Choosing a Specialty

Physicians: Shape Your AI Future or Someone Else Will Dr Eric Topol discusses the present and future of AI in medicine with historian and futurist Dr Adam Rodman.
Medscape, October 02, 2023
Family Docs Provide Most Care for Several Chronic Diseases Family and primary care physicians are a major source of care for managing chronic diseases but are often left out of the creation of clinical guidelines.
Medscape Medical News, July 03, 2023
Pharmacokinetically Guided Dosing: The Way Forward? Professor David Kerr discusses findings from a recent paper investigating pharmacokinetic principles to improve the delivery of oral targeted drugs.
Medscape Oncology, December 15, 2022
Who Wants to Be an Infectious Disease Specialist? The specialty has long struggled to recruit residents, and experts cite comparatively lower pay as a major disincentive to entering the field.
Medscape Medical News, December 14, 2022
Cardiovascular Societies Less Apt to Recognize Women, Minorities A new study found a significant recognition gap in cardiovascular awards over the past two decades, despite efforts to improve gender and racial disparities in the field.
Medscape Medical News, November 23, 2022
Resiliency in Medicine A pediatrician reflects on resiliency in medicine: what it is, where it comes from, and why it is necessary for physicians.
Medscape Blogs, August 25, 2022
The Whitest Specialty: Bias More on orthopedics, which has been called The Whitest Specialty.
Medscape Orthopedics, May 26, 2022
Infographic: Physician Incomes Gain, Pay Gaps Remain The Medscape Physician Compensation Report 2022 infographic shows growth in physician income, specialties with biggest pay gains, and pay disparities between men and women and between ethnic groups.
Medscape, April 22, 2022
Battling Obesity by Breaking Down Barriers Two primary care physicians detail their experiences in treating those with obesity through a community-based dedicated weight clinic after receiving their obesity medicine certification.
Medscape Diabetes & Endocrinology, April 19, 2022
Neurology Has a Public Image Problem Practicing neurology in 2022 is less "diagnose and adios" and more "localize and optimize."
Medscape Blogs, March 02, 2022
Choosing a Specialty: The Biggest Decision in Medical School Initial career goals may change over the course of 4 years while training to become a doctor.
Medscape Blogs, March 02, 2022
Match Day 2021: Interest in Ob/Gyn Outpaced Growth In a record year for the Match, ob/gyn residencies filled 99.8% of their available positions in 2021.
Medscape Medical News, March 26, 2021
Bird Watching on the Asphalt What does bird watching have in common with neurology? In this essay, the author describes how bird watching and a love of natural history influenced his choice of medical specialty.
Brain, March 08, 2021
How Does the COVID-19 Stimulus Bill Affect Physician Payments? The bill to provide coronavirus relief has some plusses and minuses for physicians. How will it impact you?
Medscape Business of Medicine, January 12, 2021
More Women Specialists, but Gender Pay Gap Persists Several specialties have seen substantial increases in the percentage of female practitioners, but the gender pay gap has seen little to no change, a Medscape report found.
Medscape Medical News, September 18, 2020
Drug Treatment for COVID-19: A Quick Summary for PCPs Worldwide, scientists have launched over 1000 clinical trials of drugs for the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 since the start of January. Here's our very quick summary.
Medscape Family Medicine, July 15, 2020
After the Match: 5 Big Mistakes to Avoid What happens after Match Day can be just important as the events leading up to it. Here are five of the biggest mistakes to watch out for after you match and the steps you can take to avoid them
Medscape Med Students, March 03, 2020
Is Free Medical Tuition Actually Working? By offering full tuition, medical schools hope to relieve financial anxiety and reshape the physician workforce. Although it's early, some impacts of this change are already being seen.
Medscape Med Students, September 16, 2019
10 Reasons Why Some Doctors Earn More (Even in the Same Specialty) There are many reasons for discrepancies among physician salaries. Here are 10 of the most common.
Medscape Business of Medicine, August 12, 2019
Racism in Med School May Keep Doctors From Areas of Need Factors such as students having a perception that their school was committed to diversity may encourage more to practice in high-need areas, a study finds.
