thinking of switching from fp to surgery any advice

[skhan]

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Hi,

I'm an international foreign medical graduate who recently started an internship in family practice but I'm seriously considering switching to surgery after my intership year. I have a surgical background of 3 1/2 year (foreign trained) and 2 month subinternship at the university of washington seattle. However, due to certain issues both personal and immigration status wise I wasn't able to pursue a residency in surgery right away.

After a few weeks into FP, I've realized that giving up on surgery is something I do not wish to do. I am already having second thoughts about FP and realizing that if I had a choice right away I would have chosen to go the straight route of surgical residency.

Is it too late to switch? What advice would you give to someone in my situation.

thanks

 

[Vukken99]

if you like to be called like around 3am for some sbo then hey i would advise it.

You will spend lots of hours in the hospital....

Now, if you truly love surgery then go for it but consider the consequences in your life later on....

FPs make lots of money if you are business minded and if you have a genuine interest in your patient.. Plus hours are better in a way...

I know many FPs making money than surgeons...believe it or not...it is true..

The reimbursement for a procedure in surgery has declined a lot...to the point you have to do like good 6 to 7 cases a month just to pay your malpractice insurance...

I think i did explain about this before...

If you are willing to go to rural areas and you are the only surgeon then getting business is not a problem but otherwise you will have to compete with other surgeons for good cases....

NOw, some med students think being an academic surgeon is either easy or prestigious. Now, being in academia is a lot harder probably you end you taking antiacid pills... the M and Ms are so brutal and it is used as an battle ground for a political fight among surgeons...Oh brother..easy to get hemorrhoids I think on a long run...

Weigh all your option and also consider how would you like to practice and live when you are around 40 or 50... This is very very important consideration..

 

[thenavysurgeon]

i trained with a few IMG while i was a surgery resident at a major training program. if you love surgery, why would you subject yourself to a field as boring and banal as FP. I think Vukken is smoking something...FPs don't make $$, and are struggling with the rest of us. Look at the salary scales on the AMA website or salary.com....FPs are making less than plumbers on an hourly scale.