Should I decide on specialty with my head or my heart?

[Ceke2002]

I had planned to go into post grad medicine when I first joined this forum, but that didn't end up working out (physical limitations). I do remember at the time though already wondering whether I should follow my head or my heart in terms of what area of medicine I was most interested in working in. My mind said Emergency Medicine, my heart said Psychiatry. Both of those could have been a good fit for me, but ultimately I think if you can find something that fits into both (heart and mind) then maybe that's the best area in the long run.

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[Stagg737]

To answer the OP's question--the head can't live very long without the heart, and the heart lasts longer with some guidance from the head--but in all seriousness: How did you make that other most consequential decision of your life--who to spend it with and raise children with?
Heart predominant? Or head?

While this is a fair point, I'd also like to point out that many of our patients would have done far better if they used their head a little more and told their heart to stfu when deciding who their lifelong (or current temporary, lol) partner was.

The head is much better at seeing red vs green flags while the heart tends to be quite colorblind...

 

[finalpsychyear]

While this is a fair point, I'd also like to point out that many of our patients would have done far better if they used their head a little more and told their heart to stfu when deciding who their lifelong (or current temporary, lol) partner was.

The head is much better at seeing red vs green flags while the heart tends to be quite colorblind...

There may be another organ who actually is calling the shots..

 

[eyeeye_captain]

There may be another organ who actually is calling the shots..

I want an insurance authorization to look at me like that…

 

[OldPsychDoc]

I'm a cutthroat empiricist having read the books and data that who you marry/have children with is by far the most consequential choice you will ever make as a parent and this still did not really penetrate my skull while dating.

It wasn't the head that they were aiming for, Mero.

 

[OldPsychDoc]

While this is a fair point, I'd also like to point out that many of our patients would have done far better if they used their head a little more and told their heart to stfu when deciding who their lifelong (or current temporary, lol) partner was.

The head is much better at seeing red vs green flags while the heart tends to be quite colorblind...

I think that was implied in my second clause, btw.

 

[HaileyMed]

While this is a fair point, I'd also like to point out that many of our patients would have done far better if they used their head a little more and told their heart to stfu when deciding who their lifelong (or current temporary, lol) partner was.

The head is much better at seeing red vs green flags while the heart tends to be quite colorblind...

This is the part where we should start talking about the Wise Mind… lol

Logical mind and Emotional mind alone should not make decisions

 

[helpers56]

I'd say think moreso with your head. I was interested in other areas; anesthesia in particular. I really wanted a good work/life balance, not be beholden to a large group/big box shop for work, flexibility to take time off as I wanted. Sure I sacrificed some things by going psych to achieve this. In retrospect, the "non work stuff" makes it worth it x1000. I also make much more money, have greater flexibility, and don't have to wake up at 5am to be in a cold OR at 6 by choosing psych. There's truly nothing in the world I would do if I had to pick all over again because of the lifestyle, money, and flexibility psych allows for.

FWIW i had friends go into various fields due to ego. They had much harder and longer training, more difficulty finding a job in the city they want to be in, and in many cases making much less than I am as a "lowly" psychiatrist. If there's any inkling you are picking something because of perceived prestige, or your thoughts on career are tied to some type of ego need, slowly back away and rethink the situation.

This looks like something that I wrote myself. I feel validated as an incoming pgy 1 who was originally going into anesthesia. Thank you for this, I enjoyed reading this because my brain seems to keep forgetting why I made my decision.