Medscape Medical News, August 07, 2019
AMA 2019 Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from AMA 2019
Medscape Business of Medicine, June 10, 2019
APA 2019 6-Hour Intervention Steers More Med Students to Psychiatry A brief intervention aimed at medical students reduces stigma and improves attitudes toward mental illness, and prompts more to consider psychiatry as a career.
Medscape Medical News, May 21, 2019
Aspiring Doctors Seek Advanced Training in Addiction Medicine A number of healthcare institutions are offering fellowships to physicians who want postgraduate training in treating substance use disorders with the same precision as other diseases.
KFF Health News, April 04, 2019
What Advice Would You Give to Young Physicians? Physicians consider what to tell young doctors about choosing a speciality.
Medscape Reader Polls, February 20, 2019
FP Workforce: Progress in Racial and Ethnic Diversity This brief highlights continuing disparities in demographic composition of the FP workforce in the US, suggesting that efforts to increase diversity have been effective for some groups, but not all.
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, December 06, 2018
Away Rotations: Quick Tips Here are a few quick tips for how to succeed during audition rotations.
Medscape Med Students, September 18, 2018
Choosing a Specialty in the Age of Artificial Intelligence Experts in artificial intelligence (AI) say big changes are coming. Should medical students worry that machines may soon replace some specialists?
Medscape Med Students, September 13, 2018
Considering a Cardiometabolic Subspecialty Robert H. Eckel discusses the potential advantages and challenges in creating a designated cardiometabolic subspecialty. See why he thinks it is a vital idea, despite the obstacles.
Medscape Med Students, July 31, 2018
IM Trainees, Especially Women, Put Off by Cardiology A first-ever survey of IM trainees' perceptions underlines long-standing concerns about the culture in cardiology, while commentaries take a hard look at harassment and lower income faced by women.
Medscape Medical News, June 08, 2018
AMA 2018 Read clinically focused news coverage of key developments from AMA 2018.
Medscape Business of Medicine, June 01, 2018
What Factors Influence Surgery Residents to Drop Out? Dr Lowenfels comments on a study examining the factors leading to high attrition rates among general surgeons.
Medscape General Surgery, April 06, 2018
High-Tech and High-Touch: Consider a Career in Family Medicine Why should students consider family medicine? Maureen Murphy, MD, explains how those with wide-ranging interests may particularly enjoy the never-ending diversity of this specialty.
American Academy of Family Physicians, March 15, 2018
How I Finally Decided on the Right Specialty for Me For a medical student, no decision looms larger than which specialty to pursue. One student reveals which field she chose and why, in the hopes of helping those still undecided.
Medscape Med Students, March 08, 2018
Should Hospitalists Pursue the Focused Practice Option? Will the Focused Practice in Hospital Medicine pathway solve the hospitalist branding problem and define the specialty? Are there any downsides to consider?
Medscape Family Medicine, February 07, 2018
Women Face Unique Obstacles When Pursuing Surgery as a Specialty Medscape speaks with the researchers behind a recent gender-focused survey about the factors that may increase the ranks of women in surgery.
Medscape General Surgery, January 31, 2018
Autoimmune Neurology: A New, Rapidly Evolving Subspecialty With four dedicated US fellowships and continuous discovery of new antibodies and treatment approaches, 'autoimmune neurology is one of the most rapidly evolving fields in neurology,' say experts.
Medscape Medical News, December 18, 2017
Specialists, Not Just PCPs, Are in Short Supply: Report Merritt Hawkins Associates white paper indicates the reasons for specialist shortages, including aging of the population and of physicians.
Medscape Medical News, December 14, 2017
Identifying Surgical Residents at Risk for Attrition A new predictive model may help identify which surgical residents are most at risk for not completing training.
Annals of Surgery, October 24, 2017
Why Geriatric Medicine? A Survey of UK Specialist Trainees Will there be enough geriatricians to support our aging population? This study examined reasons for choosing a career in geriatric medicine in the UK, and whether they have changed over time.
