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What made you choose the route of becoming a physician instead of pursuing any other medical career and when was your "Aha!" moment.?

I am an an 18 year old high school senior and I've wanted to be a physician/dermatologist since I was about 13. How open should I be to exploring other areas of medicine as I progress through my undergraduate major and then med school. #Spring25

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Keith’s Answer

Again, Dr. Cadra’s answer is very good.
Until you are exposed to other areas of medicine, it is very hard to know what will be your “wheelhouse.”
Take it one step at a time and enjoy the process of learning, and the direction you will want to take will become more certain.
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Albert’s Answer

I don't think I can add anything to Dr. Cadra's answer, it was very reality based. I will add that the gist of what he's saying is that experiences as we go through life will often cause us to change course. My advice is that you take one step at a time.
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Michael’s Answer

Illiana,

You should definitely keep an open mind regarding specialty areas. I attended a meeting for program directors and admissions officers last September. Data presented showed that over 80% of medical students changed their mind regarding specialty area between admission and applying for the Match. Some find other interest areas, some change because of their medical school performance, some because of time differences in post-doctoral training for each specialty.

Define for yourself what is motivating you toward dermatology. Even within dermatology there are subspecialties, pediatric dermatology, dermatopathology, Moh's surgery, surgical dermatology and cosmetic dermatology and more. Currently dermatology is one of the most competitive specialties, because it can offer stable hours, little after-hours call and adequate compensation. Not everyone who wants to specialize in dermatology makes it. You can google the Match results for this year and see which specialties had more applicants than there were training slots available. Unfortunately, some students must go through the Scramble, (secondary Match).

You will rotate through the required clinical rotations in Medicine, Surgery, Family Practice, Psychiatry, OB/GYN and others required by the individual school, then add in electives as you see fit. You may find other specialties that peak your interest.

Best of luck on your journey!
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