Career Options after NEET-UG

NEET UG is should not say it but it’s National Eligibility Entrance Test. This a huge dream of ever aspiring medico to clear this exam. But there is a sad reality. Every year millions of students appear for this exam but only a few could manage to secure their seats in Medical College. This year in 2020, a total of 15.97 lakh candidates registered and over 13 lakh students appeared in the exam.

And can you guess how many vacancies are available for MBBS admission in all government and private medical colleges across the country?

It is less than 1 lakh. That means it is very obvious that only 1 student out of 20 approx. could get admission. Then what about others, what will the other students do, where will they go?

I’m writing this article to tell all of the students that it’s not the end of anything. Even consider it as a new beginning. I know that all those questions are making you worried about your future, but trust me a lot of new opportunities are waiting for you. So rather than thinking about your past results, you should start working on your future.

Here in this article, I will tell you about the other options instead of being a doctor after NEET-UG if you are not getting a college for MBBS.

 
MBBS from Abroad

So, first of all, I want to tell you about the most famous option. Yes MBBS from abroad is very popular among students who want to be doctors but have low marks in the NEET exam. Many countries provide admission to Indian students for MBBS. Countries like Russia, Ukraine, China, The Philippines, etc. are very popular. They have low expenses as compared to private Indian Medical colleges.

But I would like to let you know about some facts before choosing this option. I have many of my friends who are doing MBBS from abroad. I personally don’t advise you to go with that option. I have many reasons to justify my words but in the end, it will be your personal decision.

If you really want to be a doctor and you don’t want to prepare again for NEET then you can go for this option. Students doing MBBS from abroad have very different problems. The first and foremost problem is for the weather, countries like Russia are very cold countries and many students from India cannot manage to withstand extremely low temperatures, epically if you are from central India or south India.

 The second will be the problem of food. Many times you may not get Indian food, though some universities claim that they provide Indian food but many don’t. These are the major problems regarding lifestyle.

Instead of that, you will see a lot of differences in academics structure, the variation of diseases and cases. You will not be able to attend a variety of patients abroad whereas in India the variety of cases is a lot. And the last thing I would like to address is language. If you are planning to do MBBS from abroad then you have to learn their language. The universities will teach you the language but you have to spend more time in your MBBS than 5.5 years.

BDS

If you are having a decent score and you are unable to get a seat in MBBS then you can go with the option for BDS. BDS is a Bachelor of Dental Surgery and it is a 5 years course. This course will train you for being a dentist. But before choosing that option keep in mind about some factors like

• Whether you have any family background in dentistry
• What will be the future scope of it?
• What will the salary of a Dentist in Corporate Setup?
• What will be the Return of Investment in your own private setup?

I am telling you to consider these factors because dentistry is achieving saturation and a lot of new dentists are coming every year. No doubt that there will always be a shortage of well-skilled dentists but still you should consider these facts

AYUSH Courses

This option is having a lot of courses available for an aspiring medico. It includes BAMS i.e. Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, BHMS i.e. Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery. BUMS, for Unani and other medicine systems like Siddha medicine and Yoga & Naturopathy. 

With any of these courses, you can be a doctor. These courses have very low cutoff so you can easily get college into these courses even in Government College.

The curriculum of these courses is very similar to MBBS. You just have to read some additional books related to your courses.

 

B.P.Th and Sports Medicine

BPT is a Bachelor of Physiotherapy. This is a very emerging field related to patient care. Nowadays every doctor prescribes physiotherapy to bed-ridden patients. Physiotherapy is also required for patients with paralysis. You will be designated as a Doctor of course.

You can even become a sports medicine doctor and it is having a great future. Ever sports have injuries and every official team like National cricket team, IPL teams, Football teams, etc. have their own Sports Medicine experts.

 

B.Sc. Nursing

This course is also a 4 years course. This course is directly involved in patient care. With this course, you can be a nurse. Guys don’t think that only a girl can be the nurses. Boys can also be the nurse and being a nurse you will have many benefits as a medico. 

You can work with corporate hospitals or government hospitals or either with private setup. There is good security of the job and also earning as a nurse is fair enough. You will be going to have all the subjects of MBBS. The main difference is just that you will read much lesser than MBBS Students.

