What types of correlations have people been able to make about general personality types and the various specialties that people want to match into? I've always been interested in this in that a lot of times I feel like some of my classmates that want to go into a particular field totally match the stereotype personality. I can't really explain it other than to say that I can totally imagine a lot of them in the fields that they want to go into by just the way they act (not necessarily what their scientific interests are). What do you guys think? Any particular ideas come to mind?
Med student personality types and speciality choice?
- Thread starter nope80
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I fit emergency medicine almost exactly on both on the flow chart and cartoon (which I've both seen in the past and think are amazingly accurate).
It's probably no surprise that EM is also my #1 choice about a 1/3 of the way through 3rd year . . . . . .
It's probably no surprise that EM is also my #1 choice about a 1/3 of the way through 3rd year . . . . . .
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i fit the stereotype of Medicine. I am actually interested in surgery, but apparently a surgeon has to be mean... which is actually quite true... i have met some pretty mean surgeons.. one of them yelled the crap out of a patient for praying to god too loud ("wouldn't shut up") before surgery...
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My school forced us to take a Myers Briggs, afterwards it spit out a list of compatible specialties, mine included but was not limited to:
medicine
surgery
pathology
anasthesia...
Shows you what a waste of my time that was.
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We had to do the same, but there were a whole battery of personality/psychological testing that was done. They never told us what they did with the information, it was never mentioned again after orientation, and it was mandatory.
I heard rumors that a few of the people who "scored" low on the "Study Skills Inventory" test had to meet with some admin person. It was pretty insulting, since we hadn't even started classes yet.
Personally, I think the whole thing is one big attempt to justify somebody's job who otherwise would be unemployed. Just a hunch.
I heard rumors that a few of the people who "scored" low on the "Study Skills Inventory" test had to meet with some admin person. It was pretty insulting, since we hadn't even started classes yet.
Personally, I think the whole thing is one big attempt to justify somebody's job who otherwise would be unemployed. Just a hunch.
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I have met a lot of really nice helpful surgeons, and some mean docs in other fields. I think there will probably be diversity in all fields in terms of personality.
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I've read that the stereotype of the IM specialist is the big nerd who enjoys going over differential diagnosis during lunch with his IM buddies. Kinda surprising it's not on either of those charts.
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Standard disclaimer about variation in any field apply, of course.
They tend to be similar, in my mind. Friendly, but more introspective not the expansive personality seen in some surgeons. Because of working exclusively as a consultant with no patients, tend to get along well with doctors and students (many radiologists/pathologists actively try to recruit). Usually very interested in teaching.
really? where is that? I searched but couldn't find anything.
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Really? I've found the opposite. The ones I've met tend to be arrogant and condescending and always quick to criticise the doctors that consult them because some test wasn't warranted or is a waste of time etc. Granted, they're not always without reason but it's a trend I've noticed. The radiologists tend to be worse that the pathologists.
Of course n=~10 so it might be a little less than statistically significant.
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actually one of the smartest girls I know in my class is really into IM.
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Thank you for a completely random, unrelated post.
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Actually it is not. You stated that IM was a default choice (implying that people would use it only as a backup plan). I was offering some evidence against that. Thank you for always thinking you are correct and superior to everyone elses opinions.
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No. We were discussing personality types of "specialties". IM is not a "specialty". It is a default. The issues of competitiveness and first-choice vs backup never entered into this discussion.
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"default" != "last resort"
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I agree with this...that is why I said something against it (a girl in my class that is ridiculously smart and does very well has IM as her first choice! Not as any last resort🙂
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IM is not a subspecialty... 
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Ahh...a default to what? As in if you don't get the specialty you want the Match will place you into IM? As in every physician knows how to manage chronically ill patients? Huh?
IM is a a Primary Care Specialty. Yes, family medicine is technically also a specialty even though in everyday parlance we make the distinction between Primary Care Specialties and Specialties (everything else).
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How philosophical of you.
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So there is a distinction between Primary Care and Specialists, but Primary Care is a specialty?
Um . . . no.
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I do too, apparently. I'm most often pegged as ortho, sometimes as generic surgical type of some kind, and never psych.
Yet I'm going psych. Go figure.
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I talked with a GS PGY4 here the other day and he said that the choice between surgery and psych is actually difficult for many people. He mentioned how inpatient psych has very quick results, there are things that can be done right away, and patients actually get better - these same traits attract many people to surgery.
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Really? I wouldn't do psych in a million years, would rather quit med and I love it like mad!
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Yeah, I chose Ortho but very nearly did Psych. Had I been able to do exclusively acute/inpatient work I probably would have done it. Unfortunately, the outpatient counseling and endless med-check visits ultimately turned me off.
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From your posts in multiple threads, it appears that you have chosen your specialty well (I mean as to perpetuate the "surgeon personality").
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I cant believe a chart already existed
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No doubt. I'd be tired too if I treated conversation as warfare.
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It is the only way, or so it is said.
