Hello to everybody,
this is my first message on this board. I just found this forum and I saw many interesting threads...and now I am starting my first one...I am sorry if it will be a bit long...but I need some suggestions
I am a 23 years old medical student in Italy, I just finished my 5th year and in October I will start my last year, the sixth.
In Italy at the beginning of the sixth year a student should decide what kind of specialty he/she is going to choose as he/she will have to start "working" (without getting paid of course ) at the chosen department. This is because during the whole year the student must prepare a "thesis" to show at the graduation ceremony...and it is really a HUGE work...so this is my situation, in October I have to decide my future career and life !!
In my mind there is a contest between 2 specialties: Plastic Surgery vs Radiology
Here are the reasons why I chose these 2 specialties:
I really like surgery, and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery I think is one of the few surgical specialties where the surgeon can operate almost everywhere in the body (except of course the abdomen, brain etc), it never gets boring as one day a surgeon could operate a melanoma...the next day could do a free flap to reconstruct a breast.
The problem with plastic surgery is that it lacks almost completely the diagnostic medical approach; no brainstorming, no medical challenge...it's just manual work (with a lot of skill of course).
Other cons of plastic in my opinion are: lifestyle, very long learning time and very challenging environment.
As for all the surgical specialties the STs will have a really hard life, only working and thiking about surgery. Furthermore, becoming a good plastic surgeon requires really a LONG period of time...and after 6 years of medicine..well I would like to leave the "student status" as soon as possible .
What I like about Radiology is the possibility to encounter a really broad spectrum of diseases, medical and surgical ones. I like the link that radiology has with technology and also the fact that a radiologist is more indipendent than a surgeon.
Plus, as maybe it's wise to think what we could be in 30-40 years, lifestyle of radiologists I guess is much "better" than the one of plastic reconstructive surgeons, with less stress, less hours, less night shifts etc...
Furthermore, I understood that getting a ST place in Radiology is MUCH MUCH easier than getting one in Plastic Surgery.
The things I don't like about Radiology is the lack of contact with patients (except during ultrasounds or interventional radiology). A radiologist could spend a day without seeing ONE patient...only CT scans, MRIs, xrays etc..just in front of 3-4 high definition screens
Finally, although we are/will be doctors the economical side is also important. Both plastic and radiology are economically rewarding.
As far as I understood, before earning enough money being a plastic surgeon a lot of years are going to pass (and I am not really into aesthetic surgery...but still, an aesthetic plastic surgeon needs a lot of money just to start working privately, plus he/she needs to be REALLY good...); on the other hand radiologists start earning money before and there is big plus that a radiologist can find a job MUCH easier than a plastic surgeon...anywhere in the world (just try to look for a job as a radiologist...).
But I have to say that if I had to choose with my heart I would go for Plastic surgery (it's the specialty I would have liked to do since I was in the high school...but after working a bit at the plastic department this idea changed a bit)..using my head (considering especially the kind of lifstyle I will have for the next 6-7 years) I would choose Radiology!!!
so...what do you think? Do you agree with what I said?
Anyway, thank you very much for reading the whole post ...now you know what I think about these 2 specialties. I read that there are some STs in both of them I hope they can help me decide! But anyone is accepted!!
Maxim
this is my first message on this board. I just found this forum and I saw many interesting threads...and now I am starting my first one...I am sorry if it will be a bit long...but I need some suggestions
I am a 23 years old medical student in Italy, I just finished my 5th year and in October I will start my last year, the sixth.
In Italy at the beginning of the sixth year a student should decide what kind of specialty he/she is going to choose as he/she will have to start "working" (without getting paid of course ) at the chosen department. This is because during the whole year the student must prepare a "thesis" to show at the graduation ceremony...and it is really a HUGE work...so this is my situation, in October I have to decide my future career and life !!
In my mind there is a contest between 2 specialties: Plastic Surgery vs Radiology
Here are the reasons why I chose these 2 specialties:
I really like surgery, and Plastic Reconstructive Surgery I think is one of the few surgical specialties where the surgeon can operate almost everywhere in the body (except of course the abdomen, brain etc), it never gets boring as one day a surgeon could operate a melanoma...the next day could do a free flap to reconstruct a breast.
The problem with plastic surgery is that it lacks almost completely the diagnostic medical approach; no brainstorming, no medical challenge...it's just manual work (with a lot of skill of course).
Other cons of plastic in my opinion are: lifestyle, very long learning time and very challenging environment.
As for all the surgical specialties the STs will have a really hard life, only working and thiking about surgery. Furthermore, becoming a good plastic surgeon requires really a LONG period of time...and after 6 years of medicine..well I would like to leave the "student status" as soon as possible .
What I like about Radiology is the possibility to encounter a really broad spectrum of diseases, medical and surgical ones. I like the link that radiology has with technology and also the fact that a radiologist is more indipendent than a surgeon.
Plus, as maybe it's wise to think what we could be in 30-40 years, lifestyle of radiologists I guess is much "better" than the one of plastic reconstructive surgeons, with less stress, less hours, less night shifts etc...
Furthermore, I understood that getting a ST place in Radiology is MUCH MUCH easier than getting one in Plastic Surgery.
The things I don't like about Radiology is the lack of contact with patients (except during ultrasounds or interventional radiology). A radiologist could spend a day without seeing ONE patient...only CT scans, MRIs, xrays etc..just in front of 3-4 high definition screens
Finally, although we are/will be doctors the economical side is also important. Both plastic and radiology are economically rewarding.
As far as I understood, before earning enough money being a plastic surgeon a lot of years are going to pass (and I am not really into aesthetic surgery...but still, an aesthetic plastic surgeon needs a lot of money just to start working privately, plus he/she needs to be REALLY good...); on the other hand radiologists start earning money before and there is big plus that a radiologist can find a job MUCH easier than a plastic surgeon...anywhere in the world (just try to look for a job as a radiologist...).
But I have to say that if I had to choose with my heart I would go for Plastic surgery (it's the specialty I would have liked to do since I was in the high school...but after working a bit at the plastic department this idea changed a bit)..using my head (considering especially the kind of lifstyle I will have for the next 6-7 years) I would choose Radiology!!!
so...what do you think? Do you agree with what I said?
Anyway, thank you very much for reading the whole post ...now you know what I think about these 2 specialties. I read that there are some STs in both of them I hope they can help me decide! But anyone is accepted!!
Maxim
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