Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 101
Posts: 1,970
|
To all my dearest colleagues,
I have had a plan to participate in 2009 match. Meantime, I am scheduled for observership in Peds that starts in 10 days.
Today I got an unofficial offer of PGY-1 in pathology. I have sent all docs to them and now am waiting for reply.
Now, I never thought seriously of doing pathology although I am in high level science for ~6 years in one of the US prestigious universities. My clinical background is peds and surgical oncology.
Now I do not know what to do: wait till next match season without taking the offer, or accept the offer but still try to apply for the programs of my choice in the upcoming season.
Please advise!!!!!!!!!!!!!
___________________
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors
|
| Markus2009
Forum Senior
Topics: 9
Posts: 189
|
wow congratulations justice!!!
Could you just do 1 year in pathology? It would count as a externship and paid...But it is not ethical to take something and then leave it in a year right...Difficult position...
|
| PGI2alpha
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 447
|
i would nt take it if i am not intersted in it...but if at the same time...you have ever ever wanted to do pathology...then go for it...the entire package of 3 years...ending as a pathologist for life.
If on the other hand,you ar etaking it ust coz some thing is being offered to you, my friend, i would suggest you go the long way...do your observership,participate in the match and get the stream tht yu want. its a question whose answer will affect your entire life. life has no shortcuts...dont get tempted...
|
| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 101
Posts: 1,970
|
To be honest, I never wanted to get into the situation like this... The toughest dilemma I ever had...
Well, financially I will even suffer in accept the offer... This would happen anyway, but I would agree to have pain if knew that matched into the specialty I really wanted...
My problem is the ethics, you Markus mentioned... I know that I will want to change it to peds or gen surgery, unless I fall in love with pathology and that place... I also heard the the job market for pathologists isn't the best one, but it varies from year to year...
More comments are very welcome!!!
___________________
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors
|
| PGI2alpha
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 447
|
but will a externship in pathology really help in peds or gen surg? plus once u join a program,you ll only get your vacations to interview for your match...
|
| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 101
Posts: 1,970
|
PGI2alpha, thanks for your thoughts...
Pathology isn't that bad, especially for women (I am male), and salary varies from 100K in University to 450K/year in private clinics like Meriter... Doing science for many years, I do enjoy that, BUT:
a dream is a dream, and I cannot change it... My wife urges me to accept the offer, but I can not... I got a good promise to get into peds next year, have made some real connections in gen surg, but now cost of all these efforts has to be re-evaluated...
taking a year in pathology would be hardly helpful... the only advantage is it will help me to get rid of stigma of IMG and overcome my graduation year issue (1998)... otherwise, it will be more pain than I would like to silently tolerate...
Edited by Justice on 04/18/08 - 02:44 PM
___________________
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors
|
| PGI2alpha
Forum Elite
Topics: 7
Posts: 447
|
pathology is most definitely a great branch. i never said the branch is bad. its more of a matter of interests...nothing else...all the very best with your decision...i know its a tough one...
|
| GLO MD
Forum Guru
Topics: 9
Posts: 818
|
You said it yourself.... a dream is a dream.... if you ask me I would wait for another year rather than taking a specialty I am not very interested in. This is a very personal decision though and you are the only one that knows how your life circumstances are at the moment. Pray and ask God for guidance. Remember that you are not deciding on which restaurant you will have dinner tonight.... you are deciding what you will probably do for a living the rest of your life!! You might as well wait for your one and true love and work in something that you are passionate about! After all, you have already waited a long time... one more year is not that much for the one we love!! 
___________________
Keep your eyes on the stars, but remember to keep your feet on the ground....Theodore Roosevelt
|
| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 101
Posts: 1,970
|
GLO MD wrote:
Pray and ask God for guidance  I wish my wife saw this your post!!! She said that what I got is an answer to my prayers...
OK, I decided to follow the track and see what happens... The best thing I can do is to go and see that place and people... I am just back from AACR meeting in San Diego, and the most successful people in cancer drug development are pathologists... I met a few pathologists who made millions by working for industry... But at this moment I need only one thing: wisdom...
___________________
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors
|
| angel^Doctor
Forum Guru
Topics: 33
Posts: 457
|
Unless ur intrested in pathology, why should accept the offer? Otherwise, you will suffer the concequences later when you wish to leave the program
good luck in whatever dicision you make
___________________
The more I know, the more I don't know!
|
| drshvetasm
Forum Elite
Topics: 22
Posts: 282
|
Wouldnt u be asked later in your surg/peds ivs as to y u took up path if u werent interested?? sometimes it goes against people to have experience in the field thats not their choice...but if you decide to pursue it...u can make the mosttt of it...every medical field has a wide range of expansion...so good luck with ur decision...it is indeed a tough one..
|
| Justice
Forum Fanatic
Topics: 101
Posts: 1,970
|
Thanks, guys, for your input...
I tend to agree with you but I have heard of the stories when ppl in PGY1 in peds or gen surg would transfer themselves into IM, or anesthesiology... So, this is possible and does not necessarily hurt...
I know that any PD would be very cautious about any applicant who rambles back and forth from specialty to specialty... I was recommended into that program by my friend (a PD in pathology in my university) because he knows me as a scientist...
Honestly, never thought I would face with such a weird challenge...
___________________
Don't live in a town where there are no doctors
|
| MDin08
Forum Junior
Topics: 14
Posts: 95
|
dear justice,
no matter how many of us write our opinions here but at the end of the day, it will be your own decision, if you like pathology then go for it as you are an old grad, but if u are really interested & passionate about gen surgery(quite competitive) or peds then go for teh next year's match otherwise u'll always regret that only if u could have waited one more year u might have gotten what u wanted...but just rememeber this at the end, whatever you decide just go for it full heartedly & don't look bak to regret that if i had chosen the other specialty then it would have been better...!!
GOOD LUCK IN WHATEVER SPECIALTY YOU DECIDE TO GO FOR!!
|
|
| |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
