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At what point does a medical professional realize what the specific field of medicine they would like to pursue is?

I find it rather difficult at my age, and with little experience to decide the exact profession, I would like to pursue.
#medicine #specializing #healthcare #hospital-and-health-care #graduate-school #medical-school

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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi Montrell! This is a good question! I think it takes time to really know what you love and experiences can help with that. For example, you can volunteer in a specific setting and work with a specific group of patients that can allow you to want to specialize in that field. Also you can have a personal experience or a reason that makes you want to become a doctor in a specific field. For both my siblings they had some interests while going into medical school but once they began rotations, as identified in previous answers, then did they really know what they wanted to do. In your third year and on you begin to complete rotations for a duration of time and that gives you a glimpse of the specialities; my advice would be to keep an open mind and once you get to medical school you will have time to pick what you like and what interests you. For now study hard, do well in classes and keep up with extracurriculars.

Best of luck!
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Richard’s Answer

During clinical rotations in 3rd and 4th year of medical school you will choose a specialty. You will apply for residency training during 4th year. Residency is the time of training in which you learn the specifics of practicing your specialty
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Rachel’s Answer

If you want to be a doctor, you would decide on your specialty your 3rd year of medical school. If you are deciding between different jobs within the medical field (PA vs. nurse vs. tech), you would decide during college. The best way to decide is to shadow individuals in each field of interest.
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Shelley’s Answer

Montrell, Why do you want to work in medicine? Job security, pay, hours, helping others? What do you see yourself doing everyday for work. Work directly with a Patient or part of a team? You will be inside, likely work odd shifts, have emotional challenges from caring for the very ill. Are you repulsed by vomit, poop or blood? (well you should be but can you work through it :) How much time and money can you put into your education right now? I suspect that last question is the way most people choose where they specialize. Do you see yourself as a Respiratory , Radiologic, CAT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine or Laboratory Technologist? Surgery Tech? Research each and shadow for a day. It is very common for people to come and observe a few hours to get the feel of the profession.

Do you see yourself as a Doctor and don't know which specialty to go into? Make it into medical school and you will be exposed to all or most of them and there will be that one or two that rock your world.

Is Nursing an interest? The opportunities are endless. You start as a Pup nurse and gain experience and learn from your team/unit and branch into your next area of interest.

Sometimes you start on one path towards a profession and realize that it is not what you expected it to be or want to do. Be courageous enough to change directions and find what speaks to you. Health profession does allow for expansion of your career as you work in it. Good luck Montrell!

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