Wayward predent considering a change....

[ISU_Steve]

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Hello everyone....I have a rather odd question. I have a rather great deal of background in critical care medicine, but strayed away into the realm of the predents (please forgive me for my trespasses 😉 ) because of the lure of a 35-40 hr workweek. Now I'm beginning to think that given the attitudes I have encountered among dentists, dental students, predents and sundry other persons related to that field, that perhaps I would be happier back in a field other than dentistry. So the question is this: what specialties are most family friendly and otherwise conducive to a life outside of work? The short list I was operating off of includes dermatology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, sports medicine, toxicology, pathology, ENT, allergy and immunology, private practice psychiatry, and infectious disease. Anyone have any other suggestions for ones where am I unlikely to find myself (after residency) staring at a chart at 4 am wondering why the hell I'm awake? Any suggestions for "interesting" choices would greatly appreciated. I'm not completely sure I want to give up on dentistry, just trying to weigh my options here...

 

[ISU_Steve]

OK, someone clarified the ROAD (rads, ophtho/oto, anesthesia, derm) thing for me off-forum, but any other suggestions? I've tried a couple of searches but those seem to be the patent answers to this question.

 

[12R34Y]

I think you've listed them all on your short list.

However, reading one of your posts in the EM forum you hinted that you are finding yourself missing the complicated medical cases, code blues and traumas suggests to me that you maybe should consider enjoying what you do (ie. EM) as opposed to having a 35-40 hour work week, which could technically be done in EM in the right environment. I know several attendings that work part time at 5 days/month and have fun side jobs or teach.

just a thought.

good luck in your hunt for a future career.

later

 

[ISU_Steve]

Hmmm....I could see myself doing the EM thing with perhaps some teaching on the side (or I could continue to pursue my interest in improving EMS)..... Thanks for the input.

 

[MD Dreams]

If I were in your shoes (assuming that you have the credentials) I would stay in dentistry and pursue orthodontics. I think you can really make a difference in some peoples lives, it is a good lifestyle, and I believe the money is very good. A lot of people in medicine are wrecks, they are old, very sick, abused themselves all their lives, etc. and it's not always that gratifying to take care of people such as these. Some of the specialties you mentioned also require high credentials. I guess what I'm trying to say is that medicine is not all that it's made out to be. But I'm still thankful that I'm part of it. Just my humble 2 cents.

 

[ISU_Steve]

Put it this way, I've been in medical field for 9 years now in various aspects. Trust me I know what a medical career can do to people.

I've spent a fair amount of time around orthodontists, so yeah, they don't work very hard, yeah, there's little stress, yeah they make way too much money for what they do and there's little that happens that's very interesting.

But both medicine and dentistry require "high credentials" to practice (4 years of school, 3+ yrs of residency to specialize, etc), so why do you recommend so stringently against a medical career when you're "thankful that" you're "part of it"? It kind of smacks of someone who is looking down upon me because I once considered the cushy road that is a dental career. I realized I need more of a challenge than dentistry could offer.....so why the dichotomy?

 

[xanthines]

I think it's more like looking back at how much work/sweat/sanity you put in to get where you are today and realizing that if you knew back then what you know now, you might not have done it. It's like how a lot of people view high school: I'm glad I went through it, but I don't ever want to do that again!

-X

... so why do you recommend so stringently against a medical career when you're "thankful that" you're "part of it"? It kind of smacks of someone who is looking down upon me because I once considered the cushy road that is a dental career. I realized I need more of a challenge than dentistry could offer.....so why the dichotomy?

 

[ISU_Steve]

I could understand that. I feel the same way about my respiratory therapist training (but that has less to do with the schooling and more with the benefits (or lack there of) that I received from it).

I appreciate the warning and apologize for the misunderstanding.

 

[Gauss]

Now I'm beginning to think that given the attitudes I have encountered among dentists, dental students, predents and sundry other persons related to that field, that perhaps I would be happier back in a field other than dentistry.

I have friends that have gone the pharmacy, dental, grad school route and I will honestly tell you we all gripe about everything. The grass is always greener.....

Sit down and make a list of what is most important to you - if work hours is it then so be it, don't second guess yourself. Unfortunately everything at some point becomes routine; being happy with that routine is what matters.

 

[jdude]

I realize this is an old thread, but reading through it I thought of two fields you left out. Gerentology is supposed to be in great demand in the coming years. Also fertility work might be interesting.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Gerontology......*shudders* not for all the money in the world.

Fertility work could be interesting from a science aspect, but clinically keep in mind that you have to deal with a lot of women who have all manner of associated mental problems-the ones who think not breeding is somehow the end of the world and therefore become homicidal/suicidal/genocidal at the realization that their genes might not make it to the next generation despite throwing huge sums of money at the problem.......no thanks I think I'd rather have my balls squeezed in a vise while being f--ked in the ass by a mountain gorilla than deal with that for a living.