 

Now, So far I have discussed the options that are involved in patient care. Now I would like to tell you about those options that don’t deal with patient care.

 

Forensic Science

It is a very fascinating field where you will learn how to apply medical knowledge to solve legal cases. B.Sc. Forensic Sciences is a 3 years of Undergraduate program which is having a good scope in the future. 

With this forensic science, you can work with top investigating bodies of countries like CIB or IB. There you will learn all the medicolegal aspects of livings as well as the dead.

If you want an adventurous and daring career then I think Forensic sciences are your cup of tea. I want a close look at what does actually, forensic science people do then you can want a very popular T.V series C.I.D. and a recently released Web series Asur.

They will help you to give a better perspective on this course

 

Biotechnology

Biotechnology is another emerging field in our country. Now many institutions are providing B.Sc. Biotechnology degree. It is a 3 years program that will let you utilize a biological system for creating something innovative. 

The scope of this field is constantly increasing. Even the IITs are also providing a Post Graduate Program in Biotechnology.

 

B.Pharma

Bachelors of Pharmacy is a course related to the knowledge of drugs and medicine. This is also a 3 years course and that you can start your own pharmacy or can work with pharmaceutical companies. This is not a very popular course among students though some students. That’s why put it at last.

 

Other Options

There are many other options after NEET but they are outside the stream. Food Science, Journalism, Management, Lawyer, Fashion designer, Interior designers are also some of the emerging fields. You can go with any of them if you are interested in any other fields instead of medicine. If you want a further post regarding these options comments me down.

 

  

 

Pharmacology Flashcards on Poisoning and Treatment Part:- 1

 Poisoning and Treatment FlashCards

Hello Guys! I tried a new way of learning things. These are some flashcards on the poisoning of various drugs and their treatment. These types of questions are being asked in the NEET PG exam and other central institutes exams for medical PG entrance. Moreover, these are the favorite corner of questions for the viva examiners. 

How it could be beneficial?

These flashcards will help you to retrieve very specific information. it will let you lay stress on your brain. We know the fact that we tend to retain that information for a long time for which we struggle a lot to recall.

There are 10 flashcards only. I just put only 10 cards because I don't want to make the learning lengthy and boring. 

How to use FlashCards?

It's very easy and simple. You just have to read out the question and think about the answer. Don't check the answer as soon as you read the question. Give it some time and then switch to answer.

Down below I will give you the simplified table for these slides. Hope you will like them. Comment below if you have any queries. 

   

 

Summary

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Comment below to let me know that how is that post

How to Revise Efficiently :- Revision strategy

 

Just imagine that our brain memory is like our phone memory. Once we store something in it remained store there forever. Yeah! At least till your phone is damaged. I know that many of you are thinking that it will be a great boon. But wait, if it would be very beneficial for us then in due course of evolution many of us might have achieved it. At least we medicos might have achieved it because we'll all have to memorize a lot of stuff. Drugs, Sings and symptoms, triads, tests, anatomy a lot of things. But still, we tend to forget everything.

So, it is because forgetting is a defense mechanism for an individual. Without forgetting things our survival will be very difficult. Imagine you had a bad past experience that haunts you every day. It’s better to forget that experience. There can be many bad experiences like heartbreaks, any big loss, or something like that. Now, think again what if your memory is like your phone memory. It will be completely impossible for you to move on from that experience. Our body is designed to survive and forgetting the things is a crucial part of survival

“Time heals everything” is a very popular phrase we all know that. But what does it actually mean? That means as time passes our brain reduces the intensity of that past experience.

Ok, Ok I know that you guys might have been thinking that how it will help us? How forgetting things could be beneficial for making our memory strong. For that I want you to know about the physiology of forgetting.

 

Why do we forget?

It’s the main root of all problems. You are medical students and many of you might know about it. So, there is a process in our brain that is called “Synaptic Plasticity”. Synaptic Plasticity means that when we learn something new our brain tries to keep it in memory and for that, it makes some new neuronal connections. As you all know that our neurons can’t divide and they are limited.

