Ophtho vs GI (IM Subspecialty)

[ddhopeful]

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I am an incoming M1 at a T50 medical school. I love GI (IM sub-specialty) mainly because I battled some stomach issues (IBS related) and gained a lot of knowledge. Ophtho seems intriguing to me and offers good pay with work-life balance but I do not know much at all about the field. Optho also is only a 4 year residency vs 6 years for GI.

How should I go about vetting Ophtho and comparing it with GI? Would welcome any input and opinions about one versus the other.

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Which brown eye would you like to examine for the rest of your career?

 

[eyeeye_captain]

Being serious, ophtho has usually a better lifestyle with slightly more involved procedures (meaning actually in the OR). The GI folks I know crush scopes at least as fast as cataracts. They make give or take the same, with GI making a little more for general in both fields, but usually longer hours and worse call. GI has a better starting salary on average.

I did 6 years to do retina and do significantly better than most GIs pay and lifestyle wise (YMMV)

Most general folks probably do 4.5 days a week, 1+ surgery day. Clinic tends to be fast paced. Vetting the field is the same as any other - do some shadowing and see if it works for you