Some students are clear about their goals before they even enter medical school, while many remain indecisive even in their final years of education. Most students agree that it is not wise to defer the decision; however, college commitments and lack of information can get in the way.
Decisions, Decisions...
The American Board of Medical Specialties recognizes the following 25 medical specialties:
- Allergy and Immunology
- Anesthesiology
- Colon and Rectal Surgery
- Dermatology
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Practice
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Genetics
- Neurological Surgery
- Nuclear Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Otolaryngology
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Plastic Surgery
- Podiatry
- Preventive Medicine
- Psychiatry and Neurology
- Radiology
- Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Urology
Do Not Rely Purely on Clinics.
Participation in clinics gives students some sense of specialties. However, the overwhelming number of specialties and the fast rotation and short duration of clinics limit their utility in aiding students with their decisions.
Factors to Consider
There are certain factors that students should consider when selecting their specialties:
1. Primary, secondary, tertiary, or supportive
This may be the most basic of all the factors. If you like to be involved in continuous patient care and treat a wide variety of common medical problems, select primary practice. You will be happy in family practice, internal medicine, or pediatrics.
If highly technical procedures are your forte, opt for secondary or tertiary practice. Your interactions with patients will be limited, and in most cases, general care practitioners will refer patients to you.
If you are looking for a career that is hospital-based, you could be an ideal candidate for a supportive specialty like radiology, pathology, or anesthesiology.
2. Intellectual challenge
Be objective when assessing how much you enjoy intellectual challenges. Determine your level of interest in advances in the medical field. Gauge your interest in reading journals and research reports. This self-assessment will allow you to evaluate your suitability for and chances of success in different specialties.
3. Patient contact
As every specialty involves a different level of patient contact, find your comfort level with respect to handling patients and their care.
4. Lifestyle
Not everyone who enters the field of medicine is ready to sacrifice his or her life for the profession. If you are looking for flexible hours and lifestyle-friendly options, then specialties like anesthesiology, dermatology, ophthalmology, neurology, radiology, and pathology could be for you.
No specialty is bad. Each has its own demands and challenges. Once you have completed an honest self-assessment and identified the area that fascinates you, do not doubt your findings and decisions.
