Doctors/Medical students, what do you want to specialise in and why?

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There are a few blood tests or scans you may want to do in select patients. Otherwise, your main weapon is your words, and your demeanor. Science does come into it, but in a pretty limited fashion compared to other specialities.

In short: psychiatry is NOT what most people signed up to med school for!

I would argue that this is what makes Psychiatry one of the most pure clinical specialities - you rely almost entirely on your skills to take a history, empathise with your patient and make them feel comfortable to open up to you.

I am interested in Forensic Psychiatry and GP. However, I did enjoy my Geriatrics placement, and have been giving more thought about working with the elderly - perhaps in Old Age Psychiatry.

Also very interesting reading some of the responses.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 121

Nottie

Original post by ForestCat

You'll have no input to with the baby once its born, obs is a women's health speciality. The baby would be taken care of by paeds.

Yeah I realised that once I read the speciality description. But we had a lecture delivered by a professor of obstetrics and it was single most interesting lecture so far in med school...but women's health doesn't interest me that much tbh.

Original post by qwerty123A

When I made this thread I was unsure.. but atm im leaning more towards paediatrics as I feel like I get a long with children and they just interest me a lot, which may have been due to the recent birth of my nephew lol.

Have you considered paediatrics?

Yep. Neonatology is sub speciality of paediatrics.

Original post by FATchristopher

I want to drop out. Not happy studying medicine right now. Hoping to push through and see how it goes until clinical years.

So sorry to hear that! I felt that way thought out most of last year (1st year) but somehow made it through and now it's all more interesting and I feel like I am studying the right thing (finally).
Feel free to drop me a message if you wanna discuss that any further xx

Reply 122

Nottie

Original post by Boredomstrikes

I'm doing AS right now and would like to become a Psychiatrist or a Neurologist.

Sounds like me when I was still at school. As soon as we started anatomy and first nerves appeared, I knew neurology or psychiatry aren't for me. And I loved them so much in school!

Reply 123

Larry31

Paediatrics - I've just finished an SSC in safeguarding, have been to a couple of conferences and I just love it. It's really odd because when I started med school paeds was probably at the bottom of my list, but now having actually run consultations with kids and volunteered with our Teddy Bear Hospital, I just couldn't imagine not working with them in the future. Plus in what other speciality are you expected to have in-depth knowledge of the latest Disney films? :P

Reply 124

nexttime

Original post by Larry31

You actually like child safeguarding? You'll be in high demand!

GPs with child safeguarding are particularly needed too.

Reply 125

Larry31

Original post by nexttime

You actually like child safeguarding? You'll be in high demand!

GPs with child safeguarding are particularly needed too.

I know, I was shocked too! I'm not sure if I could handle it as a permanent subspeciality though. I don't think my mental health could take it!

Reply 126

Shapsharks

Psychiatry/ Neurology/ Pediatrians

Reply 127

Shapsharks

Original post by Boredomstrikes

Why are there so few number of people wanting to be a psychiatrist?

I want to do psychiatry! A child consultant one🙂

Reply 128

spacepirate-James

Would quite like to defend the psychiatry camp. I want to be a psychiatrist specialising in trauma/psychotherapy - but really I want to be working in the field of global mental health in post-conflict and emergency situations, within humanitarian organisations, dealing with refugees, survivors of violence/torture etc.

Why psychiatry for me? I think it's one of the few specialities that's really interdisciplinary. There's just so much scope for broadening your interests, in terms of research, theory and practice. It's true, there is a lot we don't know about the mind yet [because, duh, it's the most complex and important organ] but that just means the scope for pioneering genetics, neurology/psychosurgery, imaging, as well as pharmacology research is vast. Equally if you like humanities, anthropology, social science, law, or public health then mental health allows you to be flexible and have those at the heart of whatever career you want.

Equally, people never realise how large and diverse the speciality really is. There is a lot of mental illness, and therefore a lot of sub-specialties. Want to deal with psychopaths? Forensics. Interested in eating disorders? Child and adolescent. Interested in more of a social approach? Learning disabilities. Interested in more of a biomedical approach? Old age psychiatry. Interested in trauma and communication? Psychotherapy. Want to deal with psychiatric emergencies in a medical hospital? Liaison. Want to deal more with the community? Addictions. A bit of everything? General adult etc. I love that it's a speciality where you do need to try your best to juggle the biological, psychological, social and cultural contexts of a patient - since so much of their illness can come down to those spheres, especially the ones which aren't immediately tangible. Yes, we often don't have signs that we can palpate - but we still have examinations regardless, and not relying on investigations/examinations just means your clinical and communication skills need to be even stronger.

At the end of the day I just cannot help but be fascinated by psychiatric patients [especially those with psychoses]. By people who believe they are entire planets, who believe they can walk through walls, who believe that everyone else is an alien imposter. The human capacity to be just so weird never ceases to amaze me. There's a lot of misconceptions about the speciality, and that has a huge impact on why people don't like psychiatry so this is my bit in trying to change some of those stock cliche phrases often bandied about by people who don't know better. Happy to talk about psychiatry with anyone interested/want to know more.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 129

Gemma1990x

I've not even got into med school or even sent off my application yet for the foundation course but if miracles occur and I actually manage to be accepted and graduate I am interested in Emergency medicine and also possibly Infectious Diseases.

I am interested in both these fields as I am currently working as a HCA in the prison service. Here is work alongside the specialist nurse dealing with gentlemen who are being monitored who have HIV and Hepatitis B but also with guys currently undergoing Hepatitis C treatment. I also attend emergency situations which occur throughout the prison and also work in A & E at the weekends when I need an NHS fix!

Due to my already existing knowledge of both these areas and my enjoyment and enthusiasm in gaining knowledge in these areas I think I'd love to have a career in either.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 130

Sondess

i had always wanted to go to the pharmacy university. But it wasn't possible when i sent my application.
So i,obviously,want to be a phytotherapist..and i still don't know neither how nor where.

Reply 131

MonteCristo

Original post by Sondess

i had always wanted to go to the pharmacy university. But it wasn't possible when i sent my application.
So i,obviously,want to be a phytotherapist..and i still don't know neither how nor where.

What is phytotherapy and how is it related to the "pharmacy university"? Are you in the UK?

Reply 132

Sondess

Original post by MonteCristo

What is phytotherapy and how is it related to the "pharmacy university"? Are you in the UK?

phytotherapy is preparing treatments based on plants and natural substances instead of chemical ones.
ps: i am a tunisian student.

Reply 133

Mutmit287

in first year and currently GP is looking like a great life!

I really love genetics, endocrinology and gynacology in terms of subjects that we study so maybe if I dont go into general practice I will go for something along those line. all i know is I dont want to be a surgeon.

Its very very early days yet!