Urology vs. Cardiology

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Djibril Cisse

US IMG
10+ Year Member
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Hi guys!

I am a US IMG (from a European medical school), top 5 of my class, step 1 255/99, currently preparing for Step 2. I am planning on doing some research in the States, starting this fall. However, my major problem is that I have not yet decided what specialty I want to pursue!
My top 2 choices are Cardiology (Interventional) vs. Urology.

Which one would you suggest is better? I like doing things with my hands, but I cannot stand the endless 10 hour surgeries of General Surgery.. I also like having long-term relationships with my patients, however, I want to be a specialist!
It may also appear as somehow vain, but what is the social status of these specialists in the American Society? Because in the country where I come from, Urology is not considered such a desirable specialty..

Thanks in advance! :)

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I'm confused. You're an US IMG and then refer to "my country". If you're American, don't you have the gist of each?

These are such different pathways. You know that urology (aside from intern year) is not general surgery right?

You wouldn't be starving with either. Pick one if you like internal medicine and hearts and the other if you like surgery and peeing.
 
You are right, I owe some explanations..
I am US citizen, however I was born and raised in another country, where I went to medical school.. (I have both citizenships)

Sure enough I know that Urology is not General Surgery, my point is that I like surgery and doing things with my hands, however I cannot stand the 10hr operations of Gen Surg.

I like Hearts and I like Surgery, that's my problem.. I always wanted to become a Cardiac Surgeon, however I gave up this idea after 6 weeks of electives in the States.
Also, I don't know if I want to be called a "Urologist", it doesn't sound as heavy as "Cardiologist".. I dunno

What do you think?
 
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Hmmmm, where to start.

First and foremost, if you are choosing a specialty so that others will you regard you highly or 'heavily' as you put it, then good luck with that but there's a good chance you can be extremely unhappy. I cringe when I hear you say you'd be embarrassed to be called a urologist and that alone sways me to tell you to choose something else for I know of many fantastic individuals who want nothing more than to join our ranks......here urology is a highly desired and extremely competitive specialty and each year there are hundreds of highly talented individuals that do not match who would be extremely proud to call themselves urologists. In the light of your request for constructive advice, the most important deciding factor is what YOU like for it will be what you will ultimately devote yourself and not what others think. I could not think of a worse lifestyle than being stuck in a career that I despise.

That being said the road to the two specialties in question could not be any more different in nature. To become a cardiologist in the US, you have to complete an internal medicine residency followed by a fellowship in cardiology. A urologist is a surgical specialist and thus the training is as other surgical programs are. While it is true that many of our procedures can are outpatient and short, keep in mind there are various complex reconstructive and oncologic surgeries that can take much longer, and in training you will be exposed to these procedures.

My suggestion to you is to expose yourself in both fields by doing electives in either ones to see if the work done is to your interest. If you seek training in the US in urology then this will almost be mandatory....you will need support from the urologic community for a successful application aside from good numbers, which you do have. It will also give you a better idea as to the type of patients and problems we are involved with. Our patients are among the most thankful and appreciative I have seen and we are highly esteemed in my institution. I find the work extremely rewarding and could not picture myself doing anything else.

Good luck
 
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No offense meant,
but you souind like a cardiologist.
the key to getting into a competetive residency or fellowship is to convey that you are 100% sure and committed to doing that specialty.

when we use to interview candidates for urology residency we would ask them what their second choice would be. If they said any other specialty we would not take them. The only right answer was that you would keep trying and applying until you got in.
e.g.
"I would try to excel in the first year of general surgery, do some urology type research, rotate on the urology service and express my destiny to the department to do urology ultimately". Those were the people we were interested in.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it almost impossible to match into urology from a foreign medical school?
 
@ felipe5, former military: thank you for the interesting advice,I will keep that in mind. Of course, when I finally make my decision, this will be my one and only option, no doubt about that! That is why I am trying to figure out which specialty better suits me. Thank you for stressing it though.

@ stitchMD, cpants: I already know that it is difficult, however not impossible. Nothing is impossible. I know many people from my school that have matched into Neurosurgery, Urology, Orthopedics, ENT, General Surgery and of course Internal Medicine, in University based programs. That alone means that nothing is impossible - with careful steps, good numbers (I am currently working on that) and a lot of luck, too.:luck:
 
Hmmmm, where to start.

First and foremost, if you are choosing a specialty so that others will you regard you highly or 'heavily' as you put it, then good luck with that but there's a good chance you can be extremely unhappy. I cringe when I hear you say you'd be embarrassed to be called a urologist and that alone sways me to tell you to choose something else for I know of many fantastic individuals who want nothing more than to join our ranks......here urology is a highly desired and extremely competitive specialty and each year there are hundreds of highly talented individuals that do not match who would be extremely proud to call themselves urologists. In the light of your request for constructive advice, the most important deciding factor is what YOU like for it will be what you will ultimately devote yourself and not what others think. I could not think of a worse lifestyle than being stuck in a career that I despise.

That being said the road to the two specialties in question could not be any more different in nature. To become a cardiologist in the US, you have to complete an internal medicine residency followed by a fellowship in cardiology. A urologist is a surgical specialist and thus the training is as other surgical programs are. While it is true that many of our procedures can are outpatient and short, keep in mind there are various complex reconstructive and oncologic surgeries that can take much longer, and in training you will be exposed to these procedures.

My suggestion to you is to expose yourself in both fields by doing electives in either ones to see if the work done is to your interest. If you seek training in the US in urology then this will almost be mandatory....you will need support from the urologic community for a successful application aside from good numbers, which you do have. It will also give you a better idea as to the type of patients and problems we are involved with. Our patients are among the most thankful and appreciative I have seen and we are highly esteemed in my institution. I find the work extremely rewarding and could not picture myself doing anything else.

Good luck

embarassed by being a urologist? Urology is an awesome profession!!!! I have some friends in urology, i think it is a great area of medicine with endless options.
 
@ felipe5, former military: thank you for the interesting advice,I will keep that in mind. Of course, when I finally make my decision, this will be my one and only option, no doubt about that! That is why I am trying to figure out which specialty better suits me. Thank you for stressing it though.

@ stitchMD, cpants: I already know that it is difficult, however not impossible. Nothing is impossible. I know many people from my school that have matched into Neurosurgery, Urology, Orthopedics, ENT, General Surgery and of course Internal Medicine, in University based programs. That alone means that nothing is impossible - with careful steps, good numbers (I am currently working on that) and a lot of luck, too.:luck:

Not trying to discourage. Just be aware that you're definitely going against the odds.
 
You are right, I owe some explanations..
I am US citizen, however I was born and raised in another country, where I went to medical school.. (I have both citizenships)

Sure enough I know that Urology is not General Surgery, my point is that I like surgery and doing things with my hands, however I cannot stand the 10hr operations of Gen Surg.

I like Hearts and I like Surgery, that's my problem.. I always wanted to become a Cardiac Surgeon, however I gave up this idea after 6 weeks of electives in the States.
Also, I don't know if I want to be called a "Urologist", it doesn't sound as heavy as "Cardiologist".. I dunno

What do you think?

Haha I know this an old thread and I’m nobody to say anything as I haven’t even started MS1 yet, but did you actually consider specialty choice based on public perception/perceived status of the specialty ?

Urologist", it doesn't sound as heavy as "Cardiologist".
 
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