Specia

[Jig95]

answered

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[puahate]

No one really knows...besides rad onc. Rad onc is only going to get worst

 

[cantankerous]

If all you care about is pay and lifestyle, I would recommend becoming a surgical PA. With only 2 years of education, you make more than primary care doctors, you work less hours, and if you mess up, it's not your responsibility. Obviously with the corporate MBAs and JDs who run healthcare trying to save as much money possible, your role as a midlevel will likely never go away in your lifetime, if ever.

 

[Catalystik]

I am currently premed and am looking at specialties to shoot for, and while I can read about how a dermatologist has a great day to day life or how a orthopedic surgeon gets paid gobs of money, currently, I am having trouble seeing projections for 10+ years down the road. While I realize no one can know for sure I am interested to hear what people (who probably know more than I do about the subject) think will be the best specialties based on a few qualities.

On a scale of 1-5 what specialties have the best out look for the next 20-30 years in:

1. Daily quality of life
2. Pay
3. Demand (ease of finding jobs and or patients)

I was previously looking at working towards dermatology with the end goal working as a Mohs surgeon, but I am finding that work for someone wanting to be full time as Mohs has begun to decrease since 2008. So any input would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

Consider looking into regenerative medicine, keeping in mind that academic medical centers won't necessarily pay salaries at the top of the scale.

 

[Lucca]

lmao

 

[longhaul3]

This is a pretty naïve question but since it sounds like you're at least somewhat aware of that, here's an earnest reply.

1. Quality of life depends on what you consider important. If you love being in the OR, any specialty without a lot of OR time will make you unhappy, even if it's lucrative and has good hours. This will become clearer to you when you find a sense of your career interests in the thick of it as a med student.

2/3. Lots of specialties pay well. The surgical subspecialties pay the best, and for the most part, surgical problems will always come up and require surgeons, so the demand will be relatively stable. These specialists are also in short supply, making these fields very competitive. Mohs surgery is a similar story but probably even more competitive.

 

[AllBleedingStops]

currently, I am having trouble seeing projections for 10+ years down the road.

Literally no one knows this.

I was previously looking at working towards dermatology

I see you like money. Just try to get into medical school first. Next hurdle is that real high step score. Then you can start talking about your interest in skin pathology or whatever.

 

[curbsideconsult]

I am currently premed and am looking at specialties to shoot for, and while I can read about how a dermatologist has a great day to day life or how a orthopedic surgeon gets paid gobs of money, currently, I am having trouble seeing projections for 10+ years down the road. While I realize no one can know for sure I am interested to hear what people (who probably know more than I do about the subject) think will be the best specialties based on a few qualities.

On a scale of 1-5 what specialties have the best out look for the next 20-30 years in:

1. Daily quality of life
2. Pay
3. Demand (ease of finding jobs and or patients)

I was previously looking at working towards dermatology with the end goal working as a Mohs surgeon, but I am finding that work for someone wanting to be full time as Mohs has begun to decrease since 2008. So any input would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance!

You're spending your time in all the wrong places buddy. Have you even taken the MCAT yet? Or any med school prereqs at all?

 

[907914]

There will always be children and diabetes is on the rise. Do pediatric endocrinology.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Just be aware: behind the “gobs of money” there is a brutal residency, 80 hour weeks, lost relationships, and never being able to “let go” if you’re in academia because you can always be called about something at anytime. The level of suffering is commensurate with the pay in surgery.

 

[907914]

Just be aware: behind the “gobs of money” there is a brutal residency, 80 hour weeks, lost relationships, and never being able to “let go” if you’re in academia because you can always be called about something at anytime. The level of suffering is commensurate with the pay in surgery.

Is it possible to be a part time orthopod? Like, your only job is to be the on-call surgeon 3 nights a week, maybe a day of clinic?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Is it possible to be a part time orthopod? Like, your only job is to be the on-call surgeon 3 nights a week, maybe a day of clinic?

If you’re locums, yes, but you won’t make that much and won’t have continuity of care.

 

[907914]

If you’re locums, yes, but you won’t make that much and won’t have continuity of care.

Are loving positions common (particularly across specialties)

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Are loving positions common (particularly across specialties)

Not sure, sorry. I don’t know much about them other than that I went into medicine for continuity of care, so I would not consider it unless I was in dire straits.

 

[WinslowPringle]

Are loving positions common (particularly across specialties)

Loving positions? I think someone needs to insert a joke here like "Orthos do it...with nailing. Radiologists do it....in the dark. Anesthesiologists do it.....in your dreams....."

For locums, they are common in some specialties and less common in others, but I can't speak to all of them. I have seen options for 'long-term' locums (6+ months) at one go (quite a few rural general surgery locums); also, some places will have rotating locums so you're there once a month for 1-2 weeks but come back there every month or every other month (seen this for pediatric surgery).

 

[907914]

Loving positions? I think someone needs to insert a joke here like "Orthos do it...with nailing. Radiologists do it....in the dark. Anesthesiologists do it.....in your dreams....."

For locums, they are common in some specialties and less common in others, but I can't speak to all of them. I have seen options for 'long-term' locums (6+ months) at one go (quite a few rural general surgery locums); also, some places will have rotating locums so you're there once a month for 1-2 weeks but come back there every month or every other month (seen this for pediatric surgery).

Totally meant locums...I see what is on Siri's mind (voice to text).

Righteous, thanks for the info!

 

[TeddyBears]

I will speculate that with the proliferation of tattoos now, derms will have lots of work in the future.

Too funny

 

[meronebib]

Just go derm my friend.

 

[piii]

You're spending all this time worrying about trivial things when you may or may not even make it into medical school.

 

[LBJLA23]

Don't go into medicine for money. There's better options.