In my opinion you are robbing yourself of valuable education by taking a cush year. I am biased because I did do internal medicine before anesthesia and at times I was very frustrated by it, but I now realize that it provided me with the best training I could hope for before going into anesthesiology. Cardiology, pulmonology, MICU, GI, and yes even clinic provided me with all I needed to feel comfortable in my anesthesiology residency. I feel prepared, find it easier to diagnose and treat intraoperative and postoperative conditions than most of my colleagues, and find it easier to integrate educational material into my knowledge base.
TY and surgery intern years provide their own advantages with breadth of knowledge if not depth (TY), and ability to anticipate the surgeon's next move (surgery year). However, having gone through medicine, I feel more confident in making quick, informed decisions in almost all situations when some of my colleagues may hesitate from lack of experience in these situations which my medicine year more than provided for.
You work hard for sure. I had a full outpatient clinic roster on top of daily inpatient duties, but it gives you confidence to manage multiple events at any time and sharpens your preoperative evaluation skills, intraop and postop diagnostic instincts, and postop and ICU management skills.
Just my 2 cents worth.
