Radiology vs Anesthesiology

[CidHighwind]

Hello,

Fourth year student thinking about applying to both of these fields. I’ve done rotations in both fields and still cannot decide which one I like more. I could see myself doing both. I’m not tied down to one region and have have an introvert/nerdy personality. I realized during third year that my clinical skills arent the best, and while they’ve improved a great deal, I realize that it would be best to go into a field better suited towards my strengths. I feel like Anesthesiology was more “fun” since I got to do procedures and liked the physiology and pharmacology, but Radiology is better suited to my strengths of memorization, pattern recognition, “test-taking skills”, and less-than-stellar people skills. Not necessarily that I’m mean/a jerk, but that a lot of social dynamics are difficult for me, which may pose a problem in the OR with surgeons and nurses. Got 240s/250s on boards and average grades. What are your thoughts?

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[Dave1980]

Initial thought: This is a real low effort post.

 

[SeisK]

Sounds like you enjoy anesthesia more. So you might benefit from working on how you interact with others.

 

[Splenda88]

Radiology... No Noctors (CRNA) think they can do your job...

 

[NDcienporciento100]

Radiology... No Noctors (CRNA) think they can do your job...

There already doing the job!

 

[CidHighwind]

There already doing the job!

Riiiight. Everyone says that one should do what they love. But the job itself seems compromised by nurses. Yes I find gas more interesting, but rads pays more and seems like a better job for introverts. Plus it seems like half of the Anesthesiology board hates their jobs.

 

[CidHighwind]

Anesthesia sucks... You are dealing with surgeons who have big egos and nurses who think they do your job as good as you (or even better). This specialty is worse than primary care IMO.

Gas seems like a chill job. They get multiple breaks, a good schedule, fun procedures, lots of downtime in non-critical patients, and a good paycheck. But you’d basically be the surgeon’s bitch, and the nurses would be on equal footing as you, especially during training. Honestly, if they got more respect in the OR, it’d be an amazing job.

 

[Chemdude]

Radiologists are usually more on the introverted side. That doesn't mean we lack social skills. Radiologists generally get along very well with other doctors and staff. Don't go into radiology just because you think it's for people with subpar social skills...that's a terrible reason to choose radiology.

Consider pathology.

 

[CidHighwind]

Radiologists are usually more on the introverted side. That doesn't mean we lack social skills. Radiologists generally get along very well with other doctors and staff. Don't go into radiology just because you think it's for people with subpar social skills...that's a terrible reason to choose radiology.

Consider pathology.

I’m sure the pathologist would say “we have to interact with other doctors as well”. I know that shouldn’t be the only reason, but it is something that I consider.

 

[Smallfishtinypond]

Agreed with Chemdude. Radiology or Anesthesiology are services to others physicians, besides the obvious services to our patients. Never underestimate the social interactions with refering physicians. I am attending with a decade of private practice. I have seen much discussion about the threat to our fields from young rad/aspiring rad. Do not complain about the threat of AI, of corporate radiology, of the commoditization of radiology and then turn around providing subpar total services to the clinicians, who are the most important force in the fight for a radiology group, either for or against you. I have seen young rads dismissing clinicians, both primary care and specialists, condescending to the lack of knowledge of primary physicians/mid level providers. One does not have to be a social bug to be a good communicator. Physicians care the most for the rads/rad service who help them taking care of their patients, make their (physicians') lives better, even if it may just be CYA. A report may not be enough. A friendly conversation can be tremendous. If you choose a career in radiology because you do not have to talk to people, don't.

 

[GoPelicans]

I had a similar dilemma and picked rads. New PGY2 and still don't know if I made the right choice lol. Rads is cool but can feel kinda boring at times, I wouldn't mind doing the occasional procedure or two. I don't do IR rotations until later this year, I hope it scratches that itch. Either way you are deciding between the two best fields IMO so you can't really go wrong.

 

[CidHighwind]

I had a similar dilemma and picked rads. New PGY2 and still don't know if I made the right choice lol. Rads is cool but can feel kinda boring at times, I wouldn't mind doing the occasional procedure or two. I don't do IR rotations until later this year, I hope it scratches that itch. Either way you are deciding between the two best fields IMO so you can't really go wrong.

That’s one thing that I feel about rads, sure the pay is nice and the hours are good, but I feel like 80-90% of the time the reads won’t be that impressive and you’re just turning through reads. It’s nice that one could listen to music or work from home on the job. I also don’t want to imply that one needs zero social skills to be a radiologist, but I think it’s fair to say that one doesn’t need as refined social skills as a more clinically-based doctor would.

 

[Cognovi]

That’s one thing that I feel about rads, sure the pay is nice and the hours are good, but I feel like 80-90% of the time the reads won’t be that impressive and you’re just turning through reads. It’s nice that one could listen to music or work from home on the job. I also don’t want to imply that one needs zero social skills to be a radiologist, but I think it’s fair to say that one doesn’t need as refined social skills as a more clinically-based doctor would.

80-90% routine diagnoses means every day you see something interesting. Remember radiologists 'see' the highest volume of patients of any specialty.