The residency program you go to is most important. But going to a better med school can help you get into a better residency program, so in that way, yes. This is most important for highly competitive specialties like dermatology and opthalmology and less important for less competitive fields like internal medicine.
Opthalmology is one of the really competitive specialities? I never would have guessed that! I always figured it was for people who didn't match into what they actually wanted to do.
I'm pretty sure it is. The pay is good and the hours are good.
Post by zacksbride on May 18, 2012 10:58:27 GMT -5
I agree that residency matters more so than what medical school you go to, but to be able to get into a top residency, it would be easier coming from a well known med school (scores on licensing exams matter LOTS in getting into some competitive residencies as well)
And yup, ophtho is a highly competitive field mostly because of the nice lifestyle. Its one of the specialties on the ROAD to happiness (Rehab medicine/Radiation oncology, Ophtho, Anesthesia, Derm)
Not a doctor, but from what I can tell, it doesn't matter quite as much. It might matter for getting into a particular speciality, but you don't hear about a lot of doctors working for asshole partners at small practices making $45,000 per year or getting stuck doing long-term contract projects.
I assume this has more to do with the fact that the AMA regulates the number of med school spots, so you don't wind up with way too many doctors and not enough jobs. Any asshole can get into law school.
I assume this has more to do with the fact that the AMA regulates the number of med school spots, so you don't wind up with way too many doctors and not enough jobs. Any asshole can get into law school.
LOL, it's true! I mean, sure, I assume the reputation of the med school can definitely have an impact on one's future career. But when was the last time you met - or even read about - an unemployed doctor?
Some people make a separation between DO and MD schools and there's a between US med schools and foreign med schools.
Like RBP said, a top medical school would help you get plastic surgery residency interviews, but so would going to a state med school and doing a research project with the guy or woman who wrote a well-regarded textbook and is respected and known by other physicians.
But then again, most laypeople don't really know how to assess doctor quality, and so they just look at the med school the doctor went to. So in that case, I suppose it does matter.
And if you want to get a MD/PhD or do research, then you'd probably want to go to the schools that are research-focused which closely align with the "top med schools" list.
I agree that residency matters more so than what medical school you go to, but to be able to get into a top residency, it would be easier coming from a well known med school (scores on licensing exams matter LOTS in getting into some competitive residencies as well)
And yup, ophtho is a highly competitive field mostly because of the nice lifestyle. Its one of the specialties on the ROAD to happiness (Rehab medicine/Radiation oncology, Ophtho, Anesthesia, Derm)
Despite this, anesthetists and ophthalmologists have fairly high rates of suicide compared to some other medical specialties
Post by kimibrighteyes on May 18, 2012 11:11:46 GMT -5
I think with anesthetists, they have lots of access to powerful drugs and their rates of substance abuse are higher. For ophtho, I'm not sure, but I did see an article that stated that they had high levels of dissatisfaction with their jobs.
Like pp said I think it matters more if it is a MD/DO school or a US medical school versus foreign rather than if you pick one good state school over the other.
Opthalmology is one of the really competitive specialities? I never would have guessed that! I always figured it was for people who didn't match into what they actually wanted to do.
If people don't match in what they want to do, they typically try to figure a back way into the area.
Like if they don't match in derm, they might do a year of (unpaid?) research in a dermatology department.
If they don't match a surgical subspecality (opthi, ENT, neuro), they'd do a general surgery transitional year and go back on the interview trail next year or stick with general surgery.
I think with anesthetists, they have lots of access to powerful drugs and their rates of substance abuse are higher. For ophtho, I'm not sure, but I did see an article that stated that they had high levels of dissatisfaction with their jobs.
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Maybe it is because the field is so fucking boring lol. Besides hours and pay I have not met a student who was passionate about optho. I think it is chosen because of the perks and not because of interest level.
Do you know why this is? I imagine for anesthetists it is because of the huge pressure in putting someone under without killing them. What is it about the ophtho practice that leads to that? Causing blindness?
Anesth: Have drugs. Worried about nurses replacing them. Super competitive to get a hospital contract if you're private. Have to deal with asshole surgeons.
Opthi: Spend all your time poking eyeballs. Ugh.
My best friend and cousin are doing opthi. I'm so annoyed. All the stupid doctors I know and not one is a dermatologist.
Do you know why this is? I imagine for anesthetists it is because of the huge pressure in putting someone under without killing them. What is it about the ophtho practice that leads to that? Causing blindness?
Anesth: Have drugs. Worried about nurses replacing them. Super competitive to get a hospital contract if you're private. Have to deal with asshole surgeons.
Opthi: Spend all your time poking eyeballs. Ugh.
My best friend and cousin are doing opthi. I'm so annoyed. All the stupid doctors I know and not one is a dermatologist.
We have a friend who is a nurse anestetist (sp) and I was freaking blown away how much he makes. I mean I know the doctor's make a ton but a nurse with a master's level degree making almost 175K early in his career. Fucking crazy.
Maybe it is because the field is so fucking boring lol. Besides hours and pay I have not met a student who was passionate about optho. I think it is chosen because of the perks and not because of interest level.
lol - my cousin is. He has a research lab and everything. I don't get it.
I'm surprised pathologists don't have the highest suicide rates. But maybe it's because it's so fucking boring that only boring people are drawn to it and thus do not experience the soul-crushing depression about their job that other sane people would feel.