Age and Ageing, October 09, 2017
The Changing Face of Surgery Today An editorial reflects on the current workforce issues that affect both men and women in the field of surgery.
Annals of Surgery, September 08, 2017
Why I Became a Nephrologist Dr Desai reflects on what led him to choose nephrology as his specialty.
Medscape Nephrology, August 03, 2017
Choose Something You'll Love Doing at 3 in the Morning Dr Nassir Ghaemi's advice to a medical student drew many opinions from Medscape readers. Here he follows up with some additional thoughts.
Medscape Psychiatry, July 26, 2017
Transgender Health in Endocrinology Are endocrinologists adequately prepared to provide appropriate transgender health care?
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, June 13, 2017
Why I Became an Anesthesiologist Dr Macario shares his personal experiences on why he chose anesthesiology as his profession.
Medscape Anesthesiology, June 08, 2017
Changing the Face of Cardiovascular Medicine Dr Harrington leads a roundtable discussion on how to attract women and minorities to the practice of cardiology so the physician makeup can better reflect the patient makeup.
theheart.org on Medscape, May 25, 2017
Critical Care Nephrology in the ICU: A New Specialization? Dr Desai reviews the expanding role of nephrologists in hospital medicine and the intensive care unit.
Medscape Nephrology, May 03, 2017
Doctors' Incomes Are on the Rise -- Is Yours? For many physicians, earnings are looking better and they're more satisfied with their practice, according to Medscape's Physician Compensation Report 2017.
Medscape Business of Medicine, April 04, 2017
Choosing a Medical Specialty: Location, Compensation, Talent, and Temperament You've followed your destiny. Now comes the hard part. Dr Andrew Wilner offers his advice on choosing from among the various specialties.
Medscape Neurology, March 29, 2017
Why I Became a Surgeon Dr Lowenfels shares his personal experiences on what led him to choose general surgery as a profession.
Medscape General Surgery, March 24, 2017
Drawn to Innovation? Then Set Your Sights on Ophthalmology Dr Charles Wykoff, a retina clinician-scientist, explains how recent breakthroughs have added to the joys that come with choosing ophthalmology as a specialty.
Medscape Med Students, March 06, 2017
Increasing Family Medicine Faculty Diversity Is medical school faculty diversity keeping up with the diversity of medical school students or of the rest of society?
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, March 03, 2017
On Being (an Endocrinologist) Dr Ann Danoff explains how and why she became an endocrinologist, and how she feels about it today.
Endocrine Society, February 28, 2017
Why Should I Choose Your Specialty? Numerous factors weigh in on a medical student's decision to practice a specific specialty. Here are some of the questions to ask of any specialist making a case for their profession.
Medscape Med Students, February 28, 2017
Public Perception of Cosmetic Surgeons vs Plastic Surgeons What common misperceptions exist regarding patients' understanding of cosmetic surgeons vs plastic surgeons?
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, February 24, 2017
Unmatched After Match Day -- What's Next? Although most medical students find a residency match on Match Day, some do not. What comes next?
Medscape Med Students, February 10, 2017
AAN Survey Shows 60% of US Neurologists Report Burnout Significant contributors to burnout included long hours and large amount of clerical work; a lower burnout risk was associated with job autonomy and, surprisingly, a subspecialty in epilepsy.
Medscape Medical News, February 07, 2017
'Why I Went Into Rheumatology' The practice of rheumatology demands extraordinary clinical and investigative skills, but if you are up to this challenge, you will never regret it, says Dr Stephen Paget.
Hospital for Special Surgery, February 07, 2017
Cardiovascular Medicine and Society: The Pregnant Cardiologist This report explores the unique challenges faced by female cardiologists including family planning, maternity leave, radiation exposure during pregnancy, and breastfeeding accommodation.
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, February 03, 2017
To Be or Not to Be a Cardiologist Follow your passion and be honest about your strengths and weaknesses is among the sage advice that Dr Walton-Shirley offers to anyone considering a career in cardiology (or medicine).
theheart.org on Medscape, January 25, 2017
Choosing a Specialty: A Letter to a Medical Student In response to a curious med student, Dr Nassir Ghaemi recounts his own experiences in the field of psychiatry.
