Stressed! Don't know what to do anymore...

[SierraMist14]

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Hi all,

I'm currently a USMD med student; 212 Step I, 2 honored clerkships and am 5 weeks out of my third year. I need to make a decision on a specialty.

I've gotten down to 2 choices; OB/GYN and Anesthesiology. Of course there are pros and cons to both, but I simply can't make a decision. I like the material and population of OB/GYN but lots of people have been scaring me about the stress/malpractice/lifestyle. I also find anesthesiology appealing, but have been told the usual (job security, competition, etc.). Does anyone have any input or advice for me? It's really starting to stress me out, and I only have a short time left to make a decision. Thanks.

 

[22031 Alum]

Some people believe in the idea of one true specialty for each person, but I think many people could be happy and do well in any of a number of specialties. So really, this is going to have to be a decision - a hard one!- that you make on our own. My one suggestion is that if you think you'd be jealous participating in an operation but not performing it yourself, go with gyn. Or also, if you want a higher likelihood of ending up with a cohort of patients who are "yours," whom you take care of over their lifetime, go with gyn.

This specialty has a reputation but it isn't as monolithic as is often depicted. Don't like call? Plenty of practices have night float. Don't like being on L&D? I don't know a single REI or urogynecologist who leads an awful, stressed life. Like shift work? You can be a pure hospitalist or a laborist.

You could always flip a coin, and you'll realize what you're hoping for while the coin is in the air.