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Hey there! I know you touched on this in your blog post, but I’m struggling deciding between EM and anesthesia. It’s not as cut and dry as people make it seem (both see plenty of patients, both are shift work, both can be exciting but have lots of repetition). I’m wondering what factors helped you and others choose. I don’t want to make a mistake at this stage as I’m applying for my job for the next 20 years! Thanks!
Great question, other than anesthesia ER was my second choice! You note many of the similarities both have:
Good lifestyle/hours/shift work setting.
Good to great pay (358k anesthesia ave vs 314k EM – Doximity 2017 income report)
Acute and Critical care Medicine with plenty of procedures.The big difference I felt was I found myself (even as a med-student) getting frustrated by the healthcare system of which EM is in. I loved when it was critical lifesaving care, but struggled to find enjoyment in the more “primary care” side of EM – which unfortunately seemed like entirely too much of my time. Non-emergencies, drug seekers, frequent flyers – all made the days often long. I also felt, for many of these reasons, the burn out rate for EM docs (seen vividly on twitter at times) was higher than most other specialties.
Meanwhile even “boring” days in anesthesia I was practicing airway management, real-time pharmacology and physiology, and procedural medicine. I loved it and never looked back. Now through residency, I feel more strongly than ever that I made the right choice FOR ME. I do, occasionally miss being a more complete, well rounded doctor that EM training provides… but I even more enjoy being very good at the skill set that comes with anesthesia training.
I found this post via a google search. I am a first year student with a background in EM and Critical Care nursing and know that I want to practice either 50/50 EM/CC or Anesth./CC. I often struggle getting advice or perspective from people because they seem to retreat into the “my specialty is the best” corner. I just wanted to say thank you for this balanced perspective and analysis!
Did anesthesiology equal to emergency medicine residency in term of acute and critical care casses??