Medscape Med Students, January 04, 2017
Report: Demand for Hospitalists Continues to Outpace Supply The 'State of Hospital Medicine' report from the Society Hospital Medicine notes a 9% increase in compensation since 2014.
Medscape Internal Medicine, December 29, 2016
Why Do You Practice Medicine? Share your reasons why you are proud to be a physician.
Medscape, December 22, 2016
Improving Family Medicine: Expanding Nurses' Role Dr Kenny Lin highlights the unique value registered nurses can provide in primary care, at a time of physician shortage.
Georgetown University Family Medicine, December 19, 2016
Are Internists the Biggest Target for Lawsuits? Do these primary care physicians have a bull's-eye on their backs? Why did this malpractice fund get so large? Sides clash over November ballot measure.
Medscape Business of Medicine, October 18, 2016
Compensation in Cardiology: A 'Sobering' Issue for Women Drs Harrington and Douglas discuss pay disparities for women in cardiology and the importance of leveling the playing field.
theheart.org on Medscape, September 21, 2016
Drowning in Specialists Patients benefit from the expertise of specialists, but are they getting lost in a maze of disjointed medical care?
Medscape Nephrology, August 19, 2016
Mainstream or Extinction: Saving Geriatrics Is there a future for geriatrics? This commentary examines what's wrong with current strategies and suggests changes to increase the survival of geriatrics as a specialty.
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, August 12, 2016
The Genesis, Maturation, Future of Critical Care Cardiology Learn more about the evolution of critical care cardiology. What does the future hold for this rapidly evolving field?
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, August 02, 2016
Report Shows Mounting Frustration Among Gastroenterologists It's evident that gastroenterologists love their work. But ever-increasing impediments to doing it effectively are also clearly taking a toll.
Medscape Gastroenterology, July 06, 2016
Disclosure of Specialty Bias May Backfire Disclosures of specialty bias are meant to help patients weigh their options, but one study found they often increase the odds a patient will select treatment in line with the physicians' specialty.
Medscape Medical News, July 01, 2016
The Impact of Debt on Young Family Physicians How will high financial debt--often upwards of $250,000--affect this generation of family physicians?
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, April 07, 2016
Survival Kit for Young Oncologists Young oncologists share practical advice on steps for landing that first position, when to say no, and how to calibrate the work-life balance to prevent burnout.
Medscape Oncology, July 27, 2015
Nephrology Report Signals Trouble for Specialty Dr Jeffrey Berns comments on the nephrology fellowship survey, which confirms declining interest in the specialty and trouble finding jobs for new nephrologists.
Medscape Nephrology, January 28, 2015
Women Underrepresented in Obstetrics, Gynecology Leadership Only 20% of female obstetricians and gynecologists are department chairs; the numbers are low even in midlevel leadership roles.
Medscape Medical News, January 13, 2015
Palliative Care: Incredibly Intense, Richly Rewarding Have you considered branching into palliative care? Learn about the challenges, rewards and contributions of palliative care medicine in this overview.
The Hospitalist, January 06, 2014
Are Oncologists Different From Other Doctors? Cancer specialists discuss the unique appeal of studying and treating 'the defining plague of our generation.'
Medscape Business of Medicine, October 10, 2013
Education and Confidence of Graduating Anesthesia Residents How comfortable are anesthesia residents in performing a full range of blocks upon graduation?
BMC Anesthesiology, October 04, 2013
Why I Left Family Medicine and Became a Primary Care Doctor Paul Fischer, once a family physician, changed his specialty to primary care doctor. He tells you why.
Medscape Family Medicine, September 26, 2013
The Impending PCP Shortage: How Bad Is It? Medscape talked to Perry A. Pugno, MD, Vice President for Education, AAFP, about how real is the impending shortage of primary care physicians following reform.
Medscape Family Medicine, September 17, 2013
General Surgery Residency Inadequately Prepares Trainees Are general surgery residents well prepared for fellowship after residency training?
