centered image

Deciding Factors: Choosing Your Specialty in Medical School

Discussion in 'Medical Students Cafe' started by Egyptian Doctor, May 25, 2015.

  1. Egyptian Doctor

    Egyptian Doctor Moderator Verified Doctor

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    10,138
    Likes Received:
    3,338
    Trophy Points:
    16,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Practicing medicine in:
    Egypt

    One of the great things about medical school is just how many different experiences you’ll be exposed to. Can all of those options make it tough to narrow-down your choices and pick one specialty in the end? Sure. It’s one of the most important decisions regarding your career you’ll ever make. Luckily, you won’t be alone.


    When it comes to choosing a medical specialty (which by the way, there are whole books dedicated to), a few crucial deciding factors come into play: your life experience, rotations, and mentors.

    Life Experience

    This might be what led you to study medicine in the first place. Maybe a parent was a pediatrician, or you’ve witnessed a loved-one battle with cancer and been motivated to make a difference in oncology. Maybe you were just a great Biology and Chemistry student before college. Whatever the case, remember what first inspired you to become a doctor. If you’re passionate about making a difference in people’s lives directly, that might mean you’re more suited for a specialty with lots of patient contact instead of something like radiology.

    The specialty you end up choosing has to be something you love and something you are good at. A culmination of your life experiences brought you to this point—now build on them by taking advantage of the first-hand practice you’’ll be getting from clinical rotations.

    Rotation

    When you’re choosing your rotations, remember to keep an open mind! Think of every rotation you enter as the specialty you’ll be practicing every day for the rest of your career, even if you think you’re interested in something else.

    For example, say you have your heart set on emergency surgery. If you breeze through internal medicine or pediatrics without being present and taking advantage of your attending, what happens if you get to the ER and suddenly realize you don’t want to be a surgeon? Remember: you had a part in choosing these rotations. Find the positives in each, or for the ones that are particularly hard, learn from the negatives!

    Mentors

    The attendings and residents you work with can be your biggest resource in choosing a specialty. It’s important to identify mentors who can teach you the ins-and-outs of a specialty in the hospital, but try and find someone who can show you what it will be like in the everyday, too. How will this specialty affect your family life? As an OB/GYN, will you spend more of your time in a delivery room or in an office?

    As a med student, you have access to physicians in a range of specialties, not just the ones you’ve worked with in your rotations. Seek out role models who have taught or inspired you along the way. They’’ve all had to make the decision, and the wisdom they’’ve gained through years in their practice will absolutely help you make yours.

    Take Our Medical Specialty Quiz: You will answer few questions then you can find the suitable specialty for your personality

    Take The Quiz Here

    ac6a2eba2bc835d5a80df6b532d0f43c.jpg

    Source
     

    Add Reply

Share This Page

<