Patho or Ophtalmo.

[Cica]

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I had previously written on this forum about confusion about choice of speciality I really appreciate all the answers that I get and hence am writing again out of both desperation and major confusion. Hope you guys can help me (am aware at the end I have to decide but its good to get other perspectives). Work in NOrway

Thing is, I finished med. school in 2003 and when I was done, I was going to go into Opthalmology at my uni. of graduation (my second choice was pathology). These were the 2 fields that interested me. But when you do rotations in med. school at the uni., you did not actually spend all day in the Opthal. dept. and take part in the daily routines and so on. We had one semester of Opthal. which involved lectures and practical lessons (some hours a week). Thats it.

Where as for Patho., we had a semester of pathology and one semester of forensics (autopsies mostly), and one semester of histopathology.

I like these 2 specialities : because I as a person am usually detailed, like to work with my hands, am a visual learner (so its important for me to see), like microscopes and using gadgets. But after I finished med school and before I moved to Norway, I also did a Masters in Med. Genetics. I am not a fan of basic research and had an 'interesting' experience at the lab, and quickly realised that basic research was not for me.

The thing about Norway is that you have to move around during your specialisation and not to mention the Internship. The potential offer from Opthal. that I may get is from North of Polar circle and a one year contract that may be extended MAYBE for 2 or 3 years. On the other than, the patho job is South of Polar circle 🙂, permanent job and they have an agreement with a University hospital to finish your education (you need about 1 year for cerival cytology and neuropathology at the uni. hosp). Thats also a part of the reason why I am so confused.

I have worked at the hosp. where the Patho job is and I have hence had the opportunity to get to know the people who work there and my eventual and potential boss. But I want to choose the right spec. and for the right reasons. I am also married and have a small kid, so I have to take them into consideration too - when it comes to moving around so much. But on the other hand I am totally aware that I must choose something that I will do for another 30 years of my life and not be unhappy about!!

The place where I work right now, I cannot shadow either Opthal or Patho. If I get an offer for Opthal. its going to be next week and then usually there is a one week deadline for a reply. The Patho deadline is at the end of June.

 

[Ombret]

The system you are describing confuses the heck out of me; in Norway, physicians get job offers, sometimes for life or sometimes with a one-year barely renewable term, before they train in their specialty or even choose it? Unless there are other Norwegians here, I doubt anyone on this forum can shed light on this topsy-turvy world you are describing.

Even if these jobs you are describing really do encompass all the options you will have in the near future, jobs come and go, so your choice of specialty is overall likely to be the most "fixed" parameter in your life (compared to practice location, setting... latitude above/below the arctic circle... which are more easily changed). I would say you have to take the limited information available to you now and decide whether you want to be a pathologist or an ophthalmologist, then let the other pieces fall into place. In these decisions I personally heavily emphasize following your gut feeling, and my reading of your posts is that your gut tells you that path would be a better fit. However, either one of these will work well for your family and there is probably no wrong decision.

 

[Cica]

The system you are describing confuses the heck out of me; in Norway, physicians get job offers, sometimes for life or sometimes with a one-year barely renewable term, before they train in their specialty or even choose it? Unless there are other Norwegians here, I doubt anyone on this forum can shed light on this topsy-turvy world you are describing.

Even if these jobs you are describing really do encompass all the options you will have in the near future, jobs come and go, so your choice of specialty is overall likely to be the most "fixed" parameter in your life (compared to practice location, setting... latitude above/below the arctic circle... which are more easily changed). I would say you have to take the limited information available to you now and decide whether you want to be a pathologist or an ophthalmologist, then let the other pieces fall into place. In these decisions I personally heavily emphasize following your gut feeling, and my reading of your posts is that your gut tells you that path would be a better fit. However, either one of these will work well for your family and there is probably no wrong decision.

Ya iI know the residency system here is nuts, hope they will change it but I am sure it won't change during my residency!! Just wanted to say thank you for your advice. Dunno what my gut feeling says, so lets see what happens 🙂

 

[gbwillner]

Ya iI know the residency system here is nuts, hope they will change it but I am sure it won't change during my residency!! Just wanted to say thank you for your advice. Dunno what my gut feeling says, so lets see what happens 🙂

Go into path. Opthalmology sucks.

 

[Autopsy Sweet]

Do you like patient interaction? Do you like messing with the eyes? (personally, messing with the eyes - mine or anyone else's - freaks me out) Do you have any interest in surgery? These would help you lean more towards ophtho.

If you prefer to interact more with other physicians and could give or take the patient interaction (or actively despise it) then path might be better. I also find that a lot of people who like path tend to like art....maybe because it's a visual field?

I can't really help you with your decision except to say that I've never heard of anyone quitting pathology, with the exception of one colleague who just quit doctoring all together. Instead, we have a lot of people every year trying to get out of other specialties and into path. I've also never heard of anyone quitting ophtho, but I only know a handful of ophtho residents. Good luck with your choice!

 

[Cica]

......I've never heard of anyone quitting pathology, with the exception of one colleague who just quit doctoring all together. Instead, we have a lot of people every year trying to get out of other specialties and into path. I've also never heard of anyone quitting ophtho, but I only know a handful of ophtho residents. Good luck with your choice!

Hey

I do not mind messing with eyes in general 🙂 Short term patient care is ok (outpatient stuff ) and not long term like in internal med. I mean I can do it, but I like independence in the long run I guess.

But why is it that you think that people switch into pathology from other fields? BTW I am definitely not an art person!

 

[Autopsy Sweet]

Hey

I do not mind messing with eyes in general 🙂 Short term patient care is ok (outpatient stuff ) and not long term like in internal med. I mean I can do it, but I like independence in the long run I guess.

But why is it that you think that people switch into pathology from other fields? BTW I am definitely not an art person!

I don't consider myself an art person, either...but many of my fellow residents are artfully minded.

I don't know why people switch. I can say that when I finished my IM year (internship) and started path residency, the biggest difference I noticed (other than the fact that I was finally doing what I love) were lifestyle changes. Things tend to be more scheduled in pathology. Very few emergencies (I should say that I'm AP only. No CP for me), and the day in general is alot less stressful. I also just enjoy it a million times more. It is a very intellectual field and I appreciate that. All of that being said, if it were the other way around (I loved IM and did a pathology residency instead), I think I would have been miserable despite the more regular schedule/hours, lifestyle benefits, etc. I think the biggest factor is enjoying it. The rest of it is secondary.

 

[Cica]

I don't consider myself an art person, either...but many of my fellow residents are artfully minded.

Haha very well put 🙂 All I know that when it comes to Internal med. if I could pursue Internal med., I would choose gastroenterology cause its hands on , more straight forward and I enjoy it. But the path that I have to go through to get there is just not worth it to me and let alone the stress!! Unfortunately, I don't think I am going to be getting an offer in Ophthalmology. Sadly, the dept. head had called me and had talked to me as if I was going to get the offer and then he never called back again. That means it was offered to another person. Very disappointing even though we still had not decided what we would choose.

So now there is the choice of either going in Pathology of some other field 🙂 But I do definitely do have an interest in Pathology and hence may end up choosing it 🙂 I will let you guys know what happens in the end 🙂 If I join you guys hehe 🙂