Choosing a Specialty

Choosing a path that's right for you

Students can begin to assess what specialty may be right for them by asking the following questions:

Goal Related

• What was my original reason for entering medical school?
• What type of lifestyle do I want after school?
• Where do I want to practice? (Geographic regions)
• What aspects of medicine do I find appealing?
• What types of patients or areas of medicine do I feel uncomfortable or find difficult to handle?
• Do my skills and interests match?

Practice Related

• What type of patients are encountered?
• How much direct patient contact is involved?
• What types of skills are required?
• What types of disease and patient problems present for treatment?
• Are there various practice options available within this specialty? (e.g. Urban, Rural, Academic, HMO, Private)
• What types of research are being done?
• What type of lifestyle is afforded in this specialty?

Furture Prospects

• Is there likely to be active recruitment to this specialty after residency?
• Are there physicians in this specialty in the area I want to practice?
• In what settings will there be openings when my training is complete?
• What do physicians inside this specialty say about the future outlook?
• Are there predictions from health care industry analysts about the future of this specialty?

Residency Training

• What is the length of training?
• What are the goals of training?
• How available are residency positions?
• How much competition is there for a training slot?
• Are programs in this specialty DO friendly?
• What are the requirements for subspecialty or fellowship training?