Torn between OB/GYN and EM

[Omiganlode]

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting here... I'm an IMG that will be applying to the 2013 match and I'm having a hard time deciding my specialty. I'm between OB/GYN and EM. I got a 213/90 on my step 1. I have a baby and a husband and everyone tells me that OB/GYN is not good for family because during residency you have to work 80+ hours and that you only work anywhere from 45-60 with EM. I really love OB/GYN but I wouldn't like to abandon my son who will be 3 years old at that time. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 😕

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[J-Rad]

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting here... I'm an IMG that will be applying to the 2013 match and I'm having a hard time deciding my specialty. I'm between OB/GYN and EM. I got a 213/90 on my step 1. I have a baby and a husband and everyone tells me that OB/GYN is not good for family because during residency you have to work 80+ hours and that you only work anywhere from 45-60 with EM. I really love OB/GYN but I wouldn't like to abandon my son who will be 3 years old at that time. Any info will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 😕

You'll get more definitive info from the EM folk on this particular aspect of your question, but I don't think that your board scores combined with your IMG status are going to make your chances at EM all that great. Is there a reason you don't think you would like family medicine (for the variety of patients and opportunity to do routine outpatient GYN and uncomplicated OB [if you want to take on that training and liability])? What is it that you like about OB in particular? (Sorry for a pediatric specialist making these comments/asking these questions, but I thought it was interesting).

 

[Omiganlode]

You'll get more definitive info from the EM folk on this particular aspect of your question, but I don't think that your board scores combined with your IMG status are going to make your chances at EM all that great. Is there a reason you don't think you would like family medicine (for the variety of patients and opportunity to do routine outpatient GYN and uncomplicated OB [if you want to take on that training and liability])? What is it that you like about OB in particular? (Sorry for a pediatric specialist making these comments/asking these questions, but I thought it was interesting).

I was hoping that the fact that I'm a US citizen (born and raised) would help me out a bit. I took my boards after studying 5 months with a newborn baby so that 90 is a 99 to me. 😛 Aside from that I was an RN in the states before I started med school and I also was an ER tech before becoming an RN (crazy huh?). I really enjoy OB/GYN and that's it... I also love EM so I think I would be happy doing either.

Honestly I never considered FM because I'm a fast paced person. Type A personality. FM seems a little boring to me. I don't know... HELP ME OUT HERE!!! LOL 😀

 

[Conjuctiva]

so that 90 is a 99 to me. 😛 Aside from that I was an RN in the states before I started med school and I also was an ER tech before becoming an RN (crazy huh?).

sorry to burst your bubble. but PD's (program directors) definitely do not give a ____ about what YOU think your score should be. As far as ER tech --> RN... wouldnt make a huge difference either. Some guy i know applying to EM went to South Africa to do EMS/paramedic volunteering there. and as far as ER tech, lots of applicants were that if not more, and frankly, what you did before medical school doesnt mean jack when you have a 90. They'll just take a 99 who hasnt really done anything over a 90 who was an RN.

anyone who begs to differ is blowing sunshine where the sun dont shine.

 

[Omiganlode]

sorry to burst your bubble. but PD's (program directors) definitely do not give a ____ about what YOU think your score should be. As far as ER tech --> RN... wouldnt make a huge difference either. Some guy i know applying to EM went to South Africa to do EMS/paramedic volunteering there. and as far as ER tech, lots of applicants were that if not more, and frankly, what you did before medical school doesnt mean jack when you have a 90. They'll just take a 99 who hasnt really done anything over a 90 who was an RN.

anyone who begs to differ is blowing sunshine where the sun dont shine.

WHOAAAA! Thanks....

 

[J-Rad]

I was hoping that the fact that I'm a US citizen (born and raised) would help me out a bit. I took my boards after studying 5 months with a newborn baby so that 90 is a 99 to me. 😛 Aside from that I was an RN in the states before I started med school and I also was an ER tech before becoming an RN (crazy huh?). I really enjoy OB/GYN and that's it... I also love EM so I think I would be happy doing either.

Honestly I never considered FM because I'm a fast paced person. Type A personality. FM seems a little boring to me. I don't know... HELP ME OUT HERE!!! LOL 😀

It will help you plan for your future more carefully and avoid disappointment and possible financial disaster if you disabuse yourself of this notion. The fact that you are a US citizen (combined with lackluster board scores for the filed [pertaining to EM]) may, in fact, hurt you especially if you went to a Carribean school. An FMG from a country with a well regarded medical training system (India usually comes to mind) with better board scores will be a more desirable candidate for a program that would be looking at both of your application files. This thought may change if you were a native speaker of another language who obtained a position in a well regarded foreign medical school, but you did not specify this and the majority of people here who are in your position went to the Carribean. You are in a position in which you need to choose your specialty carefully and with the knowledge that you are not a competitive candidate for the more competitive specialties. I would keep an open mind on your rotations to what you might like and try to excel at them all. Remember the debt load you will be carrying if you fail to match and that you will be even less desirable in the following matches you attempt should you fail the first time. This is a harsh reality it behooves you to prepare for.

