Choosing a Medical Specialty
If you’re interested in working as a physician, you should know that
there are many different kinds of medical specialties. Some doctors specialize
in treating children. Others specialize in treating medical matters related
to the heart. Others focus on the brain. There is a specialist for practically
every part of our bodies!
Choosing a medical specialty that fits your interests and goals may take
some time, but the benefits to your career and personal life will be worth
it. The specialty you select will ultimately affect your lifestyle, work hours,
income and other factors.
Labor market conditions and employment trends are an important area to
consider when you’re choosing a labor specialty. After all, you want to be
sure that you find a job after you finish medical school.
“Trends can be important in determining a specialty,†Dr. Mary Coleman
says. She’s the dean of a medical school. “It has happened that at times certain
specialists have had difficulty getting employment.â€
But it’s important to look at all the factors, including your personal
interest. Remember: you most likely will be practicing that specialty for
more than 30 years. “Do what you truly love in a lifestyle you can maintain,â€
says Dr. Maurice Ramirez. He’s a physician and the co-founder of Disaster
Life Support of North America
Making the Choice
Students typically select a specialty towards the end of their third year
in medical school, after most have been involved in the primary required clerkships,
Coleman says. Specialty options include internal medicine, surgery, psychiatry,
obstetrics/gynecology, family medicine, pediatrics and neurology.
Many students use the fourth year of medical school to try out electives
if they believe they have an interest in other areas, she says. Some schools
are trying to develop ways for students to experience other areas of medicine
during earlier years.
“Try to get exposure as early as possible and as frequently as possible
to any area in which you have an interest,†Coleman says. “If you think you
would like a certain residency, attempt to get an elective rotation in that
area, and if possible, with the program in which you are most interested.â€
What Specialties Are Popular Today?
According to the American Board of Medical Specialties, there has been
a rise in students choosing the areas of anesthesiology, medical genetics,
pathology, psychiatry and neurology and radiology.
“The reasons why students choose different specialties is complex,†says
Coleman. “Work hours may be more controllable in some specialties, such as
medical genetics. Acute care and procedures may appeal to those who choose
radiology and anesthesiology. Malpractice problems may scare students away
from some specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology.
“Incentives to practice in certain areas or certain specialties may entice
some to choose primary care specialties or others in locations where the need
is great.â€
Should Employment Trends Rule Your Choices?
While it’s important to consider employment trends, the demand for physicians
changes constantly, and the factors pushing those trends vary and aren’t easy
to define, says Dr. Samuel Sandowski. He’s the director of graduate medical
education at South Nassau Communities Hospital.
For example, the demand for family physicians began to wane about a decade
ago and now the needs are increasing again, he points out. And the hiring
trends for different specialties will vary across the country. Sometimes,
unpredictable factors like television shows can influence students' choices
for residency training. It’s hard to predict all the factors that will affect
the job market.
“One thing I always recommend to my students when considering career options
is follow your heart,†Sandowski says. “Economic trends will fluctuate and
culture will change. However, one’s practice of medicine is a life-long decision.â€
Keep in mind that the hiring trends when you enter medical school may not
be the same when you graduate from a residency.
Coleman advises students to consider the following factors in selecting
a specialty:
Passion and interest: The most important factor is what inspires
your interest. It’s easier to excel in what we love, and, as a result, easier
to obtain a position in that area.
Appeal: It is helpful to consider what you like about medicine
the most. As you consider a specialty, ask yourself various questions about
each field. Do you need to know what the diagnosis is? Emergency medicine
doctors sometimes find themselves making decisions about admission without
finding out what the diagnosis is. Internists and family physicians will often
only discover the answer to the problem after taking care of a patient for
months.
Do you enjoy procedures? Emergency medicine physicians and those who provide
care in intensive care units are frequently called upon to do a variety of
procedures.
Do you like handling acute situations? Anesthesiologists interact with
patients for a specific operation, but may not get the opportunity to see
the patient after the operation is done.
Do you like developing long-term relationships with patients? Primary care
physicians, pediatricians, psychiatrists and others have the opportunity to
develop relationships with patients, their families and significant others
that can cross generations and last for years.
Availability: To work in a field, there must be residency slots
available. Traditionally, some areas of medicine, such as dermatology and
ophthalmology, have limited availability. If your interests are in these areas,
you may have difficulty finding opportunities for training.
Societal need: It’s worthwhile for students to consider any area
for which there is a demonstrated need. Many rural areas are lacking in primary
care physicians, as well as various specialties.
Flexibility of practice location: Some specialties are overrepresented
in urban areas. This limits new physicians to work in rural areas.
Income: Certain specialties have higher salaries than others. Some
students, as they see their debt from medical school increasing, may be drawn
to the higher-paying specialties.
Links
American Medical Association (AMA)
For information on the medical field
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Learn more about medical specialties
Guide to Physician Specialties
A listing of recognized specialties
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