I loved the OR. I needed a fast paced specialty.

Radiology can be very cerebral and there is a lot to know. However, it's more slow paced, there is more contemplating, you have to be ok being in a dark room for a very large part of your training looking at minutiae and coming up with all sorts of differentials. Even though interventional is fun, I would have missed taking care of sick patients. Rads does pay better in general, but that may also change with how things are changing in the future.

I'm sure there are aspects of radiology that make it stressful, but know that anesthesia can be a very stressful specialty. There is A LOT of responsibility and things happen very fast and outcomes can be devastating. You need to really appreciate this before you choose.

To make a long story short I made the right decision for me and I have no regrets. The mid level thing does bother me. But I try to make myself better everyday and bring honor to my specialty and to show everyone that I mean business when it comes to anesthesia! Perhaps slowly things will change for the better.

This is a difficult decision. I wish you luck.

 

[chessknt]

So I am trying to decide between anesthesia and radiology as I apply for this year's match. I am wondering how safe you all think it is to go into anesthesia today?

Do you see the decimation of the field, or do you think that anesthesiologists will thrive in the future? I heard all this CRNA stuff and really get scared. The idea that I would be competing for a job with a CRNA or no finding a job because of one is kind of mind boggling. Where do you see the field in the next 10-20 years? I realize there is a lot of uncertainty right now with Obamacare as well, and how do you think that will affect this field?

Also for those residents that are finishing and entering the job market, would you mind sharing your experiences regarding how easy/difficult it is to find a job, and how the salaries are holding up? thanks

I always thought it was hippie BS when people told me to do what I wanted to and ignore all the other factors, now that I am on the brink of applying to residency I realize why this was true--Noone has any @#&$ing clue what is going to happen 10 years from now, let alone 30. In 30 years MD anesthesiologists might be doing something completely different from today getting paid peanuts, or they could be in more or less the same role in more or less the same compensation range. Radiologists could become obsolete from telemedicine, or they could remain largely the same. Nobody knows. Do what you like and if the field crashes and burns you can either find a way to survive in it or go back to square one, but do not make a decision now based on a likely inaccurate prediction of the future.