MS-3 here. Trying to figure out what I want to apply to next year, and I thought I would get a peds perspective.
Does anyone have something to add for peds pros and cons? Or does anyone want to say something about the pros/cons I have listed? I'm only a medical student, so I'm sure it's not a perfect list.
Pediatrics
Pros:
-Love working with kids (especially during my peds rotation)
-Very rewarding to make sick kids feel better
-Much easier to heal a sick kid than a sick adult (IM seemed to have more management of chronic diseases)
-Interesting pathology
-Good continuity of care with patients
-Could become a pediatric cardiologist
Cons:
-Salary. From what I read, peds cardiologists seem to be in the 200-250k range
-Harder residency lifestyle (more hours per week)
-I only got a HP in peds, and I don't know how that would affect my chances
Anesthesiology
Pros:
-I find physiology and pharmacology very interesting
-Great opportunity to do procedures
-Seemingly laidback work environment
-Very good salary (I've seen 300-400k from what I read)
-Good lifestyle (even during residency)
Cons:
-Missing out on much of that traditional doctor-patient relationship unless I do a pain fellowship afterwards
-Not as much opportunities for diagnostic reasoning (something I enjoy doing)
-The future of anesthesia doesn't look that great (cRNAs, decline of private practices, declining pay)
Does anyone have something to add for peds pros and cons? Or does anyone want to say something about the pros/cons I have listed? I'm only a medical student, so I'm sure it's not a perfect list.
Pediatrics
Pros:
-Love working with kids (especially during my peds rotation)
-Very rewarding to make sick kids feel better
-Much easier to heal a sick kid than a sick adult (IM seemed to have more management of chronic diseases)
-Interesting pathology
-Good continuity of care with patients
-Could become a pediatric cardiologist
Cons:
-Salary. From what I read, peds cardiologists seem to be in the 200-250k range
-Harder residency lifestyle (more hours per week)
-I only got a HP in peds, and I don't know how that would affect my chances
Anesthesiology
Pros:
-I find physiology and pharmacology very interesting
-Great opportunity to do procedures
-Seemingly laidback work environment
-Very good salary (I've seen 300-400k from what I read)
-Good lifestyle (even during residency)
Cons:
-Missing out on much of that traditional doctor-patient relationship unless I do a pain fellowship afterwards
-Not as much opportunities for diagnostic reasoning (something I enjoy doing)
-The future of anesthesia doesn't look that great (cRNAs, decline of private practices, declining pay)