I took a quiz online (from a university's med school website) to tell me what specialty I should pick for my career. It assigned a point value to each specialty based on my answers; I had the same score for a number of specialties so they are a tie. These are the results (with some comments by me):
1. (46 points) ophthalmology (I do not have the grades for this)
dermatology (ditto)
2. (45 points) endocrinology (I would have to do internal medicine first, #7 on this list. yuck)
pathology (um, I said I LIKE talking to people...)
plastic surgery (see #1)
3. (44 points) urology (see #1)
neurosurgery (see #1)
emergency medicine (actually one I was considering!!)
allergy and immunology (I also would have to do internal medicine first)
4. (43 points) anesthesiology (I like TALKING too much for this)
gastroenterology (internal medicine first)
physical medicine and rehabilitation
occupational medicine (I have no idea what this even is)
5. (42 points) radiology (again, I LIKE people...)
rheumatology (internal medicine first)
neurology (I am on this right now and I do like it)
infectious diseases (internal medicine first)
6. (41 points) hematology (internal medicine first)
nephrology (internal medicine first)
radiation oncology (I am not a physicist)
nuclear medicine (again, I am not a physicist)
otolaryngology/ENT (don't have the grades)
pediatrics (another thing I thought I REALLY wanted...hmm, so low on the list!)
7. (40 points) thoracic surgery (general surgery first...um, no)
orthopedic surgery (don't have the grades)
pulmonology (internal medicine first)
colorectal surgery (general surgery first)
internal medicine (hurl)
8. (39 points) medical oncology (internal medicine first)
general surgery (seriously, shoot me now with those hours and those attitudes)
aerospace medicine (no idea what this is)
9. (38 points) psychiatry (something I thought I would like but is just ok)
preventive medicine (don't know what this is)
obstetrics and gynecology (wow, this is lower than I thought it would be)
10. (37 points) cardiology (internal medicine first)
11. (35 points) family medicine (really liked my rotation, could never do it as a career)
While this list is interesting, if you look at the point spread, it is only a one point difference between each ranking and there are multiple specialties that tied at each rank. So basically, I am just as indecisive as I thought I was. There are a lot I can cross off the list, but of note is that all the ones that I said I would have to do medicine first (ex. endocrine, hematology, nephrology, etc.), I could also do pediatrics first. Now we might have something here. Even though peds is lower on the list, I always said that I would probably not do general peds, I would subspecialize. The highest subspecialty on the list is endocrinology. So I guess according to this list I should do endocrinology over emergency medicine. But again, only by one point.
Also of note, lately I have been saying that if I had 2 lifetimes to live I would spend one of them as a neurosurgeon (and that was as high as emergency on the list). I am exposed to a lot of neurosurgery on my current rotation (neurology), and I am completely in awe of the neurosurgeons and what they do...it is so amazing. However, you literally don't have any other aspect of your life if you have that as your career, and I'm not willing to devote the one lifetime I do have to my career, no matter how awesome it is. (And I also currently don't have the grades.)
Basically this was not that helpful! I just don't know myself well enough I guess, or exactly what I feared would happen is happening...I love something about everything. What to do now?
2.27.2010
2.17.2010
Thoughts
Just a couple things...
I meant to blog this on Monday, but I got caught up...better late than never. I had my first patient die on Saturday. She came into the hospital late Thursday night with a massive stroke. I saw her on Friday, and she did not look too good. She couldn't follow any commands, she could only move one side of her body, and couldn't open her eyes or track. I had a feeling she wouldn't make it through the weekend, and come Monday I found out I was right...she had swelling in her brain (common with a stroke) and her brain herniated through the bottom of her skull. Even though I only saw her once and didn't have a whole lot of interaction with her, I want to remember her. Everyone remembers their "first" of a lot of things (first patient, first code, first angry patient, etc.), and I think it's important to remember her.
Second, Lent starts today. I did not get ashes today because of being at work (I also didn't look to see when the services were at my church...I might have been able to make one this evening but oh well), but D and I have decided what we're giving up. Fried food and chips. We both came to this exact conclusion separately, which is hilarious. We don't eat these things often, but it is something that we would have to consciously not do, and it is something good to give up. I always try to DO something during Lent as well, not just give things up, and I haven't decided what to do this year yet. Guess I'd better figure it out in the next 4 hours before I go to sleep and do it so I don't start out behind!
I meant to blog this on Monday, but I got caught up...better late than never. I had my first patient die on Saturday. She came into the hospital late Thursday night with a massive stroke. I saw her on Friday, and she did not look too good. She couldn't follow any commands, she could only move one side of her body, and couldn't open her eyes or track. I had a feeling she wouldn't make it through the weekend, and come Monday I found out I was right...she had swelling in her brain (common with a stroke) and her brain herniated through the bottom of her skull. Even though I only saw her once and didn't have a whole lot of interaction with her, I want to remember her. Everyone remembers their "first" of a lot of things (first patient, first code, first angry patient, etc.), and I think it's important to remember her.
Second, Lent starts today. I did not get ashes today because of being at work (I also didn't look to see when the services were at my church...I might have been able to make one this evening but oh well), but D and I have decided what we're giving up. Fried food and chips. We both came to this exact conclusion separately, which is hilarious. We don't eat these things often, but it is something that we would have to consciously not do, and it is something good to give up. I always try to DO something during Lent as well, not just give things up, and I haven't decided what to do this year yet. Guess I'd better figure it out in the next 4 hours before I go to sleep and do it so I don't start out behind!
