Cardio, Radiology or GP?
I'm currently doing my 4th year and I'm finding it hard to figure out what I want to go into. I know everyone says there's plenty of time to decide but not deciding on a speciality means I can't really tailor work experience/elective/audits/research work right now to what I might like to do in the future - wanted some advice on the following specialities.
By process of elimination I think I've narrowed it down to cardiology and GP, potentially (big potentially, I did a bit of radiology last week and thought it was quite cool) radiology. I quite like cardio and personally I prefer to be a specialist rather than a generalist but I think the main thing is, I'm not absolutely bonkers about it either.
From what I understand with hospital medicine as opposed to general practice, presenting at conferences, doing research, extra degrees etc is a lot more important if you want to get into a competitive specialty (like cardio) and that too in a location of your choice. I'm very keen on London and from what I've heard it's quite difficult to go here if you aren't at the top of your class or something ridiculous like that.
Furthermore, things like work life balance are really important to me + the prospect of doing things alongside medicine (other business for example) + locum rates (I don't know much about this, any advice would be welcome) + pay in general compared to work put in (this isn't the motivating factor, just something to consider).
To sum it up, I like cardiology because I like the idea of knowing lots about one single thing - will I be unhappy for the rest of my life if I don't do cardiology? Absolutely not - I think what will make me unhappier is not being able to decide where I'd like to work, poor work/life balance and doing lots and lots of research.
Appreciate any advice
By process of elimination I think I've narrowed it down to cardiology and GP, potentially (big potentially, I did a bit of radiology last week and thought it was quite cool) radiology. I quite like cardio and personally I prefer to be a specialist rather than a generalist but I think the main thing is, I'm not absolutely bonkers about it either.
From what I understand with hospital medicine as opposed to general practice, presenting at conferences, doing research, extra degrees etc is a lot more important if you want to get into a competitive specialty (like cardio) and that too in a location of your choice. I'm very keen on London and from what I've heard it's quite difficult to go here if you aren't at the top of your class or something ridiculous like that.
Furthermore, things like work life balance are really important to me + the prospect of doing things alongside medicine (other business for example) + locum rates (I don't know much about this, any advice would be welcome) + pay in general compared to work put in (this isn't the motivating factor, just something to consider).
To sum it up, I like cardiology because I like the idea of knowing lots about one single thing - will I be unhappy for the rest of my life if I don't do cardiology? Absolutely not - I think what will make me unhappier is not being able to decide where I'd like to work, poor work/life balance and doing lots and lots of research.
Appreciate any advice
(edited 5 years ago)
I'd say GP will have better work-life balance than cardiology, and will have much less emphasis on research.
GP can also have more of a "business emphasis" with managing your practice etc.
With pay, I imagine the "ceiling" is higher in cardiology, so if you do lots of private practice stuff, then you have the potential to be very well paid indeed. But GPs earn a lot too. Tbh, stats on earnings are pretty difficult to find online.
Obviously when it comes to the day to day work, which one you'd prefer is subjective and very dependent on what you personally enjoy.
GP can also have more of a "business emphasis" with managing your practice etc.
With pay, I imagine the "ceiling" is higher in cardiology, so if you do lots of private practice stuff, then you have the potential to be very well paid indeed. But GPs earn a lot too. Tbh, stats on earnings are pretty difficult to find online.
Obviously when it comes to the day to day work, which one you'd prefer is subjective and very dependent on what you personally enjoy.
Post edited automatically
A purely pragmatic point here but audits and research most often do not need to be specific to the specialty you are going for as it is just tick boxes (but do double check). For cardio you will not need to show commitment to the specialty until you apply after CMT. Also showing commitment to the specialty is relatively easy to bump up. Better to take whatever opportunities come up and look interesting than crowbar one into your possible favourite specialty.
That said, if you are dead set on making ones specific you can often do things that cross all of them. For example doing something on referral pathways for cardiac imaging of any kind from primary care would mean you were sitting pretty in all three, and would have lots of conferences you could present them at. If you have a long GP block in your final year this could be the perfect time at med school to do something like that.
