Why Dermatology?

Hello everyone! Today, I came and finally address one of the most frequently asked questions I get - what made me choose dermatology! I already made a post about things to think about when a specialty examination (see here if you missed it), so that this position will be more of my personal experiences with Deciding on a specialty.

I got to thinking about dermatology for a time relatively "dark" of medical school - second year (I wrote about it here if you want to read more)! Seeing as disgruntled or overworked doctors what discouraging to say the least, but when we started our block of dermatology, I actually saw the doctors who looked happy with their lives! They shared interesting cases during case discussions, but could then talk about what they did with their children for the weekend, and I could not believe it! And then we had vitiligo African American patients (a depigmentation disorder) to speak to lose its blackness, losing part of its identity, and I fell in love with the idea of ​​practicing dermatology and helping patients like her. How powerful. But then we had the opportunity to work in a clinic with a dermatologist, and I'll be honest, just not that interesting to me. So I kind of stopped thinking about the Afterthat dermatology.

I continued through the rest of the second and third year the most seek a specialty and off could not really find my call. But I had crossed you much wider of my list - I loved radiology, but I do not think I would be happy without making patients and providing treatment (interventional radiology gets that, but I really like that lol ) I liked the way, but for the same reasons as radiology could not see myself doing - I'm too much of a people person (Though in truth, I am a total introvert, I am even more happy and I feel more fulfilled when I directly help people - not that pathologists and radiologists do not contribute directly - they are usually what all other physicians base their decisions outside but I like sitting face to face with Patients - read more in the comments below about my background and experience of a practicing pathologist wonder if you are interested!). I loved medicine, but rounding the whole day on the hospital side gave me pretty much like jumping of a building and the outpatient side patients say repeatedly that they needed to lose weight just this not for me (and I'm obviously simplifies all waaay dieser - primary care physicians do so much, it felt like we were quietly saying the same thing to each patient)! I loved pediatrics but felt like hard days hurt too much, and the parents kind of drive you crazy (I am one now, and I'm sure I also drive crazy girls pediatrician - I do not know how they do it ). Most of all I fell madly for surgery. Loved surgery. OR I loved him, I loved using my hands, I liked almost everything. Except as hard as I tried I could not find a female mentor surgery so had children and a husband with equally demanding career. This last part is the most important, though: because there were women surgeons who had families, everyone I met had husbands careers much less demanding and more flexible, and theywere able to help many more. I knew that both N and I'd probably have an equally demanding career. And surgical residency is not a joke. Surgery seemed right, it took a lot more sacrifices than I am willing to do. But he shut the leading specialty until I had an elective of short dermatology That changed the game.

After clinics in other areas, Dermatology Clinic actually felt interesting the second time. And when I Hospital Dermatology (dermis consults inpatient) I fell in love - I was a bit spoiled at Harvard Because our hospitals see some of the rarest of the rare, but oh my god it was all so cool. I realized that the skin is really "in the indicator of systemic disease, a canary in a coal mine of sorts ... Especially skin is part of our human identity, and diseases there are no affects less dehumanizing, like so many of my patients have described to me. "Yes, I just quoted my personal statement lol!

Then I worked in clinical excision, where dermatologists excise melanoma and other skin cancers, and I was sold was just enough of procedural stuff I like -. Or be in the new environment as was so nice - I really like the OR. And then there was the other Derm Surgery and Lasers I am exposed to - there was just so much cool stuff! A big difference between the big traditional surgical and dermatological procedures / surgeries, however, is that patients usually are awake all the time (just under local anesthesia versus general anesthesia)! This does not bother me, but it may not be the right person to somepeople. Then there are the more practical aspects, such as more control of your schedule, a variety of practice environments, and colleagues happy! So I made my decision, asked around to find that the person I had to talk dermis, spoke to him, and he made contact with my research adviser Who was the greatest blessing of school medicine. This woman ran a large laboratory, given the clinic patients (and patients raved about it), and had daughters she called all day and went on mini girls vacation with (I love this idea and can not wait to do it with my girls! Sorry No!) I spent a year working in his laboratory between the third and fourth years to prepare for applications in dermatology (and therefore having Liv) and was the one of the best years of medical school! Anywho, which is about the most. Most people interested saisQu'il dermis is incredibly competitive, so I want to mention that I had a competitive Step 1 score and achieved great honors in most of my rotations (our preclinical classes not graduate and Harvard AOA has not, so I can not comment on these things). I'm as strong letters of recommendation (unless I'm told)!

I know so many of you want me to write on the classification and matching programs, and I can certainly comment on facts from a general point of view, if you think that would be helpful, but our situation was very unique and certainly not applicable to almost everyone else! For now I'm just sharing the facts, we will begin our advanced Both residences (N ophthalmology and me dermis) in Miami this coming July!