I'm not sure of which medical field I want to have a career in. Do I have to choose right now, or can I later?

Question

I an currently a Serior in highschool. Here are the fields of medicine that I am interested in, in the order of which one I like most:

Psychiatry
Anesthesiology
Neurology
Forensic Pathology

I know that all of these fields require a certified M.D. Do I have to choose which field I wan't to be in before Freshman year, or can I choose after the 8 years olf medical school, and then just start internship and residency? I want to have the ability to change my mind 7th year of medical school, but I'm not sure if I can. I might find out that I hate talking to people, there goes Psychiatry. I might find out that I am squeemish, there goes Pathology. After I have my 8 years of schooling in, I can choose any medical field I want, right? I love the concept of helping people through intelligence, and putting bad people away. So all of those fields are perfect for me. Well I hope you guys can help me, take it easy all. Ciao!
-Andrew
wiltzandrew1989 on Yahoo! Mess.
wiltzandrew on AIM

Answer 1

The first two years of medical school are done in classrooms and labs learning the basic sciences. The second two years are spent doing rotations through the main medical and surgical specialties exposing the student to the broad spectrum of specialties. It's usually during this two year period when a student develops an interest in a specific specialty (it's also when many students who thought they knew what they wanted to do change their minds).

Many medical students enter med school with a concern for how they respond to different circumstances. Most have prejudiced views based on Hollywood's depiction of medicine. I worked trauma for years and I've never seen anything produced for film or TV that portrayed the real world accurately.

I'm also willing to bet your concept of psychiatry is actually an interest in psychology. Since one requires a PhD and the other a MD, you need to learn the difference between them.

These CSI shows have generated a lot of interest in forensics. These shows are soap operas. The real world of forensics isn't anything like what you see on TV. But you can do an elective rotation through forensic pathology when in medical school.

I recommend that all potential medical students start doing their research at the Association of American Medical Colleges web site: http://www.aamc.org/

Another site to visit is the American Board of Medical Specialties: http://www.abms.org/Who_We_Help/Consumers/specialties.aspx

To learn the difference between a pyschiatrist and a psychologist, visit each association's web site.

Psychologist: http://www.apa.org/
Psychiatrist: http://www.psych.org/

Good luck with your research!

Answer 2

I'm assuming doctors have better things to do than answer questions on Yahoo. You should ask your parents' friends or coworkers to put you in contact with doctors in various fields. Then you can schedule a time to meet them in person and go over your questions. This is typically the way that this is done, not over the internet. If that sounds like too much work, then maybe you should reconsider your intended course of study. I hope not, though. Good luck.

Answer 3

You have...

Senior year of high school 1
BS degree in College 4
MD degree from Med Sch 3-4

It's only during internship and residency after med school that you specialize. After 8 years or more everything may have changed for you. Keep focussed on your goal, but relax.

Answer 4

Hey... you have plenty of time.
No matter what medical field you decide, you have to complete a four-year pre-med program before you go to med school. You'll have this year and four years of University before you have to choose.
You first year of med school is when you should start thinking about it, because this is when you have to pick your track.

Answer 5

You don't get to make that choice until your third or fourth year in Med School. That all depends on what school you go to.
So you have 7-8 years to decide which one you want to be!!

Answer 6

You can choose pre-med for at least two years maybe more. By the way, I love forensic pathology.

Edit. I think you can concentrate on your MD and specialize after meeting your MD requirements.

Answer 7

Basically after Medical school when you specialize or resident.