Why is General Surgery not competitive?

[FaddyAcids]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was wondering why General Surgery is not a competitive specialty even though you can then take a fellowship of Cardiothoracic or Vascular Surgery!!

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I was wondering why General Surgery is not a competitive specialty even though you can then take a fellowship of Cardiothoracic or Vascular Surgery!!

I wouldn't argue that it's "not competitive." I also wouldn't argue it was "super competitive".

As for the fellowships, many are afraid cardiothoracic is a dying specialty (and apparently is considering undergoing rearrangement to attract more interest) and Vascular IS cool, but not everybody wants to deal with vasculopaths and all their problems all day.

 

[DOCNY81]

I wouldn't argue that it's "not competitive." I also wouldn't argue it was "super competitive".

...many are afraid cardiothoracic is a dying specialty....

I know is not a competitive specialty these days... mostly due to the lifestyle... but why would you say it is dying?😕

 

[Castro Viejo]

but why would you say it is dying?😕

😕

Uh... Where have you been for the last 5-10 years?

 

[Faebinder]

Pediatric Surgeons are the last so-called "True General Surgeons".


Either way... what's with this talk about surgery not being competitive? Gosh what was it last year? Only 3 unfilled spots or something like that? And the year before that only 1? Maybe you are thinking prelim surgery which is a different game. Plenty of positions available if you want to enslave yourself and are a little bit competitive. Hope you are able to move to catagorical after that one or two prelim years. If you arent considered at least moderately competitive, I wouldn't even bother.

 

[sleeping]

"Pediatric Surgeons are the last so-called "True General Surgeons"

I always wondered why there are so few Pediatric surgery fellowships? There is such a need for them. I know, at times there is only one guy covering several very busy hospitals.

 

[FaddyAcids]

Why do you think it's not competitive?

I meant its not as competitive as Derm, Radiology, ENT..etc

 

[Faebinder]

"Pediatric Surgeons are the last so-called "True General Surgeons"

I always wondered why there are so few Pediatric surgery fellowships? There is such a need for them. I know, at times there is only one guy covering several very busy hospitals.

Nah, that's just straight up protection of turf (greed?).... sorta like neurosurgery. It's pretty much the hardest fellowship to get in general surgery after plastic surgery I believe. There are some non-acgme pediatric surgery fellowships out there. So you can always expand your scope but not necessarily get board certification. Bill as a general surgeon.

 

[DrDawg]

I meant its not as competitive as Derm, Radiology, ENT..etc

I guess that would depend on what you think makes something competitive.

Derm and ENT each have less than 300 positions. Where radiology and gen surg cats fill approximately 1100 positions. Some may argue that Derm and ENT are more competitive than general surgery because there are fewer spots.

Next you can look at percent fill 99.8 gen surg, 99.7 derm, 99.3 Oto, 98.4 Rads (thru NRMP PGY1 and 2 spots). All still seem pretty competitive.

I m in a research year so I have the time to continue...

Next you could look at # unmatched for a specialty
Derm with 33.2 %, Ent 15, Gen surg 9.9, and Rads 6.8. Derm would look far more competitive if you value this statistic.

Or USMLE scores
mean step I/II Derm 238/242, Ent 238/241, Rads 235/237, Surg 222/226. This stat agrees with your statement that general surgery is less competitive. I may have time but not enough to give you the p values.

But it would appear that Derm is still top dog.

 

[OHMAN0125]

I meant its not as competitive as Derm, Radiology, ENT..etc

Why do u think it's not as competitive as those???
Let me see, each of those fields has better lifestyle and better pay. Maybe not total pay for Derm but if you factor in pay per hour, and that alot of Derm is cosmetic (cash) then you understand my point.
So in this generation where money and lifestyle is what is attractive, naturally more ppl will go into those types of fields.
What sux is also my friends father is a general surgeon and he told me back 20-30 yrs ago when he started, he'd easily clear 900k-1mill a year profit. But in came the reimbursement cuts and it's almost impossible to make that much anymore. Given Gen surgeons work so hard and they don't get paid as much for it, you can see why it isnt as competitive.

 

[sleeping]

Nah, that's just straight up protection of turf (greed?).... sorta like neurosurgery. It's pretty much the hardest fellowship to get in general surgery after plastic surgery I believe. There are some non-acgme pediatric surgery fellowships out there. So you can always expand your scope but not necessarily get board certification. Bill as a general surgeon.

Its a shame about turf protection. I know alot of residents who actually enjoy ped surg. And lord knows most hosp can use the help, we are constantly turning away kids, cause the peds guy is on vac or busy in another hosp.

 

[Biscuit799]

I was wondering why General Surgery is not a competitive specialty even though you can then take a fellowship of Cardiothoracic or Vascular Surgery!!

lifestyle

why would a competitive applicant make 220K/yr working 80 hrs/wk when they could make 320K/yr working 50 hrs/wk