Advice for a medical student

[HotandCold]

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So after rotating in radiology, I liked it. I had some nice residents and a cool attending who were pretty fine teachers, so I enjoyed it. Now I don't mind a decrease in salary, because realistically, I don't know what money is. But rifling through these posts, it seems like there's a dire job shortage for graduating Diagnostic Radiologists.

Everyone tells everyone else to do what they like- and this is on my list- but are there any opinions about the overall stability of the career? From the sound of it on this forum, people are doing 2 fellowships and coming up dry.

I'm a measly M3 DO in MI by the way, with a 640 comlex. So I don't know anything about anything in medicine yet.

 

[cbtk18]

Don't let the trolls get to you. Do some research on your own and go with your gut. Talk to other residents, and especially attendings about what their job/life is like. That is going to be your best resource on learning about the field. An Internet forum filled to the brim with BS is last thing you want to base your entire career on.

 

[Baller MD]

So after rotating in radiology, I liked it. I had some nice residents and a cool attending who were pretty fine teachers, so I enjoyed it. Now I don't mind a decrease in salary, because realistically, I don't know what money is. But rifling through these posts, it seems like there's a dire job shortage for graduating Diagnostic Radiologists.

Everyone tells everyone else to do what they like- and this is on my list- but are there any opinions about the overall stability of the career? From the sound of it on this forum, people are doing 2 fellowships and coming up dry.

I'm a measly M3 DO in MI by the way, with a 640 comlex. So I don't know anything about anything in medicine yet.

Why didn't you take the usmiles? Just curious.

 

[HotandCold]

Why didn't you take the usmiles? Just curious.

I was interested in DO residencies in MI, and many at my base hospital that I saw had fellowships lined up (I had no idea what I wanted to do in medicine). There was a physician who did a breast/body fellowship at Harvard after a Rads residency I spoke to who attended my school, and only ever took the COMLEX. I also talked to upperclassmen who matched from my school in the Detroit area who didn't take the USMLE, and they didn't have a problem with competitive spots provided they had a competitive COMLEX- even for the ACGME spots at the Detroit Medical Center.

It seems like I have a competitive score, and I know getting a pretty solid COMLEX score (from what I've seen posted, and friends I have who took it) jives with getting a pretty solid USMLE score- but I just don't want to botch it. And then all the people around me who didn't take it and did fine didn't do all that much to encourage me. The first year rad resident at my base hospital (pgy2) also only took a comlex.

I think it's a Michigan phenomenon- when I looked through forums, it looked like most DO students threw in for the USMLE.

 

[radman123]

I was interested in DO residencies in MI, and many at my base hospital that I saw had fellowships lined up (I had no idea what I wanted to do in medicine). There was a physician who did a breast/body fellowship at Harvard after a Rads residency I spoke to who attended my school, and only ever took the COMLEX. I also talked to upperclassmen who matched from my school in the Detroit area who didn't take the USMLE, and they didn't have a problem with competitive spots provided they had a competitive COMLEX- even for the ACGME spots at the Detroit Medical Center.

It seems like I have a competitive score, and I know getting a pretty solid COMLEX score (from what I've seen posted, and friends I have who took it) jives with getting a pretty solid USMLE score- but I just don't want to botch it. And then all the people around me who didn't take it and did fine didn't do all that much to encourage me. The first year rad resident at my base hospital (pgy2) also only took a comlex.

I think it's a Michigan phenomenon- when I looked through forums, it looked like most DO students threw in for the USMLE.

There is a SEVERE glut of radiologists. Even if you have a job, there is little job and salary stability now. The pace of practice in many places is not sustainable for a long and happy career. Your worth as a radiologist is mainly determined by how many cases you crank out. Please do some extensive research before you embark on this 6-7 year path. Talk to as many job hunters, group recruiters, headhunters, private rads as possible!

 

[Bradstein]

There is a SEVERE glut of radiologists...The pace of practice in many places is not sustainable for a long and happy career.

How are there too many radiologists AND too much work for them to handle?

 

[radman123]

How are there too many radiologists AND too much work for them to handle?

Each radiologist is stretched to the limit. This is to limit hiring and keep income from dropping. A ton of uncertainty right now. Many established rads have a get it while you can mentality right now with regards to income. When a rad leaves, the extra work is spread among the remaining. Do more with less.

 

[cbtk18]

There is a SEVERE glut of radiologists. Even if you have a job, there is little job and salary stability now. The pace of practice in many places is not sustainable for a long and happy career. Your worth as a radiologist is mainly determined by how many cases you crank out. Please do some extensive research before you embark on this 6-7 year path. Talk to as many job hunters, group recruiters, headhunters, private rads as possible!

And....there he is! You knew he wasn't going to let a a chance to dissuade an interested medical student away from a great field pass him by.

What are his motivations you ask? I think it's pretty obvious.

 

[radman123]

And....there he is! You knew he wasn't going to let a a chance to dissuade an interested medical student away from a great field pass him by.

What are his motivations you ask? I think it's pretty obvious.

Tons of great fields out there in and out of medicine. But practical considerations are important when you invest so much time and money. Just saying, do your research, especially outside your program.

 

[DrBowtie]

I was interested in DO residencies in MI, and many at my base hospital that I saw had fellowships lined up (I had no idea what I wanted to do in medicine). There was a physician who did a breast/body fellowship at Harvard after a Rads residency I spoke to who attended my school, and only ever took the COMLEX. I also talked to upperclassmen who matched from my school in the Detroit area who didn't take the USMLE, and they didn't have a problem with competitive spots provided they had a competitive COMLEX- even for the ACGME spots at the Detroit Medical Center.

It seems like I have a competitive score, and I know getting a pretty solid COMLEX score (from what I've seen posted, and friends I have who took it) jives with getting a pretty solid USMLE score- but I just don't want to botch it. And then all the people around me who didn't take it and did fine didn't do all that much to encourage me. The first year rad resident at my base hospital (pgy2) also only took a comlex.

I think it's a Michigan phenomenon- when I looked through forums, it looked like most DO students threw in for the USMLE.

I wouldn't use DMC as an example. I'm surprised they still have a residency as 3-4 years ago the old group was ousted and Telerad company came in and kept few in house people. Things may have changed since then but I'd hardly call it a desirable program especially with Ford/Beaumont in the same city.

 

[HotandCold]

I wouldn't use DMC as an example. I'm surprised they still have a residency as 3-4 years ago the old group was ousted and Telerad company came in and kept few in house people. Things may have changed since then but I'd hardly call it a desirable program especially with Ford/Beaumont in the same city.

I believe it's a joint WSU/DMC residency, but I looked it up, and yes, they've had a teleradiology company for going on three years now. They also have a MSU/DMC Sinai Grace for DOs, although I don't really understand the difference aside from the accreditation.

Thank you everyone for your advice.

 

[dr seuss]

They didn't have a problem matching at DMC because all the MD applicants avoided it like the plague. It is affiliated with WSU, but the WSU grads go to Beaumont, Ford, or even one of smaller community programs if they want to stay in the Detroit area.

 

[Baller MD]

They didn't have a problem matching at DMC because all the MD applicants avoided it like the plague. It is affiliated with WSU, but the WSU grads go to Beaumont, Ford, or even one of smaller community programs if they want to stay in the Detroit area.

Do you have a list of malignant/plague radiology programs to avoid?