In terms of actually deciding, as many will tell you, doing jobs as a student and as a doctor can be very different so if you are a little flexible about where you live you are should be able to get cardio as an F1 and GP as an F2 your foundation programme and can then do a radiology taster week, or find some other combination via that strategy. Also, don't forget that if you get to application time in F2 and you really don't know what you want then an F3 year can help you get experience and try things out (although cardio is the job you would most likely be employable in) and can help you get the CV points you need to stay in London, whatever you decide.
And don't be too put off by competition in cardio either, whilst lots of people like it, there lots of jobs because as you will see on any acute take or MAU there is plenty to keep them busy!
That said, if you are dead set on making ones specific you can often do things that cross all of them. For example doing something on referral pathways for cardiac imaging of any kind from primary care would mean you were sitting pretty in all three, and would have lots of conferences you could present them at. If you have a long GP block in your final year this could be the perfect time at med school to do something like that.
In terms of actually deciding, as many will tell you, doing jobs as a student and as a doctor can be very different so if you are a little flexible about where you live you are should be able to get cardio as an F1 and GP as an F2 your foundation programme and can then do a radiology taster week, or find some other combination via that strategy. Also, don't forget that if you get to application time in F2 and you really don't know what you want then an F3 year can help you get experience and try things out (although cardio is the job you would most likely be employable in) and can help you get the CV points you need to stay in London, whatever you decide.
And don't be too put off by competition in cardio either, whilst lots of people like it, there lots of jobs because as you will see on any acute take or MAU there is plenty to keep them busy!
I am a radiology registrar.
Switching to Rad was one of the best decisions I've made.
Pro:
Interesting work
IT heavy field
Good work life balance in general
Rapid progression of IR. e.g. Someone in the US treated knee OA with embolisation a few months ago
Potentially very lucrative as an SpR if you get on a scheme with extra reporting
Air-conditioned rooms with comfy chairs and unlimited tea/coffee
Lots of jobs at consultant level
Cons:
Uncertainty around AI atm
Tough exams, you need to know everything about everything from kids to adults across all systems
Difficulty to get a number, particularly in London
You will definitely loss some clinical skills
increasingly heavy workload due to increasing reliance of imaging.
Switching to Rad was one of the best decisions I've made.
Pro:
Interesting work
IT heavy field
Good work life balance in general
Rapid progression of IR. e.g. Someone in the US treated knee OA with embolisation a few months ago
Potentially very lucrative as an SpR if you get on a scheme with extra reporting
Air-conditioned rooms with comfy chairs and unlimited tea/coffee
Lots of jobs at consultant level
Cons:
Uncertainty around AI atm
Tough exams, you need to know everything about everything from kids to adults across all systems
Difficulty to get a number, particularly in London
You will definitely loss some clinical skills
increasingly heavy workload due to increasing reliance of imaging.
(edited 5 years ago)
I wouldn't worry about not being exceptional at medical school. I was decidedly average (I oscillated around the 50th centile from year to year). I decided I wanted to do cardiology at the very end of F1 and had absolutely nothing cardiology related on my CV before that point but got accepted into cardiology training in London for this year.
It's important to note that I did start to take things more seriously from F2 on and worked pretty hard on my CV but absolutely it's not too late for you now and not being at the top of medical school doesn't mean you're out!
Edited to add: but if I had worked hard at medical school and got a few prizes/merits/distinctions it would have been useful so try your best and don't do what I did!
It's important to note that I did start to take things more seriously from F2 on and worked pretty hard on my CV but absolutely it's not too late for you now and not being at the top of medical school doesn't mean you're out!
Edited to add: but if I had worked hard at medical school and got a few prizes/merits/distinctions it would have been useful so try your best and don't do what I did!
(edited 5 years ago)
Adding onto the above neurology post.
