Chief Complaint

I’ve decided I don’t want to spend my life inside an OR, so all the surgical subspecialties are out. Goodbye, Gyne and Ophtha - you were the only ones that really made it to my list.

I’m also leaning away from Radio. The only real draw really were the money and the non-duty duties. It’s still on the list, but it’s way down.

So now, it’s basically Internal Medicine vs Pediatrics.

But there’s no chance in hell I’ll be accepted in PGH for Internal Medicine, and I don’t think I’m cut out for the very high bar that PGH sets for its residents, so if ever I decide to go down that road, I’ll probably try my chances in Makati Med, Manila Doctors’, Veterans’ or St. Luke’s. Or maybe Cebu?

As for Pediatrics, since there are more slots for residency, I think I have some sort of shot in PGH. Plus, the pay’s relatively high and I think I can fit in pretty well, given the department’s culture. But then again, there’s everything I hate about PGH. So it’s still up in the air.

I can’t decide if I prefer looking after kids or adults. I like babies and toddlers, and I realize I’m much more comfortable with them than adults (must be because of the similar maturity levels?), but the adults are definitely much easier to look after. My experience shows me that kids are much more unpredictable and there’s a higher level of vigilance needed. But you also tend to get more attached to kids than adults, so bad outcomes usually leave you much more devastated (of course, if you’re a robot, then that’s another story.)

So there. Tough decision.

Of course, I don’t have to make that decision until after I take my 1-2 year break, get my personal life in order and gain some much needed maturity.

And after I pass those frickin’ boards.