Annals of Surgery, September 11, 2013
If You Like Science and a Challenge, Consider Oncology An oncologist dispels myths about the specialty of medical oncology.
Medscape Med Students, July 02, 2013
Making the Most of the Third Year Aside from intern year, the third year of medical school is traditionally considered one of the most formative experiences in a physician's life.
American Academy of Emergency Medicine, January 01, 2013
Projecting Surgeon Supply Using a Dynamic Model Will there be a sufficient surgeon workforce to meet the population needs in the near future? This study forecasts the imminent nature of reductions in surgical workforce supply.
Annals of Surgery, June 06, 2013
ID Specialists: Solving Mysteries, Tackling New Challenges The challenges are many for ID specialists, who are found at the bedside, in the laboratory, spearheading outbreak investigations, and working in hospitals and clinics worldwide.
Medscape Infectious Diseases, May 23, 2013
Endocrinology in Crisis? With obesity and diabetes reaching epidemic proportions, waiting lists to see an endocrinologist have become longer, and in some areas have reached crisis proportions. What's the solution?
Southern Medical Journal, April 25, 2013
Future of the Interventional Cardiology Workforce Why enter a field where you will undoubtedly feel persecuted and where the salary is decreasing?
The Journal of Invasive Cardiology, April 08, 2013
Educating Physicians About Genomics: Are We Doing Enough? Genetics and genomics are playing an increasingly large role in the practice of medicine. Are current and future physicians prepared?
Medscape Genomic Medicine, March 25, 2013
Does Debt Determine Career Choice for Pediatric Residents? As educational debt for residents rises, it is important to understand how these burdens influence chosen career paths.
Medscape Pediatrics, February 07, 2013
Obesity Medicine: New Specialty or a Focus in Endocrinology? Who should treat obesity? Internists, endocrinologists, or 'physician nutrition specialists'?
Endocrine Practice, January 30, 2013
Pediatric Residents Pushed to Primary Care Because of Debt Educational debt is high and increasing among pediatric residents, which may lead them toward a primary care or hospitalist career rather than to fellowship training and a subspecialist career.
Medscape Medical News, January 07, 2013
How Stressful Is a Surgeon's Job? Follow this advice for assessing stress levels in surgery and other specialties.
Medscape Med Students, November 28, 2012
Medical Students Opting Out of Primary Care for Specialty Swayed by debt load and aspirations for higher incomes, medical students are switching to specialties, rather than primary care.
Medscape Medical News, September 24, 2012
Child Psychiatry Is Amazing As a specialty choice, child psychiatry is medical school's best-kept secret. Here's why you should consider it.
Medscape Med Students, September 12, 2012
The Path to Pathology One of the most scholastic specialties, pathology marries basic science with the clinical disciplines.
Medscape Med Students, September 05, 2012
Plastic Surgeons: The Rock Stars of Medicine? A field vast in scope, plastic surgery allows you the privilege of changing your patients' lives for the better, says Dr. Anthony Youn.
Medscape Med Students, August 29, 2012
Electing Endocrinology The endocrinologist may be a patient's last hope in fitting together seemingly unrelated symptoms and arriving at a solution, says Dr. Donald Bergman.
Medscape Med Students, June 21, 2012
AACE Will Healthcare Reform Help Medical Specialists? 'Compared with the alternative, there's a potential for a bright future' for specialists, says Cecil Wilson, MD, immediate past-president of the American Medical Association.
Medscape Medical News, June 01, 2012
Tired of the Medical Hierarchy? Pick Your Battles As a trainee, you might often feel that you're getting hazed, but keep in mind that everything is temporary.
Medscape Med Students, May 30, 2012
Tracking Family Medicine Graduates. Where Do They Go? The number of physicians practicing family medicine continues to decline. This Canadian study follows recent graduates to determine the characteristics of their practices, productivity, and workload.
BMC Family Practice, May 28, 2012
Shutting Out the Kids: Is Generalism Dead? This review discusses a study reporting on the decline in treating children in family practice and what this means for primary care in general.
Medscape Family Medicine, May 23, 2012

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