What do ya think?

[Anath]

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Undoubtedly, I will at some point figure out a field that feels right to me. But I have almost always thought that I would do either internal medicine or family medicine.

After having worked with a family medicine doctor, I am finding that it absolutely bores me to death! There's only so many follow-ups you can do -- he mostly saw only elderly patients he's had for 20 years in which they either have COPD, diabetes or CHF (or any combination thereof). I have asked to be reassigned to a doctor in internal medicine, but IM really does not seem to be all that much different (other than the fact that they do not see children, but my FP never saw children either).

SOOOOO, what do you guys think -- I still enjoy the idea of forming a (lasting) bond/relationship with my patients. I mean, that *is* what attracted me to IM.

But I get BORED easily! I need diversity. I need to feel like there's a problem to be solved.

I also do not like the idea of specializing and end up doing the same friggi procedure over and over again. (ie, it's one of hte complaints I hear about urology).

So as I said earlier -- 🙂 Not asking ya'll to decide my life for me, but just wondering what chya think would be a more fitting field.

 

[tonem]

How far a long are you in school? Most people don't figure out what they want to do in medicine until late in their 3rd year/early 4th year. There is nothing wrong with waiting until you've had some experience in other specialties before you try and decide.

 

[Anath]

I'm very aware of that! I'm in no rush -- I'm in my 2nd year. But we have this thing called LGM where we're assigned to a physician and you basically do basic physical exams and histories (and however much else your particular LGM lets you do). Anyhoo -- the most exciting thing I had in FM was that my LGM had me do a gyn exam.

Anyhoo -- I digress ... I was just curious in what people thought would fit my "criteria" (which will undoubtedly change and be amended as I gain that all important increasing experience!).

 

[pinbor1]

Anath

I feel your pain, but it'll probably pass. Most schools have some sort of "clinical didactic" during the basic sciences year. I myself did not mind the clinic time when I got to work hands on, but I hated the hospital practicum. I hated taking the lengthy H&P when #1 I was directly involved in patient care and #2 I did not have the clinical judgement to ask focused questions. I thought that I was going to hate the clinical years and that perhaps I had made mistake. I can tell you now that the 3 and 4th year were a blast for me whether it was in clinic, the OR, the wards, or the ED.
Just focus on getting through the first two years, 3rd year will be better because you will actually be involved in patient care.

You'll figure things out just keep your options open. I did not know til late mid August that EM was what I wanted to do.

Good Luck

 

[ArrogantSurgeon]

I know what you mean. I'm the type that will get bored of *anything* in medicine if I do it long enough. I guess the best thing you can do is find a specialty that will bore you the least, since you know you're gonna get bored of it anyway. I don't think I'll ever be the type that says I'm still *fascinated* by medicine after 20 years of doing the same thing day in day out. Heck, I'm still in med school it's already starting to get boring. 🙄

 

[Anath]

Guiltily, my first thought was -- "this must be a bunch of guys who responded ... can't they do like they usually do and just tell me what I wanna hear?" 😛 Ah well. I guess I wont' be hearing any random suggestions. This is what us women get for always complaining that we want men to be honest and not tell us things just for the sake of shuttin us up. lol. take it all in stride please (there's so many overly sensitive people on here). Don't take me seriously!

 

[Foxxy Cleopatra]

I recently posted this in another thread but thought it was relevant to this conversation as well. It's a test from the U. of Virginia that matches your responses to those of physicians in various fields. It's free, takes about 15 minutes, and it's fun to see with what specialty you match best.

the link is:

http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/specialties/

don't take the results too seriously- it's just for fun