If you want a mix of radiology and neurology you can go down the stroke route.
Good mix.
If you want a mix of radiology and neurology you can go down the stroke route.
Good mix.
That's a LOT of specialities you have definitively ruled out!
People say not to decide too early for a reason. Back in med school i wanted to do ITU/A&E. Now 4 years post-graduation, that would literally be bottom of my list. I'd rather quit medicine than do night after weekend after night after weekend for potentially the rest of my life.Whereas things i really really hated the idea of in med school - gerries, pathology, GP - are way more attractive now that i've actually worked regularly as a doctor.
There is a big difference between being a passive observer as a med student, and actually having responsibility 48 hours per week every week. There are a couple of specialities where you actually do still need to make specific preparations early - neurosurgery and opthalmology I'd say - but for the others its honestly not necessary. A publications is a publication, an audit is an audit.
People say not to decide too early for a reason. Back in med school i wanted to do ITU/A&E. Now 4 years post-graduation, that would literally be bottom of my list. I'd rather quit medicine than do night after weekend after night after weekend for potentially the rest of my life.Whereas things i really really hated the idea of in med school - gerries, pathology, GP - are way more attractive now that i've actually worked regularly as a doctor.
There is a big difference between being a passive observer as a med student, and actually having responsibility 48 hours per week every week. There are a couple of specialities where you actually do still need to make specific preparations early - neurosurgery and opthalmology I'd say - but for the others its honestly not necessary. A publications is a publication, an audit is an audit.
Original post by Magendie
I am a radiology registrar.
Switching to Rad was one of the best decisions I've made.
Pro:
Interesting work
IT heavy field
Good work life balance in general
Rapid progression of IR. e.g. Someone in the US treated knee OA with embolisation a few months ago
Potentially very lucrative as an SpR if you get on a scheme with extra reporting
Air-conditioned rooms with comfy chairs and unlimited tea/coffee
Lots of jobs at consultant level
Cons:
Uncertainty around AI atm
Tough exams, you need to know everything about everything from kids to adults across all systems
Difficulty to get a number, particularly in London
You will definitely loss some clinical skills
increasingly heavy workload due to increasing reliance of imaging.
Switching to Rad was one of the best decisions I've made.
Pro:
Interesting work
IT heavy field
Good work life balance in general
Rapid progression of IR. e.g. Someone in the US treated knee OA with embolisation a few months ago
Potentially very lucrative as an SpR if you get on a scheme with extra reporting
Air-conditioned rooms with comfy chairs and unlimited tea/coffee
Lots of jobs at consultant level
Cons:
Uncertainty around AI atm
Tough exams, you need to know everything about everything from kids to adults across all systems
Difficulty to get a number, particularly in London
You will definitely loss some clinical skills
increasingly heavy workload due to increasing reliance of imaging.
Do you ever get lonely? I am quite seriously considering radiology, but had a terrible GP job and felt very lonely sat in a room all day.
Also how intense is the physics components? Can you learn it day to day with practical application? I ended up dropping out of a physics a-level after swiftly realising I would find it difficult to get an A...
Original post by Anonymous
Do you ever get lonely? I am quite seriously considering radiology, but had a terrible GP job and felt very lonely sat in a room all day.
Also how intense is the physics components? Can you learn it day to day with practical application? I ended up dropping out of a physics a-level after swiftly realising I would find it difficult to get an A...
Also how intense is the physics components? Can you learn it day to day with practical application? I ended up dropping out of a physics a-level after swiftly realising I would find it difficult to get an A...
I personally don't find it lonely, I am in a big scheme with lots of regs and approachable consultants. There is also a chat system on our PACS which means I can talk to any radiologist/radiographer anywhere in our organisation.
Physics in FRCR part 1 is a *****, can be quite hard going, but 95% people past after 1-2 tries; you do get a lot of support for the 1st part of the exams which i found very novel having lived another medical life before switching. A-level physics helps a bit, but is really not essential.
(edited 5 years ago)
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