 When a child learns things new things like language his neurons make new connections and he could be able to learn the language easily. But as we grow old we learn a lot of things. Due to this our neuronal connections get saturated. Now when we try to learn new things we tend to forget any other old thing. When we try to learn something new neuronal connections form an old connections break.

P.C:- Wikipedia 

That is the simple science behind forgetting things. There is a German psychiatrist Hermann Ebbinghaus who gave a forgetting curve. Forgetting curve is a curve that hypothesizes the decline of memory retention in time. This curve shows the relation of memory with time.

 

How can we use forgetfulness as a strength?

Forgetting things is very normal. We all forget things and it’s beneficial too as I said earlier. It could be used as a strength also. Consider your brain neurons like your body’s muscles. We do exercise and hurt our body muscle a little which is a result they become bigger and stronger.

Now apply the same concept to your memory, forget some part of your information and review it later. It will make your memory strong.

 

How to use it for Revisions?

I know that you have been waiting for this part. I wanted to create a mindset so that you can understand the main part of this article that’s why I talked about all those things previously.

We all know that revision is a crucial part of the studies. But how can you get the maximum benefit of it? For getting the maximum benefit of revision you need to know that you must have to forget some part of the information before revising it again. Revising the topics or any other thing will have no benefits for your memory. We all revise things but the way might not be the correct. Here I will tell you one of the most popular methods of revision.

 

Spaced Repetition

This is the most popular technique of revision among students. This technique is developed after forgetting the curve. According to this technique, you can reduce memory erosion in a long run by flattening the forgetting curve.

For applying the spaced repetition method you need to have a proper revision schedule. I am giving an out view of a study schedule here.

You can Revise like:- 

• Revision 1 - Same day i.e. Day 1 
• Revision 2 - Next day i.e. Day 2
• Revision 3 - After 1st week i.e. Week 1
• Revision 4 - After 2nd week i.e. Week 2
• Revision 5 - After 1st month i.e. Month 1 
• Last revision - After 2nd Month i.e. Month 2

Try this basic outline and create a schedule according to yourself.

 

How will it be useful?

Our brain always tries to work with the least workload possible. When it comes to memory our brain only tries to keep that part of the information that is considered useful to the brain. We have long-term memory and short-term memory.

 When we learn something, it gets stored in ou short-term memory and started to evaporate quickly. After 1 day for instance we just have 60% of the information that we read a day before, so there is an erosion of memory. Now on revising that part again there will be positive enforcement to our brain that that information is useful. 

Now our brain will try to retain it for some longer duration. But we still lose some part of it. Now again after some time revise it, now the portion of information lost will be less and the duration of information retained has been increased. Keep that repletion either according to your schedule or by using my provided outline.

Eventually,, your brain will shift that information from short-term memory to long-term memory.

Conclusion

We all forget things but it's very normal. It’s an important defense mechanism for our survival. Forgetting things help us to move on from our past experiences.

Here in that article,,, I have discussed the best way to revise any subject so that it could remain in our mind for a long time. I discussed the fact that why do we forget things. There is a phenomenon called synaptic plasticity due to which when we learn new things our brain makes new connections with neurons and breaks some old connections. New connections formation leads to the formation of new memory whereas old connections breakdown leads to erosion of memory.

There is a forgetting curve that describes the relation of memory retained with time. And we can utilize the forgetfulness of things to build a strong memory. It’s simply like doing a workout to build strong muscles. Study and try to retain information, obliviously there will be some memory erosion. Revise that topic again when you feel that there is some part of the information that is missing. This process is called Spaced Repetition. That will tell your brain that it’s a useful part of the information and it should be stored for the long term. This is how you can keep information in your long term memory.

 

I hope that that article helped you. Share this with your friends and other students.

USMLE Exam : - Details, Exam Pattern and Process for How to apply for USMLE

What is The USMLE Exam?

USMLE or The United States Medical Licensing Examination is a 3 step examination. This exam conducts for medical licensure in the U.S. In short, if you want to work as a doctor in the United States you have to clear the USMLE exam. This exam is sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Board (FSMB) and the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Whether you are an IMG (International Medical Graduate) or AMG (American Medical Graduate) this exam is mandatory to practice as a doctor in America. Many students across the globe apply for this exam every year.

