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[tedtropy]

I mean, does anybody actually go to medical school thinking "I want to help people and their asses. Just their asses and nothing else."

I'm not trying to be a smartass about this, I'm earnestly curious. Is it a passion to help humanity they drives some doctors to specialize in what might otherwise seem an undesirable field? Do some specialties pay much more than others? Does a doctor in the making kind of figure out his forte as he advances in his studies or does he just sort of settle on a niche? I wonder how many guys want to be a gynecologist for nefarious purposes. There's gotta be at least a few. Come on Dr. GAFers, you've got the cure for my insatiable curiosity!

 

[IAmtheFMan]

It's a mix of things. There are a few people who know immediately what they want to do, and there are others (like me) who don't have a clue, but eliminate things that they wouldn't want to do. In broad strokes, there are three types of doctors; those that cut, those that don't cut, and psychiatrists (not a knock on shrinks; I'm actually considering it of many things.) Already, in my first year of med school, I can see people who are probably gonna lead towards surgery since they have a distinct personality, i.e. they make snap judgements, and have to be a little bit more self-sure of themselves and be able not to panic in those times. I wouldn't be able to do that; I'd hesitate, etc.

One of the biggest things nowadays in choosing a specialty is the lifestyle outside of work. Dermatology is the number one hardest specialty to get into because of the lifestyle. Surgeries follow up, not necessarily due to the lifestyle (it's pretty stressful) but because of the big bucks that do follow it. In this manner, grades do affect which specialties you can look at. (I've already ruled out Derm. )

At least in the States, most people don't really know what they want to do, and won't figure it out until 3rd year because that's when you start rotating to different hospitals, getting exposure to all the specialties, and then 4th year, you do a couple more rotations but then you interview for whatever specialty you want.

The way it breaks down for a lot of med schools is: 1st year, you learn all about the body, 2nd year, you learn about what goes wrong in the body, 3rd and 4th, you do specific specialties and interview.

There are also some 'specialties' that aren't really specialties at all, since you're more of a general practioner. This is stuff like Family Med, and general Internal Med. You CAN then specialize after you're done with your regular Residency if you like.

 

[lexy]

It's a combination of genuine interest in the subject matter/ your ability to perform/ and the compensation for it. There are very few, if any, med students who can say otherwise.

 

[tedtropy]

It's a mix of things. There are a few people who know immediately what they want to do, and there are others (like me) who don't have a clue, but eliminate things that they wouldn't want to do. In broad strokes, there are three types of doctors; those that cut, those that don't cut, and psychiatrists (not a knock on shrinks; I'm actually considering it of many things.) Already, in my first year of med school, I can see people who are probably gonna lead towards surgery since they have a distinct personality, i.e. they make snap judgements, and have to be a little bit more self-sure of themselves and be able not to panic in those times. I wouldn't be able to do that; I'd hesitate, etc.

One of the biggest things nowadays in choosing a specialty is the lifestyle outside of work. Dermatology is the number one hardest specialty to get into because of the lifestyle. Surgeries follow up, not necessarily due to the lifestyle (it's pretty stressful) but because of the big bucks that do follow it. In this manner, grades do affect which specialties you can look at. (I've already ruled out Derm. )

At least in the States, most people don't really know what they want to do, and won't figure it out until 3rd year because that's when you start rotating to different hospitals, getting exposure to all the specialties, and then 4th year, you do a couple more rotations but then you interview for whatever specialty you want.

The way it breaks down for a lot of med schools is: 1st year, you learn all about the body, 2nd year, you learn about what goes wrong in the body, 3rd and 4th, you do specific specialties and interview.

There are also some 'specialties' that aren't really specialties at all, since you're more of a general practioner. This is stuff like Family Med, and general Internal Med. You CAN then specialize after you're done with your regular Residency if you like.

Hmm, I wonder what it must me like to be a med student. To most, the body is such a mystery. Do you guys basically wind up looking at the thing as a glorified machine? Does it all become very systematic, or does there remain some allure of the unknown? I suppose there are doctors that like to stick with the known and those that are more daring and fascinated by the discovery. Cancer research seems like it could be a very interesting field, just from being exposed to all the constantly changing (and basically experimental) treatments my mom endured from breast cancer recovery. Like the old adage says, the cure really is the only thing worse than the disease in that case. Doctors are really pushing the body to its edge of tolerance during treating it - it's no doubt very challenging and, likely, fascinating in many ways.

 

[spliced]

One reason I could see some people going in to something like Proctology is if they had a family member or friend die of colon cancer or something. It's probably a very small number but I bet there are a few like that.

 

[tedtropy]

One reason I could see some people going in to something like Proctology is if they had a family member or friend die of colon cancer or something. It's probably a very small number but I bet there are a few like that.

"BUTT CANCER! My name is Dr. Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."

 

[andthebeatgoeson]

I mean, does anybody actually go to medical school thinking "I want to help people and their asses. Just their asses and nothing else."

I'm not trying to be a smartass about this, I'm earnestly curious. Is it a passion to help humanity they drives some doctors to specialize in what might otherwise seem an undesirable field? Do some specialties pay much more than others? Does a doctor in the making kind of figure out his forte as he advances in his studies or does he just sort of settle on a niche? I wonder how many guys want to be a gynecologist for nefarious purposes. There's gotta be at least a few. Come on Dr. GAFers, you've got the cure for my insatiable curiosity!

Anybody who goes into Gyn to, as Bush would say, 'spread their love' is going in it for the wrong reason. Plenty of guys I know have lost their libido on their Gyn rotations cuz you have to see the good and bad side of the clam. And it can be really bad. Like when you walk into a room and just a whiff of air can confirm the diagnosis. Ugh.

