some queries about FM

[coreytayloris]

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1. Is family medicine residency considerably easier than some of the others, like internal medicine. ?? How many hours a week would you expect to do? (from hearsay I gather that you would have no life in some residencies, like surgery or even internal medicine)

2. Is it easier to get into family med than internal medicine for an FMG? I'd be particularly interested in the NY area.

3. Long term, are your financial prospects better by going with IM? With fellowship I guess you are looking at 5 years before you could make 6 figures doing IM (unless you do hospitalist), but if you do FM you'll be on 6 figures after three. would there be much difference between the two - is the FM ceiling 250k a year???whereas a fellowship in one of the IMs could land you how much more than that???

 

[deleted480308]

Please read some of the threads here...

 

[VA Hopeful Dr]

1. Is family medicine residency considerably easier than some of the others, like internal medicine. ?? How many hours a week would you expect to do? (from hearsay I gather that you would have no life in some residencies, like surgery or even internal medicine)

2. Is it easier to get into family med than internal medicine for an FMG? I'd be particularly interested in the NY area.

3. Long term, are your financial prospects better by going with IM? With fellowship I guess you are looking at 5 years before you could make 6 figures doing IM (unless you do hospitalist), but if you do FM you'll be on 6 figures after three. would there be much difference between the two - is the FM ceiling 250k a year???whereas a fellowship in one of the IMs could land you how much more than that???

1. This is highly variable. Honestly, it depends on the rigor of your OB and Peds services. If those are hard, your schedule might be worse than your IM colleagues. If they are easy, you might be better off.

2. Yes

3. About the same as general IM. Obviously, most of your IM subspecialties will out earn you significantly.

 

[cabinbuilder]

1. Is family medicine residency considerably easier than some of the others, like internal medicine. ?? How many hours a week would you expect to do? (from hearsay I gather that you would have no life in some residencies, like surgery or even internal medicine)

2. Is it easier to get into family med than internal medicine for an FMG? I'd be particularly interested in the NY area.

3. Long term, are your financial prospects better by going with IM? With fellowship I guess you are looking at 5 years before you could make 6 figures doing IM (unless you do hospitalist), but if you do FM you'll be on 6 figures after three. would there be much difference between the two - is the FM ceiling 250k a year???whereas a fellowship in one of the IMs could land you how much more than that???

Dude, you sound like a really lazy FMG who expects to make 6 figs without having to really go to work. Dang. Go work 40 hours/wk in sanitation in NYC if that's what suits you.

 

[Dharma]

Dude, you sound like a really lazy FMG who expects to make 6 figs without having to really go to work. Dang. Go work 40 hours/wk in sanitation in NYC if that's what suits you.

Those NYC sanitation jobs are no joke. Plowing and shoveling streets in the winter... Gnarly build up funk following weekends. Stinking beyond high heaven. Putting in 55+ hours a week to make ends meet. Tough job. Plus not an easy one to get! Count OP out of that job too! No such thing as free lunch!

 

[cabinbuilder]

those nyc sanitation jobs are no joke. Plowing and shoveling streets in the winter... Gnarly build up funk following weekends. Stinking beyond high heaven. Putting in 55+ hours a week to make ends meet. Tough job. Plus not an easy one to get! Count op out of that job too! No such thing as free lunch!

haha nice!!!

 

[brianmartin]

I think it depends on the program. Inpatient medicine, icu, etc are going to be intense wherever you are. But, family medicine tends to have easier schedules in 2nd and 3rd year, more weekends off, more clinic days, more elective rotations, etc. I think if you enjoy family medicine, like taking care of a variety of patients, you should do it. If you want to do IM and subspecialize, you should go for it. Don't pick based on salary--then you'll be miserable and incompetant. Do what you WANT to do 🙂

 

[realism]

I am myself IMG. I know your concerns from experience.
So, avoid Family Medicine (my specialty). You can always do primary care. Nurse Specialists are doing excellent primary care after a very limited BUT SUFFICIENT education and training. They do not need medical school or residency etc and they are doing exactly the same quality jobs as Family Physicians. Any doctor graduating from medical school should be able to do out-patinet primary care.
My suggestion: knowing the chances and options of IMGs - do as well as you can on your exams and go for IM residency and then specialize if you can. That itself will be determined during residency.
Above all, seek connections with any physician you can. Admissions to residencies are only in small percentage determined by your scores. You need to be "right fit" so make sure that the faculty already knows you before you apply. I have seen this in practice time after time. Move to nearby IM residency area and do some voluntary work or some other work there so they know about you, they know you. As usual "right person, at the right place, at the right time."
Such work will also give you some valued references.