And OLD eyeballs at that! The waiting rooms are the WORST! I swear that every time I go to the ophtho, I am the youngest person in the room by 30 years. It's just so depressing.
I have serious eye issues that have required extensive monitoring, so I probably went more times in high school than the average person goes during a lifetime. But for every patient like me, they probably see a dozen with macular degeneration and cataracts. UGH.
I'm surprised pathologists don't have the highest suicide rates. But maybe it's because it's so fucking boring that only boring people are drawn to it and thus do not experience the soul-crushing depression about their job that other sane people would feel.
Back when I was pre-med I thought I wanted to be a pathologist. GOD I am glad I did not go that route. However, my friend's dad is a very successful pathologist and is a great, fun, and outgoing guy.
Maybe it is because the field is so fucking boring lol. Besides hours and pay I have not met a student who was passionate about optho. I think it is chosen because of the perks and not because of interest level.
lol - my cousin is. He has a research lab and everything. I don't get it.
I'm surprised pathologists don't have the highest suicide rates. But maybe it's because it's so fucking boring that only boring people are drawn to it and thus do not experience the soul-crushing depression about their job that other sane people would feel.
Every pathologist I've ever met is a fucking freak. Total weirdos.
And OLD eyeballs at that! The waiting rooms are the WORST! I swear that every time I go to the ophtho, I am the youngest person in the room by 30 years. It's just so depressing.
I have serious eye issues that have required extensive monitoring, so I probably went more times in high school than the average person goes during a lifetime. But for every patient like me, they probably see a dozen with macular degeneration and cataracts. UGH.
lol - me too. Well, I don't think they're serious, but they were serious enough to get me denied from health care coverage. :/ But yeah, I'm always the youngest person in the waiting room.
Opthalmology is one of the really competitive specialities? I never would have guessed that! I always figured it was for people who didn't match into what they actually wanted to do.
If people don't match in what they want to do, they typically try to figure a back way into the area.
Like if they don't match in derm, they might do a year of (unpaid?) research in a dermatology department.
If they don't match a surgical subspecality (opthi, ENT, neuro), they'd do a general surgery transitional year and go back on the interview trail next year or stick with general surgery.
sometimes that's true, but sometimes people just decide to do something else. i am an anesthesiologist at an academic institution and we often get applicants who have tried to match into ortho, or something else (usually a surgical field) and after a failed match decide to do a different route
Opthalmology is one of the really competitive specialities? I never would have guessed that! I always figured it was for people who didn't match into what they actually wanted to do.
I'm pretty sure it is. The pay is good and the hours are good.
These are the reasons. It isn't because of the academic rigor associated with the speciality. It is one that allows you a nice paycheck with a agreeable work/life balance.
And OLD eyeballs at that! The waiting rooms are the WORST! I swear that every time I go to the ophtho, I am the youngest person in the room by 30 years. It's just so depressing.
I have serious eye issues that have required extensive monitoring, so I probably went more times in high school than the average person goes during a lifetime. But for every patient like me, they probably see a dozen with macular degeneration and cataracts. UGH.
When I was sick with the intracranial hypertension two years ago, it was ridiculous in the waiting room. Everyone else was SOO old! And I kept seeing optho residents at the RI hospital and I actually think they were really excited to see me.
Opthalmology is one of the really competitive specialities? I never would have guessed that! I always figured it was for people who didn't match into what they actually wanted to do.
I'm pretty sure it is. The pay is good and the hours are good.
The competitive specialties that you have to be AOA (top of your class for) are usually called UDORE: Urology, Dermatology, Opthomology/Orthopaedics, Radiology, ENT
Medical professionals have a lower rate of suicide that the population as a whole, I believe, but anesthesiologists (my husband is one) and dentists (that's me) have higher rates of substance abuse. This is usually an access issue and, in the case of dentistry, due to the overwhelming preponderance of lone practitioners (no checks and balances like in a hospital setting).
I know some opthos who are really passionate about their specialty, but most of them have subspecialties in retina, oncology, etc.
There are many fewer medical and dental schools nationwide than law schools and the class size is much smaller, in part because medical education is very expensive and is usually not offset by tuition costs. In other words, med schools are money-losers. Residencies, on the other hand, are the fuel that runs big hospitals and are, in most instances, federally funded. This is changing a little bit with more for-profit medical and dental schools opening and proposed and we may see a glut of medical professionals in the next 20 years.
You can not compare it to law school because as someone stated, just about anyone can go to law school. But for medical school, it does matter in many cases. For example, DO applications got thrown out at my residency program (Sorry). You get instant recognition for going to a top tier school. And for certain specialties, it is very, very important. And residency choice can also be very important in terms of future job prospects.
Every year, between 300 and 400 doctors take their own lives—roughly one a day. No other profession has a higher suicide rate.
Also, there can't be a glut of physicians until Congress funds more residency programs. You can't practice medicine with an M.D. alone.
The overall confirmed suicide rate was 11.3 suicide deaths per 100,000 people in 2008. The 300-400 number is an estimate and very difficult to determine. That is a very interesting article.
Most of the new programs opening up are DO schools with associated health proxy education, including dental schools. However, I should say, that my expertise is more in regards to other medical professionals, not physicians and I was speaking to them. I should have been more specific when I said medical professionals.