In the following article, I will try to give you a brief overview of all the requirements and processes of the exam. Also, I will tell you about the exam pattern and the syllabus of each step.

As this is a 3 steps examination, the main focus of this exam is the assessment of knowledge in basic medical sciences as well as deep understandings of its applications in clinical scenarios.

The steps of the exam are as following: -

• USMLE Step 1
• USMLE Step 2 (CK and CS )
• USMLE Step 3

 

Pre-Requisites before applying for USMLE

Before diving into the actual article there are some pre-requisites that you should consider. These are:-

1. Make Sure that your college or medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS). Here is the link to check. You need to select your college and country to check whether it's listed or not. Only listed college students are eligible to apply for USMLE.
2. You must have to have your MBBS mark sheets with you. You will need them while applying for the match process
3. You have to clear your TOEFL exam, any time before applying for the VISA. You should have to get it ready before applying for the Step 2 CS exam.

 

These are the things that you should keep in mind. There is only one absolute requirement before applying for step 1 and that is your college must be listed for the World Directory of Medical Schools.

The other 2 requirements are also necessary but they will not be problematic at the beginning of the application for step 1.

 

USMLE Step 1

USMLE Step 1 is the first part of this 3 steps long exam, as the name suggests. You can apply for this exam right after the completion of the second year of your medical college. Most of the students in India apply for this exam in the starting or in the mid of their third year.

This step consists of an 8-hour long exam having 7 blocks of 40 questions each. For now, the result of this exam is a 3 digit score with the qualifying Marks of 192. But from January 2022, the exam will be pass-fail only. All the competitive features from the step 1 exam will exclude and the step 2 CK score will gain more importance. The Pattern of Step 1 exam is:-

·        Exam Type:- Online computer Based

·        Exam Centers:- Global

·        Duration of Exam:- 8 Hours

·        Number of Questions:- 280

·        Division of Questions:- Block System, 1 hour block, 40 questions each block

·        Syllabus for Step 1 will be: -

o   Anatomy

o   Behavioral Sciences

o   Biochemistry

o   Biostatics and Epidemiology

o   Pathology

o   Pharmacology

o   Physiology

o   Microbiology

USMLE Step 1 Fees 

The examination fees for USMLE Step 1 will be 965$ with an additional delivery surcharge of 165$ i.e. the total of 965+165$ for an IMG. For students and graduates of Medical schools in the United States and Canada, the fees are 645$ for 2020-2021.

Before applying for the USMLE Step 1 you have to apply for the ECFMG certification and the fees for this are 140$ with an additional delivery surcharge of 160$.

 

USMLE Step 2

This Step is having 2 sets of examinations namely Clinical Skills and Clinical Knowledge. In short, it is known as Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS. These 2 exams have a lot enough gaps in between. Step 2 CK is an MCQ based exam which you can give from your country, as it’s a computer-based examination. But for Step 2 CS you have to go to the US, and you have to apply for it at least 4 months prior. This exam will have all clinical subjects but you need to have a good background of Step 1 content as you will see a lot of questions integrated with basic sciences. The pattern of Step 2 CK will be as follows:-

USMLE Step 2 CK 

·        Exam Type:- Online computer Based

·        Exam Centers:- Global

·        Duration of Exam:- 9 Hours

·        Number of Questions:- 320

·        Division of Questions:- Block System, 1 hour block, 40 questions each block

·        Syllabus for Step 2 CK will be:-

o   Obstetrics/Gynecology

o   Preventive medicine

o   Psychiatry

o   Surgery

o   Internal Medicine

o   Dermatology

o   Emergency medicine

o   Ophthalmology

o   ENT

Questions in Step 2 CK will describe a clinical situation and require you to provide one or more of the following: -

·        Prognosis

·        Diagnosis

·        Suitable Investigation of Choice

·        Indications or mechanism of diseases

·        Management and preventive measures

·        Qualifying marks for the Step 2 CK exam are 209.

