<p>Compare in terms of positives and negatives for each. i'm a competitive runner and would like to train 1 to 2 times per day and still do other supplemental training. i heard you could do TWO things well in med-school, like school and running or school and social life, etc. if there is time then i'll be okay...i've got what my mom calls scary desire and drive. (i got tons of info on the whole time thing from this thread --- <a href="http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=899586&page=1%5B/url%5D">http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=899586&page=1</a> )</p>
<p>-hours per week
-annual pay
-difficulty of getting in
-call or no call and weekends or no weekends, etc.
-schedule difficulty
-intensity/duration/hours per week/pay of residency training
-lawsuit potential
-typical work day
-job security i.e. future risks or decline of field (like with radiology and film being sent to India and surgeons taking over the field)
-any other important or relevant info</p>
<p>If anyone knows of any other fields (not surgery-related) with nice incomes yet plenty of time for training and a nicer, flexible schedule, please say so! aslo, if you don't mind, how does anaesthesiology compare in these regards to derm and radiology?</p>
<p>Derm is one of the most, if not the most, lifestyle-friendly medical specialties. The downside is that derm residencies are very tough and competitive to get into. Radiology's pretty competitive too, and probably higher-paying.</p>
<p>
[Quote]
If anyone knows of any other fields (not surgery-related) with nice incomes yet plenty of time for training and a nicer, flexible schedule, please say so!
[/Quote]
</p>
<p>You just described my profession...dentistry. No call, few after hours emergencies, set your own hours, etc.</p>
<p>Derm is one of the most, if not the most, lifestyle-friendly medical specialties. The downside is that derm residencies are very tough and competitive to get into. Radiology's pretty competitive too, and probably higher-paying.</p>
<p>LOL. What kind of question is that? Surgery is probably the most intense and difficult of all the medical professions, and it has a very long training period (5 years for gen surg or ortho, plus 2-3 years depending on the subspecialty). It is NOT the easy way out.</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but this is the wrong way to pick a specialty. </p>
<p>There are people in all fields who work hard, and people in all fields who work part time. The llifestyle after training is largely controllable in most fields (only somewhat less so in surgery). </p>
<p>During training, you live the life of a resident, and that can be very busy. Radiology residents work quite hard.</p>
<p>If you go through with medicine, you will discover that being good at it will be far more important to you than you can imagine right now. You need to choose something where the thought processes and demands fit your personal strengths. </p>
<p>If you choose your field as one with the lightest workload you will be a terrible doctor, and you will wonder how something so great (getting into medical school) could have turned out so badly.</p>
<p>With the rapid changeover to digital imaging, Radiology is the most susceptable to future computerized analysis and international outsourcing. there are already Radio labs in India that are reading digital "films" as confirming consults.</p>
<p>Radiology is not the med field of the future. IMHO. Of course that does provide the "time off" factor you seek.</p>
<p>It's kind of ridiculous to be asking high school/college students for an answer to that question. You can't seriously know which specialty you want to pursue until you're a third-year med student doing rotations. I'm certain that you'll change your mind about specialties multiple times before you finally decide on one. As for derm and radiology, they're very different specialties. We've already established the fact that derm is extremely lifestyle-friendly, but ultra-competitive and pretty boring. With radiology, you won't have as much patient interaction as some other specialties, but it's rewarding in its own way and can be high-paying (especially interventional radiology).</p>
<p>i'm not looking for a light workload people, just some time during the day to train. believe me, i work harder than anybody i know in my grade and have no qualms about working a lot. that wasn't the point of my question...i just want to know info on each and which field would be more suited for a serious runner.</p>
<p>If time is the issue, obviously derm is the way to go. However, you shouldn't base your entire career on running. No matter how serious of a runner you are, a hobby shouldn't dictate your occupation. Being a doctor is a huge time commitment; you'll have to make sacrifices. You may have to give up running (I don't see how you'll be able to do it during residency). Many doctors give up their family lives. If you are seriously dedicated to medicine and to saving lives, you'll see that it's a small price to pay. Now, going back to the original topic, why is it that you're attracted to derm and radiology? Those are completely different specialties.</p>
<p>those 2 interest me for various reasons based on my own interests and what i think i would be best at and fit in well and enjoy helping people in that particular field...also, i have heard many successfuly stories of runners being creative/flexible and finding time during med. school and residency to train. i love to run, but when i'm done with college i very well may not continue the higher level of training. obviously, your occupation is much more important and family time is very important. thanks for the advice though and i'll have plenty of time and years to decide!</p>
<p>Agree with above.
It's about as silly to contemplate specialties now as it would be to try and pick a spouse in junior high. One step at a time.</p>