Choosing a Specialty

(This post was copied with permission from Infiri in an e-mail to Doc)

Infiri wrote:
Hey everybody tell me that in your clinical years is when you really know what kind of doctor you really want to be...
Because almost everybody enter med. school with a residency in mind and in clinical they dont like it.. how often do you think this happens

your friend, Carlos

Doc wrote:
Carlos, I agree with you completely on that one, most people decide during clinicals because a specialty in reality might be nothing like what you expected. I think it is best not to have a specialty picked out and to try to have an open mind. You are going to have to go through lots of different rotations anyway, so why not test the waters to see what you like best. Also, don't pick a specialty based on salary. I would rather make less money (it is still alot) and be happy everyday than to have lots of money in the bank and no time to enjoy it cause I'm stuck doing something that I don't even like. If you truely enjoy what you do and you are good at it, your patients will notice and the money will follow. On the other hand, if you hate what you do because you are motivated by money, it will reflect on your work and business will suffer. So bottom line...do what makes you happy and the rest will take care of itself. Wow...I'm starting to sound like my dad?!?

Doc