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USMLE Step 2 CK Fees

The fees for the Step 2 CK exam are 965 $ with an additional deliver surcharge of 165$, similar to step 1. These fees might be changed in the future. It is mentioned here as per the year 2020-2021

The fee for an extension of the eligibility period for USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK will be 90$.

USMLE Step 2 CS

Once you have qualified Step 2 CK you can apply for Step 2 CS. But as I said earlier you have to apply for the exam 4 months prior. At that time your TOFIL exam certificate will come into action. As this exam have only 6 centers in America so you have to go there for Step 2 CS. The pattern of the Step 2 CS exam is:-

·        Exam Type:- Offline, Practical exam

·        Exam Centers:- the US only

·        12 patients or simulations will be allotted

·        15 minutes + 10 minutes for every spot will be given

This exam will test your skills in communication and history taking. This is a pass-fail exam and no marks will be given in this step.

USMLE Step 2 CS Fees

The fees for Step 2 CS is 1600$ for each exam registration. The Fee for a rescheduling a Step 2 CS testing appointment will be 0-1300$ (depending on the date of cancellation)

 

After you clear your Step 2 you can apply for Step 3. Before applying for step 3 you have to apply for the United Stated Clinical Experience (USCE) if you are an IMG.

 

What is USCE?

USCE or the United States Clinical Experience which is considered important if you an IMG and want to apply for residency in the US. It will help you to get some Letters of Recommendation which you can use for your match process. I would suggest you not look at USCE as means to get those letters rather look at it as a learning opportunity.

There are 2 types of USCE

1.      Externship or Sub-Internship

2.      Observerships or Shadowing

In brief, Externships are the rotations that are not undertaken in the home institution. During an externship, you can actually treat a patient and can interact with them. They are preferred over Observerships.

In Observerships you are not allowed to treat any patient. You can only observe all the process silently. There will be no direct involvement in inpatient care from your side. This is probably the most popular way to gain USCE as an International Medical Graduate (IMG).

 Now, you are completely ready for your Step 3 application.

 

USMLE Step 3

This is the last and final step towards your residency in The USA. This exam is a 2 days long exam. The exam committee will do a complete assessment of your knowledge in these 2 days.

Day 1

·        Questions:- 230 MCQs

·        Division of questions: - 6 blocks

·        Duration: - 7 hours

Day 1 focus on the assessment of knowledge on Basic Sciences, History taking, physical examination, and use of proper diagnostic tests.

Day 2

·        Questions: -180 MCQs + 13 Computer Case Simulation (20 mins each)

·        Division of Questions: - 6 blocks

·        Duration: - 9 hours

Day 2 focus on the assessment of your ability to apply you medical knowledge in the context of patient care and it tests your medical decision making skills.

USMLE Step 3 Fees

The examination fees for the Step 3 exam is 895$ as per fsmb.org. Fees must be paid via American Express, aster card, or Vis

 

After everything is done and you have qualified all exams, now it’ time to submit an application for an interview. You have to apply to different hospitals to get your desired residency.

The application for the interview was submitted on 15 September each year. This application includes: -

·        Step 1 score

·        Step 2 score

·        MBBS Score Card

·        Letters of Recommendations

·        Strong Personal statement

·        Your Research Papers (published if any)

The Medical Board will select your applications and if get selected they will call you for an interview. After clearing the Interview you can join your allotted residency.

Takeaway Points

• USMLE is a 3 step exam for getting a residency in the US.
• This Exam is sponsored by NBME and FSMB.
• There are some prerequisites for the exam. Your college should be listed in WDOMS.
• Step1 is a single day exam of 8 hours duration, with 280 questions having 7 blocks of 1 hour having 40 questions each.
• Right now qualifying criteria for Step 1 is 192 marks out of 280 marks. But from 2022 it will be a pass-fail exam.
• The examination fees of Step 1 the exam is 965$ with an additional delivery surcharge of 165$
• You have to have an ECFMGE certification before applying for USMLE Step 1. Fees for ECFMGE certification is 140$ with an additional delivery surcharge of 160$
• Step 2 has 2 parts CK and CS. The CK exam is 9 hours long exam with 320 questions and CS is a practical exam.
• 209 is the qualifying score for Step 2 CK and Step 2 CS is a pass-fail exam.
• Step 2 CK exam fees are similar as step 1 and CS fee is 1600 $ for IMGs.
• USCE is considered important for IMGs before applying for step 3.
• Step 3 is a 2-day long exam and after that you have to apply for your interviews after clearing the interview you are ready for doing a residency in the USA.

