Tag:

med student

Contemplating Psychiatry?

As the 3rd year of medical school approaches, medical students typically narrow down their specialties of choice, and if unsure, feel rather overwhelmed since the decision practically solidifies their field of practice for the rest of their careers (though yes, it is possible to switch specialties during training). Did I know at birth that I wanted to become a psychiatrist? Absolutely not. I went through my first two years of medical school wondering when the light bulb in my head would go off as to which specialty I was destined to go into. Then, it finally hit me — I’m meant to become a cardiologist! Well, that idea was short-lived once I became aware of the required six years of training after medical school (much respect to the cardiologists out there). Fortunately, I discovered Psychiatry, which is the one specialty where I actually felt motivated to go above and beyond to learn more and felt passionate about!

If Psychiatry is listed among your options, then the following are reasons I believe Psychiatry is an amazing specialty to choose:

Psychiatrists are in high demand. There will truly never be enough psychiatrists to meet the current and growing needs, which means more job opportunities and lucrative possibilities to create your own practice.
Psychiatrists in the United States make a mean annual income of $182,700 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2014). Sure, Medscape notes this number ranks at the bottom third compared to the annual income of other specialties, but if lifestyle and job satisfaction are factored in, the ranking can be considered insignificant (see next bullet point). In Australia, psychiatry is found to be one of the best financially rewarding careers.
Lifestyle can be catered to your preference. I currently work part-time and know several psychiatrists working part-time who feel content with their flexible schedules. One of my friends practices telepsychiatry in the comfort of her own home, which has been perfect for raising her growing family.
Establish your niche or dabble in different areas. Several psychiatrists have their own solo practice, yet are able to divide their time into percentages working with other health organizations, academia/teaching, treatment centers, etc. And when establishing your own niche, your expertise working with specific populations can be highly sought after (for example, I was mentored by various specialists including a bipolar disorder specialist, sports psychiatrist, developmental disabilities specialist, psychoanalytic psychiatrist…the list goes on). I’m still trying to establish my own niche (I have way too many interests)!
There are multiple subspecialties (including child/adolescent, geriatric, consultation/liaison, sports, forensic, pain management).
If having a private practice is the goal, then the cost for equipment is minimal compared to other specialties (after all, the main instrument needed to practice is yourself).
Many opportunities exist for research, especially since there is much left to be learned about the brain.
Multiple settings exist for work: outpatient, inpatient, ER psych, community mental health, academia, college/university/student health, Veterans Administration, residential treatment centers, subacute treatment centers, drug detox and rehabilitation centers, consultation, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) model, telepsychiatry, correctional system, etc.
If your goal is to have an extended career, most psychiatrists continue to work until late in life with only 18% retiring before age 65.
And residency training is only four years!

If you have any other questions or comments about the field, then feel free to post in the comment section below. I would love to hear from you especially since I remember what it was like to reach such a pivotal point in my education/career.

Photo by Marlon Santos

April 8, 2015 15 comments

Personal

Residency Memories

written by freudandfashion

{Voodoo Doughnut, Eugene, Oregon}

I enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane every once in awhile to reminisce about the past. While trying to find a photo for my next blog post, I came across pictures of fun times in Oregon during residency training. In effort not to embarrass my fellow colleagues (think trashy theme party, dancing to “Baby Got Back,” and movie nights with some of the most grotesque films ever made, to name a few examples), I limited the photos to the least embarrassing (not surprisingly, many photos were eliminated), pictures mostly of myself, or with the obtained consent from my residency friends (if identifiable in the photos). I may constantly mention the hardships of the journey through medical school and residency, but my three years spent in Oregon brought about many friendships, fun experiences, and memorable moments that I’ll treasure forever.

{Residency Retreat at Black Butte, Oregon}

{Wine Tasting in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon}

{My 1st time golfing}

{Good thing I didn’t get graded on my Pictionary skills because I clearly would’ve failed}

{Oregon Medical Association conference in Bend, Oregon}

{My 1st time snowshoeing, Bend, Oregon}

{My Princess-themed party that my awesome co-residents threw for me before graduation}

April 2, 2015 6 comments

Lifestyle Personal

Finding Balance

written by freudandfashion

{McDowell Sonoran Preserve, Scottsdale, AZ}

During my stay in Arizona, I was fortunate to reunite with friends from my residency training program and was especially excited to spend time with one of my closest friends from medical school. One of the subjects we talked about most was the struggle to obtain or achieve work/life balance. Balance and avoidance of burnout is essential for overall emotional and physical health. Burnout has been shown to be more prevalent in medical students, residents, and early career physicians compared to the general U.S. population.

