Peds subspecialty question

[v-tach]

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I'm not even in med school yet, but just curious: Is it possible to do a peds subspecialty (e.g. cards) in a non-teaching setting? It seems like people at most of the children's hospitals have a lot of teaching responsibilities in addition to their clinical activities, and I'm not sure how I would be with that aspect of it--I think I might prefer to just stick to clinical work and maybe some research. Are there children's hospitals where one can do that? Sorry if this is a dumb question, just trying to get a feel for some of the options.

 

[jdog]

I'm not even in med school yet, but just curious: Is it possible to do a peds subspecialty (e.g. cards) in a non-teaching setting? It seems like people at most of the children's hospitals have a lot of teaching responsibilities in addition to their clinical activities, and I'm not sure how I would be with that aspect of it--I think I might prefer to just stick to clinical work and maybe some research. Are there children's hospitals where one can do that? Sorry if this is a dumb question, just trying to get a feel for some of the options.

Very few pediatric subspecialties can be practiced outside of an academic medical center. Those are NICU, PICU, GI, Cardiology, Endocrinology, maybe Pulmonology. Pretty much every other one is academic and will require teaching. Even if you are not at an academic center, you will stil probably have contact with residents. Either way, if you make this litttle fact about your plans known you will have a hard time getting af ellowship spot

 

[v-tach]

Very few pediatric subspecialties can be practiced outside of an academic medical center. Those are NICU, PICU, GI, Cardiology, Endocrinology, maybe Pulmonology. Pretty much every other one is academic and will require teaching. Even if you are not at an academic center, you will stil probably have contact with residents. Either way, if you make this litttle fact about your plans known you will have a hard time getting af ellowship spot

Thanks for the insight. I don't mind doing a little one-on-one type teaching; I'm just not sure how well I'd do with teaching classes and that sort of thing. It does seem that as far as subspecialties go some of the adult ones are MUCH more flexible in terms of practice environment (especially things like cardiology etc. that are often found even in the community hospitals).

 

[notstudying]

Thanks for the insight. I don't mind doing a little one-on-one type teaching; I'm just not sure how well I'd do with teaching classes and that sort of thing. It does seem that as far as subspecialties go some of the adult ones are MUCH more flexible in terms of practice environment (especially things like cardiology etc. that are often found even in the community hospitals).

Most docs who are in academic subspecialities rarely teach lectures in the undergraduate sense. Teaching responsibilities are usually supervising residents in clinic, being the attending on the floors (sometimes that means doing "attending rounds" which are small group teaching sessions with 3-5 residents and med students), and doing the odd 1 hour grand rounds or noon conference presentation. It's usually a few basic scientists and basic science research MDs that do the medical school lectures, and in general they just do a few lectures in their area of expertise, rather than a whole semester of lectures.

That said adult subspecialties are more flexible in terms of being able to have a private practice or practice from a community hospital. I'd add allergy/immunology and, in some cases, developmental peds, to the above list.