2.14.2010
V-Day
Today has been an interesting day.
7am- alarm goes off. No chance of getting up. Reset alarm for 8.
8am- alarm goes off again. Lay in bed basking in the sun.
8:30am- get up
9:15am-noon- sister's volleyball tournament with mom and dad. They did great!
Noon-4pm- eat lunch, chat with D, do laundry
4:30-5:30pm- pedicure with D. Too bad I'm so ticklish!
5:30-7pm- eat D's grandma's chicken casserole (SO good), more laundry, more chatting
7-9pm- watch The Holiday with a glass of wine
I basically forgot about it being Valentine's Day today until I left the volleyball tournament and my mom said "Happy Valentine's Day!". I have come to really hate this day. Why should love only get one day of celebration all year? I mean, it would be selfish to celebrate yourself every day, so you have one birthday; it would be silly to celebrate something like the Presidents every day, so they get one assigned day. But love? I mean, come on. This is what makes life worth living...the love you have for yourself, your family, your friends, your dog, your plush towels, etc. You should celebrate the loves in your life every day. Saying "I love you" should never be said out of routine or obligation, but look at the person you're saying it to and really, really mean it. I don't want flowers on this day. I don't want red and pink (I really dislike pink) everything. I would rather be reminded on a random day that someone loves me.
Today I celebrated loving myself. I don't have a significant other to tell me how great I am, so I decided to tell myself. I did what I wanted, I spent time with some of the people I love...I just relaxed. And that is good.
Watching The Holiday and totally being obsessed with Jude Law doesn't hurt, either.
7am- alarm goes off. No chance of getting up. Reset alarm for 8.
8am- alarm goes off again. Lay in bed basking in the sun.
8:30am- get up
9:15am-noon- sister's volleyball tournament with mom and dad. They did great!
Noon-4pm- eat lunch, chat with D, do laundry
4:30-5:30pm- pedicure with D. Too bad I'm so ticklish!
5:30-7pm- eat D's grandma's chicken casserole (SO good), more laundry, more chatting
7-9pm- watch The Holiday with a glass of wine
I basically forgot about it being Valentine's Day today until I left the volleyball tournament and my mom said "Happy Valentine's Day!". I have come to really hate this day. Why should love only get one day of celebration all year? I mean, it would be selfish to celebrate yourself every day, so you have one birthday; it would be silly to celebrate something like the Presidents every day, so they get one assigned day. But love? I mean, come on. This is what makes life worth living...the love you have for yourself, your family, your friends, your dog, your plush towels, etc. You should celebrate the loves in your life every day. Saying "I love you" should never be said out of routine or obligation, but look at the person you're saying it to and really, really mean it. I don't want flowers on this day. I don't want red and pink (I really dislike pink) everything. I would rather be reminded on a random day that someone loves me.
Today I celebrated loving myself. I don't have a significant other to tell me how great I am, so I decided to tell myself. I did what I wanted, I spent time with some of the people I love...I just relaxed. And that is good.
Watching The Holiday and totally being obsessed with Jude Law doesn't hurt, either.
2.08.2010
Fresh
Quick re-cap: my last week of Psych was really fun. It was a consultation service, so we were visiting patients who were in the hospital for non-psych reasons or for suicide attempts. Their primary physicians thought there was something psychiatric going on (either causing their problem or a separate problem that needed to be addressed) and wanted our opinion on what to do about it. It was nice to sit, talk the patients about what they thought was going on or what was bothering them, make a recommendation, and walk away. I didn't have to continue to see the patient and be frustrated that they weren't getting better. I do not think I will end up in psych, but I did enjoy a lot of things about it.
I started Neuro today; it was just orientation and a lecture on neuroimaging. I am pretty excited to be at the hospital I am for this rotation. It is world-renowned for neurology, and I know I will learn so much and see so many interesting cases. The only thing I am worried about is liking neurology so much that it throws another wrench in my attempt to figure out what I want to do with my life!
This last weekend was very nice- no studying, no plans, no responsibilities! I had wanted to go on a mini-vacation, but that wasn't in the cards, so I made the best of staying at home! I saw my sister's volleyball team take first place in their tournament, saw my best friend who had just gotten into town, had a little Super Bowl party, and tried to sleep in as much as possible. It's sad to be back at school already, but being excited about this rotation helps me get through it!
I started Neuro today; it was just orientation and a lecture on neuroimaging. I am pretty excited to be at the hospital I am for this rotation. It is world-renowned for neurology, and I know I will learn so much and see so many interesting cases. The only thing I am worried about is liking neurology so much that it throws another wrench in my attempt to figure out what I want to do with my life!
This last weekend was very nice- no studying, no plans, no responsibilities! I had wanted to go on a mini-vacation, but that wasn't in the cards, so I made the best of staying at home! I saw my sister's volleyball team take first place in their tournament, saw my best friend who had just gotten into town, had a little Super Bowl party, and tried to sleep in as much as possible. It's sad to be back at school already, but being excited about this rotation helps me get through it!
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