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It is actually on the flowchart, just not the cartoon.
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Yeah, we got a few of those people too.
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heartthrob
What about CT surgeons? What personality type would that fall under?
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CT surgeons probably fall under the general surgeon steriotype... but I havent met too many.
It seems like generally, the only surgoens who tend to be personable and like to teach are urologists. Ive scrubbed in with four different urologists, and its always a comedy show in the OR.
In my experience with Radiologists, 6/7 were very friendly and really liked to teach. Two of them independently told me that one of the reasons that they went into radiology was that they get to work along with physicians and surgeons on a daily basis, and are able to 'teach' them. The thousand differentials for every disease process or radiologic presentation, and the prognosis for each is burned into the radiologists brain in residency... they really know a bunch.
Anyone have any dirt on the intensivists?
It seems like generally, the only surgoens who tend to be personable and like to teach are urologists. Ive scrubbed in with four different urologists, and its always a comedy show in the OR.
In my experience with Radiologists, 6/7 were very friendly and really liked to teach. Two of them independently told me that one of the reasons that they went into radiology was that they get to work along with physicians and surgeons on a daily basis, and are able to 'teach' them. The thousand differentials for every disease process or radiologic presentation, and the prognosis for each is burned into the radiologists brain in residency... they really know a bunch.
Anyone have any dirt on the intensivists?
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heartthrob
Ouch. That would be uncomfortable. Not to mention detrimental to one's health.
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I think you misunderstood this post.
"!=" means "does not equal."
"default" does not equal "last resort"
Saying something against it doesn't make sense, because nobody else is equating "default" with "last resort." My default answer is "b" on all multiple choice exam questions. Does that mean it's the last resort? No. Sometimes "b" is actually the right answer. Sometimes "b" is the intelligent and best answer.
Tired has already said that he doesn't conflate lack of intelligence with IM.
"default" means... that's your starting point. Everyone starts off in the IM category. Some people leave. Some people stay. Some people leave and come back. This has nothing to do with intelligence, competitiveness, or shoe size.
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Hooray, I knew this thread would turn into a flame war.
Time for some entertainment.
Seriously? Flame war? Huh?
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Arg. Now Im angry, and Im post-call but cant sleep, and I have a headache, but Im going to write and try not to offend everyone.
This whole "IM is not a specialty, it is a default" statement is nothing but Surgical Arrogance.
The National Residency Matching Program lists 24 distinct SPECIALTIES in their annual report. Obviously, combined residency programs or fellowships are not counted here. (see table 13 in the report)
According to this report, Internal Medicine is a specialty. Also included on this list are Orthopedic Surgery, and General Surgery.
The American Board of Medical Specialties list about 33 distinct Specialties (I cant count right now), as well as a whole lot of Subspecialties. Their list is a bit longer because they further subcategorize some of the fields like Pathology or Genetics. Internal Medicine is listed as a specialty according to the American Board of Medical Specialties.
So that settles that
Also, what 'default' means is still unclear. If it means 'the first step' or 'un-specialized', then Orthopedic Surgery is also a default, with Sports, or Hand Surgery as the specialty.
So, what "IM is not a specialty, it is a default" could only mean is that "I look down upon Internists". Because it certainly does not mean that IM isn't a specialty as per the NRMP and the ABMS.
So now, about personality and chosen field of practice....
This whole "IM is not a specialty, it is a default" statement is nothing but Surgical Arrogance.
The National Residency Matching Program lists 24 distinct SPECIALTIES in their annual report. Obviously, combined residency programs or fellowships are not counted here. (see table 13 in the report)
According to this report, Internal Medicine is a specialty. Also included on this list are Orthopedic Surgery, and General Surgery.
The American Board of Medical Specialties list about 33 distinct Specialties (I cant count right now), as well as a whole lot of Subspecialties. Their list is a bit longer because they further subcategorize some of the fields like Pathology or Genetics. Internal Medicine is listed as a specialty according to the American Board of Medical Specialties.
So that settles that
Also, what 'default' means is still unclear. If it means 'the first step' or 'un-specialized', then Orthopedic Surgery is also a default, with Sports, or Hand Surgery as the specialty.
So, what "IM is not a specialty, it is a default" could only mean is that "I look down upon Internists". Because it certainly does not mean that IM isn't a specialty as per the NRMP and the ABMS.
So now, about personality and chosen field of practice....
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False. Nobody has said anything about intelligence or competitiveness.
I think Tired phrased it poorly, but I think you're seeing something that isn't necessarily there. I can't speak for anyone else, but I have to say I don't see the negativity that you want to see.
At the College of Surgeons & Surgeons, you might actually say Surgery is one of the two default choices, the other being IM, because the school has a reputation of producing an inordinate number of surgeons.
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Regardless of what various governing bodies like to call it, I don't view things like pediatrics, internal medicine or general surgery as specialties. And I'm thinking about general surgery. If I go into general surg, I wouldn't tell people "Oh, I'm planning on being a specialist."
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