I finished off a rotation in Anesthetics, and talked to about 8 consultants about their choice of specialty , and prospects in the field (some of the operations were long, so time to talk). Bear in mind this is Ireland. Mileage in other parts of the world may vary, though it seemed quite a few did fellowships at one time or another in UK/US/Canada.
-One guy said that things were exciting for the first 3 years in practice, and by then the novelty wore off as knew most of the things.
-7 said relationships with surgeons weren't very strained (one thing I thought that happened more often before spending time). Seemed to get along well though, joking between cases, etc.
-2 said anesthetics as a specialty will be shrinking over the long term, as the procedures are 80-90% routine. They said that specially trained nurses will eventually do the routine procedures, and there will be 2 consultants going up and down the hallways of the theatres for the cases that go wrong, emergencies, and difficult intubations. [As a note, I saw no nurses doing any pts, only the consultants and house officers].
-3 said that pain management was one field that would grow significantly and requires trained anesthetics physicians only. [I spent some time in a chronic pain unit, kind of tough with the chronic pt's, but nice when they are helped with a spinal implant, etc].
-1 said not only have to choose what specialty on what you want to do, but also on what the market is. In Ireland, an optho job is hard to find, but can take your pick of anesthetics in many of the best hospitals, as there is a shortage.
-All seemed happy with their chosen specialty.
Hope that helps,
roo