 

[Omiganlode]

It will help you plan for your future more carefully and avoid disappointment and possible financial disaster if you disabuse yourself of this notion. The fact that you are a US citizen (combined with lackluster board scores for the filed [pertaining to EM]) may, in fact, hurt you especially if you went to a Carribean school. An FMG from a country with a well regarded medical training system (India usually comes to mind) with better board scores will be a more desirable candidate for a program that would be looking at both of your application files. This thought may change if you were a native speaker of another language who obtained a position in a well regarded foreign medical school, but you did not specify this and the majority of people here who are in your position went to the Carribean. You are in a position in which you need to choose your specialty carefully and with the knowledge that you are not a competitive candidate for the more competitive specialties. I would keep an open mind on your rotations to what you might like and try to excel at them all. Remember the debt load you will be carrying if you fail to match and that you will be even less desirable in the following matches you attempt should you fail the first time. This is a harsh reality it behooves you to prepare for.

Thanks so much to all that have commented. I'm an IMG studying in Costa Rica. My classes are all in spanish. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Aside from all of that, my REAL question was regarding the hours in an OB/GYN residency. Is it true that ALL ob/gyn residencies work 80+ hours?

Thanks in advance!

 

[koc123]

Thanks so much to all that have commented. I'm an IMG studying in Costa Rica. My classes are all in spanish. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Aside from all of that, my REAL question was regarding the hours in an OB/GYN residency. Is it true that ALL ob/gyn residencies work 80+ hours?

Thanks in advance!

As an obgyn attending, I can certainly give you some perspective on OBGYN. I did my residency at a top ivy program back in the early 2000s. It was before work hour regulations, so when I was on call, I often worked more than 36 hours in a row. I think things are a little better these days with most programs instituting night float system. But I think if you are on the gyn onc or gyn service, you are expected to stay until the cases are done and patients are "tucked" in. I definitely worked close to 80-100 hours a week.

ER is definitely more family friendly in terms of work hours.

With your board score and being an IMG, you may be able to match into less desirable programs in the northeast where many programs are famous for working their residents hard.

Also don't just think about your residency, if you are a general obgyn, you are usually expected to work the day after taking call. Life as an obgyn attending doesn't always get easier. You have more responsibility and liability. If you have doubts about working hard as an obgyn resident, then you seriously have to think if you want to be an obgyn attending.

 

[Omiganlode]

As an obgyn attending, I can certainly give you some perspective on OBGYN. I did my residency at a top ivy program back in the early 2000s. It was before work hour regulations, so when I was on call, I often worked more than 36 hours in a row. I think things are a little better these days with most programs instituting night float system. But I think if you are on the gyn onc or gyn service, you are expected to stay until the cases are done and patients are "tucked" in. I definitely worked close to 80-100 hours a week.

ER is definitely more family friendly in terms of work hours.

With your board score and being an IMG, you may be able to match into less desirable programs in the northeast where many programs are famous for working their residents hard.

Also don't just think about your residency, if you are a general obgyn, you are usually expected to work the day after taking call. Life as an obgyn attending doesn't always get easier. You have more responsibility and liability. If you have doubts about working hard as an obgyn resident, then you seriously have to think if you want to be an obgyn attending.

Thanks NY OBGYN MOM! That's exactly what I was looking for... :thumb up: If I was younger and didn't have a little son I would definitely do it. My issue is that I have 1 son and I'd like to have another so those hours don't exactly make having a newborn baby look possible. Thanks again!

 

[J-Rad]

Again, I would keep a very open mind on rotations. Remember a few things: psych is relatively non-competitive but has a great family-friendly lifestyle. FM is even less competitive but has a lot of flexibility in how you practice (and you could probably make it more "fast paced"). Peds and IM both can be fast paced, but the more exciting, usually the less family friendly. Peds is unique in at least two specialties: neonatology and peds EM-both exciting-neo moderately competitive and EM is competitive (probably top two with cardiology). Peds is generally easy to get and if you can be an exceptional resident and do some research, you may have a shot at specialties interesting to you (including EM). Remember you are in a position that "overshooting" can be a great and risky gamble for you (especially with a family). Plan well.

 

[Omiganlode]

Again, I would keep a very open mind on rotations. Remember a few things: psych is relatively non-competitive but has a great family-friendly lifestyle. FM is even less competitive but has a lot of flexibility in how you practice (and you could probably make it more "fast paced"). Peds and IM both can be fast paced, but the more exciting, usually the less family friendly. Peds is unique in at least two specialties: neonatology and peds EM-both exciting-neo moderately competitive and EM is competitive (probably top two with cardiology). Peds is generally easy to get and if you can be an exceptional resident and do some research, you may have a shot at specialties interesting to you (including EM). Remember you are in a position that "overshooting" can be a great and risky gamble for you (especially with a family). Plan well.

You're scaring me... You make it sound like I'm applying to dermatology. I have a friend in my same situation that got into Cook's and he didn't have great scores. I hope that's the case for me, but I will keep everything you have said in mind when i get ready to apply. Maybe I can apply to EM and peds as a backup, like you said, and then try for a EM fellowship. Ughh! So hard... I hope it all works out!

 

[peppy]

Being from psychiatry, I don't think I can tell you much about exactly how likely it is that you will get into these other fields, but I do think that Spanish fluency is a nice thing to be able to put on your application. It may not be the make or break thing, but
it could help at programs located in places with high Hispanic populations. One of the ob attendings I worked with in med school took care of a huge number of migrant workers and used Spanish all the time.

Did you get to rotate in an urgent care setting? Keep in mind that FM would allow you to do that kind of work, which might be a compromise option.
Even though you didn't mention being interested in psych, I will also vouch for psych being a very family friendly field. 🙂