And then you have married guys talk about how beautiful child birth is. But I remember those hot rooms cuz mom wants the heat up. Then that heat marinates all the other odors. And then she takes a dump cuz she's pushing too hard. And blood and placenta and shit just marinate in the room and you can only think: 'This is horrible.' And you want to smack the baby for turning something lovely into something so vile. It becomes hard to think about the 'good stuff' in a positive way after seeing either a child and or green slime come out of a woman. *shudders*

On to the topic: doctors have some idea when they first start off of what they want to do but during med school, you get to see most of the major fields. Surgery, medicine, pediatrics, Ob-gyn, etc. Then you can always find a mentor to follow around. But there's plenty of time to figure it out. Then there are guys like me who swear they won't go into a field and end up changing their minds at the last second and going into it. Probably the common denominator is helping people and a fascination with the human body and science.

 

[demon]

One reason I could see some people going in to something like Proctology is if they had a family member or friend die of colon cancer or something. It's probably a very small number but I bet there are a few like that.

Not only that, but how else can you justify a license plate like this?

 

[tedtropy]

And then you have married guys talk about how beautiful child birth is. But I remember those hot rooms cuz mom wants the heat up. Then that heat marinates all the other odors. And then she takes a dump cuz she's pushing too hard. And blood and placenta and shit just marinate in the room and you can only think: 'This is horrible.' And you want to smack the baby for turning something lovely into something so vile. It becomes hard to think about the 'good stuff' in a positive way after seeing either a child and or green slime come out of a woman. *shudders*

Thanks. I officially never want to have sex again. :lol

 

[Aruarian Reflection]

It's a mix of things. There are a few people who know immediately what they want to do, and there are others (like me) who don't have a clue, but eliminate things that they wouldn't want to do. In broad strokes, there are three types of doctors; those that cut, those that don't cut, and psychiatrists (not a knock on shrinks; I'm actually considering it of many things.) Already, in my first year of med school, I can see people who are probably gonna lead towards surgery since they have a distinct personality, i.e. they make snap judgements, and have to be a little bit more self-sure of themselves and be able not to panic in those times. I wouldn't be able to do that; I'd hesitate, etc.

One of the biggest things nowadays in choosing a specialty is the lifestyle outside of work. Dermatology is the number one hardest specialty to get into because of the lifestyle. Surgeries follow up, not necessarily due to the lifestyle (it's pretty stressful) but because of the big bucks that do follow it. In this manner, grades do affect which specialties you can look at. (I've already ruled out Derm. )

At least in the States, most people don't really know what they want to do, and won't figure it out until 3rd year because that's when you start rotating to different hospitals, getting exposure to all the specialties, and then 4th year, you do a couple more rotations but then you interview for whatever specialty you want.

The way it breaks down for a lot of med schools is: 1st year, you learn all about the body, 2nd year, you learn about what goes wrong in the body, 3rd and 4th, you do specific specialties and interview.

There are also some 'specialties' that aren't really specialties at all, since you're more of a general practioner. This is stuff like Family Med, and general Internal Med. You CAN then specialize after you're done with your regular Residency if you like.

Fine post, man. Which med school do you go to by the way?

I'm still an undergrad at Johns Hopkins, but I'm thinking about being an opthalmologist (eye surgeon/doctor, for those who don't know). I had no clue what I was going to specialize in, but after working at the JH Hospital in the Wilmer Eye Institute, I've become very interested in the field. Of course, it's still really early for me and there's a good chance it can change, but it's nice to have some direction finally.

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Hmm, I wonder what it must me like to be a med student. To most, the body is such a mystery. Do you guys basically wind up looking at the thing as a glorified machine? Does it all become very systematic, or does there remain some allure of the unknown? I suppose there are doctors that like to stick with the known and those that are more daring and fascinated by the discovery. Cancer research seems like it could be a very interesting field, just from being exposed to all the constantly changing (and basically experimental) treatments my mom endured from breast cancer recovery. Like the old adage says, the cure really is the only thing worse than the disease in that case. Doctors are really pushing the body to its edge of tolerance during treating it - it's no doubt very challenging and, likely, fascinating in many ways.

Everybody takes a different approach with how they view the body, both in the abstract and physical sense. It's very strange. The very first day of Gross Anatomy, prior to dissection of the cadavers, you're pretty timid; you don't know what to expect, and you realize that there's a dead person in front of you that you have to cut up. But then you realize that uh... you kinda gotta, so you just go ahead and do it. Now, it doesn't even seem so much like a person, but rather just a something to study; I know that sounds kinda harsh, but that's really the best way to describe it. You get desensitized to the shock really fast, but at least for me, you never really lokse respect for the person.

As for what the body seems like, it doesn't necessarily seem like a machine... but I can't think of a way to describe it really. Some people compare it to the moving systems of a clock, but I find that analogy really bad. I see a clock as having a lot of parts that work together to keep the function the same, and in that respect it's true, but the body's a tough mother too; you can take a LOT of abuse before something finally gets to ya. This isn't me condoning going binge-drinking and shooting off fireworks on a 4 wheeler or anything, but the body is incredibly well made. In terms of the pure anatomy of it (structure goes here, and here) there really isn't very much that's left up to the imagination; all the mysterious details that are left are small little details in the biochemistry of it, and the physiology, and most of what changes in medicine is what drugs do etc. I haven't quite gotten there yet though.

SnowWolf:
I'm at UC (Cincinnati.) I actually went here for undergrad too. Where are you in the process? You taken MCAT yet?

Skinnyrattler:
You surviving your Residency? Haven't seen you around for a while.