Life on the other side: did I choose the right specialty?

Though majority of newly-minted doctors don't often admit it, there comes a point during the residency journey where most residents wonder if they made the right specialty choice. For many, this usually happens right around the three month mark, where residents are sleep-deprived and wading through the inevitable frustrations and insecurities that accompany being an intern doctor.

I struggled with whether or not to write this blog post but I ultimately decided to do so, mainly because I know I am not alone in wondering how my life would be different had I chosen a different specialty. You may be tempted to say "what is she talking about? She just started!" but in reality, a few months as an intern can have you contemplating your entire life. When I have private conversations with other residents in specialties known for being physically and mentally fatiguing, they often admit that they also have wondered what their lives would be like on the other side.

I have friends in specialties who do shift work, meaning they work the either morning, evening, or night shifts, with shifts usually being 8-10 hours in length but no more than 12 hours at once. I see them having more time to hit the gym, get more sleep, and have a better work-life balance. These same friends often crack jokes that OB/GYN residents must be crazy to knowingly choose a specialty notorious for being very rigorous. I laugh it off but in the back of my mind I wonder "hmm...am I really crazy for choosing this life? Is life truly better on the other side?" I have experienced the shift work lifestyle in the emergency department for the past four weeks and let me tell you, I loved it! I was happy to have time to reconnect with myself and engage in activities I had been missing out on. I felt like I needed that time to broaden my knowledge base and interact with patients of all genders.

With all that being said, I have missed being on the labor and delivery floor and seeing OB/GYN patients in the clinic. What I now know is that loving what you do is the most important motivator for surviving residency. Many doctors who are now practicing independently often say that residency is only four years of a long career in medicine. In the meantime, loving the specialty you're in will allow you to power through the challenging days and truly enjoy the good days whenever you have them.