Six Doctors Give a 360 Degree View Of The Top Super-Specialities In The Field Of Medicine

Orthopaedic
Dr Kaushal Kant Mishra
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Primus Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi

I chose orthopaedics primarily because it is a self-ending branch of medicine. Unlike other surgical fields which take 12 years of studying before you can start practising, this requires five years of MBBS and three years of specialisation to become an independent doctor. It might sound cliched but the medical field requires immense patience and hard work. It might take you more than 12 years just to establish yourself along with three tough competitive exams, therefore, it is important to ask yourself if your heart is in this subject. That is the only thing that will carry you through.



Who should take it up Students need to be prepared for the inherent roughness of orthopaedics. They cannot be squeamish at the sight of blood or bones as they will be seeing a lot of it. Along with a curious temperament, an aspirant needs to be physically strong because the job entails working with bones. One of the main challenges orthopaedic surgeons face are legal cases. Orthopaedics is one of the most common fields and even a small slip-up can be easily detected, given the part of the body you are dealing with.

Career prospects and salary The career prospects are quite generic in this case. You can either align yourself with a hospital, start your own practice or join academia. Salaries start from Rs 80,000 to Rs 1.2 lakh per month.

Paediatrics
Dr Anupam Sibal,
Paediatric Gastroenterologist, Group Medical Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, New Delhi

Paediatrics is a very challenging field as young patients are often unable to tell you exactly where the problem lies, therefore, reliance on good clinical judgement is required. The human body and its functions have always fascinated me. Within paediatrics, I chose gastroenterology because I saw so many children suffering from intestinal or liver problems and realised there was no expertise in this area.



Who should take it up Any doctor concerned about child healthcare should consider a career in paediatrics. An aspirant in this field requires excellent communication skills, compassion, empathy, patience and the ability to make quick decisions. You must be prepared for long working hours as you will be on call in the evenings as well as during weekends. The training for this field takes approximately 11 years after high school.

Career prospects and salary The demand for proficient paediatricians is growing with an increase in the number of babies born every year. One can choose to join public or private hospitals, clinics research programmes, military services and medical colleges or training institutes. Salaries start from Rs 40,000 per month for freshers but differs significantly between public and private sector.

Cardiology
Dr A B Mehta
Interventional Cardiologist, Director, Cardiology, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai

The reason I chose cardiology was because of my fascination with cardiac physiology. Even the magical diagnosis with stethoscope and ECG machine and later the confirmation at cardiac catheterisation, was thrilling to me. I also saw the future, the galloping strides made in the field of cardiac surgery, and the discovery of open heart surgery. The process of operating on the heart while the patient is alive on extra cardiac circulation is astounding. Cardiology is no more a clinical curiosity, but a logical end in offering cure.



Who should take it up The basic requirements of a good cardiologist is a penetrating mind, focus, keen observation, obsessive perfection, dedication and compassion. A laidback personality is not suited to this profession. Coronary and cardiac deaths take the toll of young victims, some of them being in the prime of their life. Compassion is a fundamental quality of doctors in general but more so in the case of cardiologists.

Career prospects and salary One could go for advanced research in the field of electrophysiology or interventional cardiology. One can also practice as a private practitioner or opt for a teaching job in medical institutes. Starting salaries range from Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh per month.

Dentistry
Dr Tanvir Singh,
Orthodontist, The Academy of Dental Excellence, Delhi

Dentistry is an interesting deviation from the usual medicine courses that have reached the point of saturation in our country. Most of us take up this profession because we'd like to serve people, but this specialisation allows you to literally bring a smile to their faces, which is very satisfying. Dentistry is very proactive, it is all about procedure and not based on the standard examination and diagnosis format.



Who should take it up It is a very artistic field, therefore a steady hand is very important. One must be prepared to spend a lot of money on sophisticated equipment that is essential to this practice. This field is also suited for people who are generally very motivated towards cleanliness as sterilisation is a critical ritual in dentistry. Focus and communication skills are important so that you don't make a mistake with the drill machine. Through your deftness, you have to convince patients that their mouth is safe in your hands.

Career prospects and salary While starting your own practice is the most sought after option, you can consider a hospital or academia too. Salaries start at Rs 35,000 a month but can go up.

Oncology
Dr Rangaraju Ranga Rao,
Oncologist, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi

Oncology, owing to its nature, is an emotional field to be working in. I chose this field because it provides you with the opportunity to learn something new continuously. There is always some new research breakthrough in this field. You are in close touch with people and their vulnerabilities, which gives you a reason to learn compassion. You also get the chance to connect with international experts and learn from the best research projects.



Who should take it up There should be a passion towards relieving human suffering, an interest towards research and innovation and the capability to deal with a lot of direct stress. Stress, frustration and psychological disturbances are part of this profession. You will be exposed to a lot of pain, therefore you must know how to absorb it, but detach yourself immediately afterwards to avoid a burn-out, which is one of the most common afflictions of oncologists. Working with or visiting cancer centres could help you decide whether this specialisation is good for you.

Career prospects and salary A graduate could look at joining a public or private hospital and get into academic research. Salaries in this field are considered very good. The starting salaries could be Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month depending on whether it's a public or private sector hospital.

Ophthalmology
Dr Nikhil Nasta,
Consulting Eye Surgeon, I Sight Eye Care, Mumbai

What's the point of being a surgeon appalled at the sight of blood? That was my first dilemma because I didn't want to abandon my dream of becoming a surgeon. I realised that ophthalmology was the ideal choice for me as it had hardly any emergencies and the surgery was bloodless. Ophthalmology is a dynamic field with ever-evolving surgical technologies; one must work hard to keep up. For this field, you can choose to do a masters of science or a diploma in ophthalmology after your MBBS.



Who should take it up This specialisation demands perfection and a lot of practice. A steady and delicate hand is essential along with discipline when you are responsible for one of the most fragile of human senses, and that means no late night partying on pre-operative days.

Career prospects and salary Career prospects are similar to other surgical fields where one can join a medical college as a lecturer so as to continue teaching as well as operating there. Joining leading private hospitals, a charitable eye hospital or starting your own private clinic are options one could also consider. The starting salary could range between Rs 50,000 to Rs 80,000 a month and can go up to Rs 1.2 lakh a month.

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