Pharmacology GIT Quiz Part 1 : - NEXT Exam/NEET PG exam preparation

GIT Pharmacology Quiz

Part 1:- Peptic Ulcer Diseased

Peptic Ulcer Diseases are due to the imbalance between the aggressive and protective mechanisms of the Gastrointestinal tract.

Protective Mechanisms are 

• Mucus
• Bicarbonate Ions 
• Prostaglandins
• Nitric Oxide
• High Mucosal Blood Flow 

Aggressive Mechanisms are 

• Acid 
• Pepsin 
• Bile 
• H. Pylori

Treatment of Peptic Ulcer Diseased

For the treatment of peptic ulcers, we have to give those drugs that can reduce the secretion of acid. Many drugs can reduce the secretion of acids but they act by different mechanisms of actions: -

Gastric Secretion Inhibitors 

1. H2- Antihistaminics
2. Proton Pump Inhibitors
3. Anticholinergics
4. Prostaglandin Analogues

Gastric Acid Nuterlisers:- They are of two types 

1. Systemic
2. Nonsystemic

Ulcer Protectives 

Anti H.Pylori Drugs 

I just tried to give you an overview of the MCQ questions that are going to be there in the quiz given below. if you guys want me to explain the whole topic of GIT Pharmacology the comment below. 

Here, is the quiz. I know its a short quiz but I tried to lay stress on some important points. Stay tuned guys more of such quizzes will be uploaded soon.

I hope that you like this new concept. If you want this quiz PDF comment below. Comment below or contact me if you have any queries.

How To Choose Branch After MBBS? Detailed explanation with relevant factors

How to Choose a medical Branch?

Most of us might have thought about it once at least. We all use to about a suitable specialty. A specialty that will be good for us. But in the end, what happened. As we have a lot of options available we get confused. Studies have proven that a confused mind cannot make a solid decision. The same happens to us.

We think about specialties for us after MBBS. But then we get a lot of options. These options make us more puzzled. Then, in that condition, we seek someone who can advise us. Sometimes the advice is genuine and helpful but sometimes not.

So in this article, I discussed some factors that one should consider to choose a residency for himself/herself.

Passion  

First thing first, if you are passionate about any branch then don’t think much. There is nothing more than passion. The thing that matters at the end of the day is your satisfaction. But wait, what does that passion mean? Passion is not that you like to read books on that subject. Passion means that you should like that subject in practice.

This factor far outweighs other factors. But the truth is that it does not apply to all of us. There are a few students who are passionate about a specific branch.

Before going further I want you to ask some questions to yourself. This will help you to have a base to think further.

1. How much time will I have for me and my family?
2. Will I be burned out and miserable or love what I will be doing?
3. Will I do that Job for my whole life?
4. How much money will I make?

The answers to these questions will make your work easy.

A systematic approach to choose a specialty

What are your areas of scientific and clinical interest?

It’s the very first step to go for a branch. Find out which subject you like the most. For that, the easy way is just to ask yourself which subject you prefer to study any other subject.

• If you like Pharmacology and physiology then you can go for Anesthesia or internal medicine.
• If you like anatomy then surely Surgery is the best.
• If you are more curious about the brain the Neurology or Psychiatry

Relationships, Interactions, and Level of patient contact

If you are a guy with good communication skills and more of an extrovert type then medical branches are for you. Branches like Internal medicine, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Family Medicine will suits you the best. These branches will let you make long term relations with your patients.

But you are more of an introvert type and don’t like a lot of patient interaction then there are branches like radiology. In branches like radiology, pathology you are not directly related to patient care.

But if you are extrovert up to an extent and like a short relationship with patients then you should surgical branches. Branches like General Surgery, Plastic surgery, Orthopedics will be best. These branches involve brief and efficient patient interaction

There is a midway also branches like Urology, Dermatology, OBGYN which have both surgical and medical work. So if you want to be a physician and a surgeon as well then you can opt for them. But you will be considered either pf one out of them.