My life is much more balanced than it has ever been, and I believe the biggest barrier towards accomplishing this in the past was the perceived lack of time as an undergrad, medical student, and psychiatry resident. I emphasize the word perceived because I truly believed that sacrificing my personal life for the sake of my future career was well worth the burnout. Well, by choosing to become a physician, yes, an immense degree of sacrifice is required. If I failed at any point in the process, would I have been upset? Hell yes! And I actually did almost fail because I put so much pressure on myself to do well that my anxiety sky-rocketed and impacted my test-taking abilities. Therefore, my scores were in no way reflective of the amount of time I spent studying, which really sucked (no need for a more formal term for my emotion; “sucked” pretty much sums it up). At that point, I broke down, cried, and told my parents that I wanted to quit medical school. And it wasn’t until then that I realized they didn’t care which profession I chose — they just wanted me to be happy. What a huge relief! All this time I thought I’d dishonor my traditional Asian family if I didn’t become a physician. Suddenly, at that moment, the weight and pressure to please my family lifted. I felt liberated. However, the remaining pressure I possessed was the pressure I placed on myself because I didn’t know of any other way to approach life while working towards my medical degree.

Looking back, if I had the opportunity to offer my past medical school self any advice, I’d tell her the following:

To sacrifice a few hours of studying a week in order to instead go out and do something enjoyable to enhance personal growth and interests.
To be less self-critical. Little does she know that she’ll be just fine if she doesn’t graduate from the most prestigious, academic medical school or get accepted into the most renowned residency program.
Just try your best and don’t beat yourself up in the process. After all, one of the top 5 things people regret most on their deathbed is “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.” I definitely know that I’d never say I regret not working or studying more. Simple activities, such as enjoying nature and going on hikes, are far more memorable in my mind compared to the insomnia I experienced trying to squeeze in last-minute studying for a histology exam.

March 17, 2015 7 comments

Personal

Pre-Med Flashbacks

written by freudandfashion

{Fairfield, CA}

I see numerous posted pictures on social media of college students studying late at night, cramming for tests, and getting frustrated with material. While viewing these images, I can’t help but get flashbacks of the times I was in the same position stressed and anxiety-ridden over upcoming exams. Over the course of my experience in blogging and social media, I have met numerous amazing people, which includes students, fashionistas, clinicians, other professionals, mental health advocates, and people coping with mental illnesses. I am always taken aback each time someone comments on my intelligence and fortitude because I never viewed myself as academically gifted nor standout in any way. I studied A LOT, attended office hours (even though I was too scared to ask any questions), diligently highlighted and took notes during and after class, drew study diagrams, attended practically EVERY class (I could never get myself to entrust in blackboard), participated in several organizations and held positions (even though I was often too nervous to voice my opinion), and volunteered at hospitals as often as I could. I knew my grades and MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores weren’t going to be enough to get accepted into medical school, so I filled my resume with numerous meaningful activities to prove I’d be a good candidate.

I guess the reason I’m writing this is because I’d hate to see anyone give up on their goals just because they’re not inherently the smartest, nor ranked at the top of their class, nor well-connected with professors and administration, or may be struggling with a difficult life event or an episode of mental illness. I often advocate for my college patients who struggle with mental illness to take time off from school to focus on self-care rather than crushing themselves to points beyond instability. If there’s anything that I have learned most from my mentors, my own experience, and also my patients’ experiences is that persistence and execution of your goals are key, and if it takes a bit longer to get there, then so be it. Persistence can mean anything from allowing yourself to regroup from illness, taking a break for experiential work to explore and solidify your goals, to putting yourself in roles that challenge you beyond your comfort zone.

So, while you anxiously await your exam scores, grad school acceptance letters, etc, I hope you entrust that the outcome (whether exciting or disappointing) will lead you a step in the right direction towards self-enhancement and achievement of your ultimate goal.

Photo by Marlon Santos

February 18, 2015 7 comments