Choosing a Medical Specialty

After a grueling week of exams I finally had time to repose and realized it has been one year since the start of this blog. Thank you to all who read and comment, your encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Clinical Experience

With one more exam week in the past, I had time to consider my future as a physician. Knowing what field of medicine to enter is the difference between a happy doctor and the miserable one you don't want an appointment with tomorrow.

As is the case with other medical schools, TUNCOM offers students an opportunity to shadow physicians as an introduction to clinical medicine. For some, this experience can be an eye-opener to the routine doctor-patient interactions they will one day conduct. Fortunately, I have some clinical experience under my belt and will be using my shadowing experience to explore some of the various fields I may not have otherwise considered.

Although I have a few fields of interest, I would like to ensure my rotation months are spent in quality rotations that pertain to my future. Too often, students return from rotations only to realize they have just wasted a month of their time in a field that has no personal appeal. That said, I feel confident that the more clinical experience you can get, the better.

Clinical Corner

Medical Specialty

In an effort to save you precious time, I have listed a few resources that you may find valuable in your search for the perfect specialty.

• Specialty flowchart (above) - It is a quick and simple method of generally learning where you stand with an added touch of witty humor.
• Specialty flowchart No. 2 - If the first one didn't cut it, try this one.
  
• MSAT - Short for Medical Specialty Aptitude Test, the University of Virginia has compiled a simple survey that takes 10 minutes to complete. The results are ranked specialties according to the answers you provide.
• The Doctor Job - Gives a great rundown of the basics along with factors to consider when choosing a specialty.
• The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty - Written by a resident for students choosing a specialty.
  
• Specialty Ranker - I have put together a modifiable document that allows you to view various aspects of individual specialties and rank them according to your interests. It covers the basic specialties and then some. If you would like to try it, click the image to the right and save it to your computer. Leave a comment or email me if you have questions. Please consider donating $1 payable through PayPal in exchange for this file...thanks and good luck!