Work-Life balance

You wanted to be a doctor because you wanted a good life. Don’t forget that. If you cannot enjoy your life and your work then everything is waste. Never let your professional life to interfere with your personal life. Enjoy your life and let yourself do your job with as ease. Consider a branch that has fewer burnouts. That allows you to have a quality life.

Like surgical braches have fewer burnout rates. But on the other hand, the surgical branches are more challenging.

Burnout rates of Different Branches (source:- Medscape 2019 national physician Burnout, depression, and suicide Report)

Source: - Medscape

 

Feasibility

Will you do that job for your whole life? We have discussed many factors. I think till now you may have a clear vision of your branch. But think about it as well. You have to do it forever. If you will not be happy then it will be very difficult for you to carry on with your job. Once a wise man said, “ Make your hobby your job, then people will pay you for your hobby”. So it’s totally up to you if you will be happy or not.

Money

The factor that most of the students consider in the first place is money. In my opinion, money should not be a primary or a secondary factor to choose a branch. Compensation differences between specialties will be far less important than other factors. It’s a very reductionist approach. We should indeed be rewarded for our hard work. But money is an aspect of life but not life itself. There are many confounding factors if someone is considering money as a primary factor. One should consider these confounding factors too.

Money Time Ratio

When it comes to money with time it becomes more important than money alone. The money time ratio is a major factor. MBBS students (in the majority) always keep on thinking about money alone. You should also think about the time too. In the beginning, we don’t consider family time but later on, we realize its importance A doctor who earns 2 Lakhs/month and works 8 hours a day is much better than a doctor working 12houra a day for 3 lakhs/month. A proper balance between time and money should be needed. So never consider money alone.

     

Tertiary consideration

In the end, I would like to add a few points. There are the less important point but significant

1. Assess your skill: - Make yourself aware of your skills. Work on yourself and know that what skill you are lacking. Medical branches require a skill. identify your skill and accordingly choose a medical branch. If you want a specific branch and you think you lack skills for that branch then develop them. Find someone expert in that field and try to learn things.
2. Terminal branches Vs Super-Specializations: - People who wish to settle down early prefer terminal branches. But most of the students usually choose a branch that has its super specialty course also. So if you have a target to settle down as soon as possible then terminal branches like orthopedic are good.  
3. Violence against Doctors: - We use to get news about violence against doctors. Many students don’t consider some branches because of this fear. Ye,s it’s a serious issue in our country. But think for a while, we cannot clap by one hand. The root problem here is the doctor’s communication skills. Doctors with branches like Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Pediatrics are more prone to violence. But you can avoid that thing with your god communication skills. You will not get every time a violent patient. Even I should say I patients or his relatives are never violent to you until you made them do so.
4. Opportunity to go abroad: - if you guys are planning to go abroad then don’t think about any branch much. Especially if you have plans for USMLE. You are not free to choose any branch of your choice. You will have limited options there like Internal medicine, but no surgical branches. So for that, I suggest to not to choose PG in India if you want to settle down there.

 

Conclusion

Choosing your residency might be a difficult task. We have a lot of options available which confuses us. Some are passionate about a specific branch. Those who are sure about a branch need not worry much. But the problem comes when we are uncertain and it becomes very hard when we get confused with many options available. A confused mind cannot make a solid decision. So I tried to make this process a little bit easier for you guys.

We started with 4 basic questions before going it the article.

1. How much time will I have for me and my family?
2. Will I be burned out and miserable or love what I will be doing?
3. Will I do that Job for my whole life?
4. How much money will I make?

Here I gave more, importance to time and quality of life. I put money question last because it is just an aspect of life, not life itself. We discussed many points in the article and I have added some tertiary points too. Those points are less considered but sometimes affect the decisions.

Sometimes we are not interested in medical practice after MBBS. I know that we get into MBBS because we all want to be a doctor. But sometimes our destiny wants something else. Don't worry about that you can read my article on Career Options After MBBS. You may find it useful too...