Specialty Choices for Burned Out Medical Students
We’re increasingly hearing about physician burnout, with roughly 50% to 60% of doctors exhibiting signs ... Read more
Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH
Updated March 12, 2025 by Sylvie Stacy, MD, MPH
Choosing a Specialty
Choosing a specialty refers to selecting a clinical specialty or career focus during health professions training.
Topic Collection
Keep exploring Choosing a Specialty
Review this collection of 23 articles, then explore these SDN Review hubs to extend your knowledge:
What is a Physiatrist?
A physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, or PM&R, is called a physiatrist. ... Read more
Brittany Ferri
Updated April 17, 2020 by Brittany Ferri
Guide to SDN Resources
Updated October 21, 2021. When most people think of the Student Doctor Network, they think ... Read more
Student Doctor Network
Updated June 23, 2022 by Student Doctor Network
The Complete Guide to Choosing A Specialty
This article is going to be a conglomerate of other things I’ve written, which are ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 23, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
Why You Should Consider Family Medicine
One of the most exciting experiences during medical school is selecting the specialty in which ... Read more
Andrew Lee
Updated April 30, 2020 by Andrew Lee
Putting the Anxiety Cart Before the Horse
Anxiety about your competitive specialty ambitions in your first year isn’t worth it. Listener Luis wrote ... Read more
The Short Coat Podcast
Updated August 21, 2026 by The Short Coat Podcast
Changing Your Mind—And Your Specialty
I’ve written about choosing a medical specialty throughout the third and even fourth years of ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated August 23, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
Looking at Other Specialties
This column has been focused on providing clinical snapshots while exploring the factors that affect ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 26, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
Positive Thinking for the Year Ahead
Looking Back at 2017 As another new year rolls around, I try to take some ... Read more
Adelle
Updated June 26, 2022 by Adelle
5 Up-and-Coming Topics in Medicine That Students Should Know About
Breakthroughs in patient care are happening in leaps and bounds due to the convergence of ... Read more
Guideline Central
Updated June 26, 2022 by Guideline Central
Residency Interviews: Confirming Your Decision
Last month I wrote about the process of applying for residency, and noted how this ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 26, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
Q&A with Dr. Ali Wong, Plastic Surgery Resident and Creator of Sketchy Medicine
Dr. Ali Wong is a plastic surgery resident in Nova Scotia, Canada and creator of ... Read more
Gloria Onwuneme
Updated June 26, 2022 by Gloria Onwuneme
Getting What You Want: Considering Both Life and Career Goals When Choosing a Specialty
Under the glow of the OR lights, I could barely make out the pulsating artery ... Read more
Adelle
Updated June 26, 2022 by Adelle
Applying for Residency
Last month I wrote about the early part of 4th year as a kind of ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 26, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
3 Ways to Explore Medical Specialties
Medicine is a vast field comprised of specialties so different that it’s hard to believe ... Read more
Cassie Kosarek
Updated June 26, 2022 by Cassie Kosarek
Choosing a Specialty: Taking a Second Look
By Brent Schnipke As I have spoken with physicians, residents, and other medical students about ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 26, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
Switching Specialties: Why It’s Never Too Late to Try Something Different
“So if you don’t mind me asking, why did you make the switch?” I get ... Read more
Karen Tran-Harding
Updated August 23, 2022 by Karen Tran-Harding
Residency: The Interview and Selection Process
Residency applications! The light at the end of the tunnel, and the process that will ... Read more
Amy Rakowczyk
Updated June 26, 2022 by Amy Rakowczyk
The Year of Privilege, Part 2
In my last article, I wrote about my perspective on the third year of medical ... Read more
Brent Schnipke
Updated June 26, 2022 by Brent Schnipke
