Too jacked for pediatrics?

[sonofva]

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So i'm a closet meathead. I enjoy lifting and am pretty big (like 200 l, but try not to let it spill over into my professional life/fit the meathead stereotypes...All the pediatricians I've worked with say I will make a great pediatrician, and I really enjoy working with kids. I don't scare the patients as far as I know, haha! But, all the students I rotate with say they wouldn't expect me to be a pediatrician...so, do i need to start losing some weight/mass? do pediatricians need to be meek and mild looking?

 

[McGillGrad]

What a bizarre question. No one cares what you look like as long as you're a competent doctor.

Just because you look like an orthopod does not mean that you should change the way you look to land a peds residency.

If it makes you feel better there are several residents that I know who are very large men (6'3"+, 220+) and they are doing just fine. Yes, women make up the majority of peds residents, but you can continue to be a gym rat. As a guy who likes to hit the gym, it's hard during intern year but I've found the time 3-4 days a week for 30-45min.

As an aside, I benched 300, strict, at the beginning of 4th year...although I am closer to 245 now. People sometimes confuse me for a Surgery or Emergency resident but not as often as you think.

 

[edmadison]

One of the best pediatricians I know was 2 years behind me in residency. He was the starting fullback for a top-10 D1 school. You'll be fine.

Ed

 

[diphenyl]

I find big guys that are good with children adorable 😍

 

[Swack]

Interesting post. I don't know if there is a physical stereotype for male pediatricians. I have seen plenty of large guys doing pediatrics.

I knew a NNP who was huge, 6 ft 250-300 lbs, actually a scary looking guy who ironically worked with micro-preemies. Everyone loved him.

Knew a few residents who were former athletes. I am not huge, 5'8, 150 lbs but I have worked out for years (can bench 250). During residency, I was regularly mistaken for a surgery resident (maybe cause I was male?).

On the flip-side, I also know a petite female ortho resident.

Do what makes you happy man

 

[diphenyl]

Interesting post. I don't know if there is a physical stereotype for male pediatricians. I have seen plenty of large guys doing pediatrics.

I knew a NNP who was huge, 6 ft 250-300 lbs, actually a scary looking guy who ironically worked with micro-preemies. Everyone loved him.

Knew a few residents who were former athletes. I am not huge, 5'8, 150 lbs but I have worked out for years (can bench 250). During residency, I was regularly mistaken for a surgery resident (maybe cause I was male?).

On the flip-side, I also know a petite female ortho resident.

Do what makes you happy man

One of my best friends was an ortho resident. She's about 5'2 and 115 lbs

The fav NICU nurse at my shop is about 6'4 and 275, former police officer, was a football player in college. Kid's love him.

 

[nogolfinsnow]

It takes all kinds! I was about 205lbs and a gym rat in college, trimmed down now, but I love sports and listen to heavy metal. One of our NICU attendings has hands bigger than most babies. Do what you want to do, not what anyone else thinks you should do.

 

[NTF]

While there are surely a higher percentage of shredded guys in ortho than peds no one is going to hold it against you. People may just comment on it because it's less common, like the petite 5' 0'' blonde ortho attending at my school who pops in hips better than most of her 6'+ resident ortho boys.