Questions to ask yourself before choosing a physician specialty

When it comes to choosing a physician specialty, the decision can feel as complex as the human body itself. With over 120 specialties and subspecialties to consider, medical students can feel overwhelmed by the options—and the stakes. But what if there were just one question that could help bring clarity to that choice?

As part of the AMA “Shadow Me” Specialty Series, which offers advice directly from physicians about life in their specialties, doctors from many specialties—surgeons, pediatricians, psychiatrists and more—shared the one question they believe all medical students should ask themselves before choosing their specialty. Their answers are as varied as their fields, but each offers a valuable lens into what really matters when charting your path in medicine.

Each doctor featured here is from an organization that is a member of the AMA Health System Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.

How do I handle uncertainty? 

Rachel Clement, MD, an anesthesiologist at Confluence Health, suggests physicians in training ask this question because “if you can handle the unexpected well, whether that is a surgical hemorrhage or emergent cases at 2 a.m. or your daily schedule being unpredictable, then that flexibility will make the job exciting and something you can do forever.” 

“If you need more control, then you may find the surprises that you encounter as an anesthesiologist are exhausting and unsustainable,” said Dr. Clement.

What am I hoping to accomplish as a physician?

Beyond this initial question about what physicians in training want to accomplish with a career in medicine, Vlad (Val) Simianu, MD, MPH, of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, also poses the question, “can I do that as a colorectal surgeon?”

Can I cope with the limited patient contact inherent in this specialty?

“As a diagnostic radiologist,” said Olaseni Arogundade, MD, of Confluence Health, “the majority of your time is spent analyzing medical images rather than interacting directly with patients. While this can be intellectually stimulating and rewarding, it also means that you may have limited face-to-face interaction with patients compared with other medical specialties. 

“Therefore, it's essential to consider whether you are comfortable with this aspect of the profession and whether you possess the interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate with referring physicians and other members of the health care team,” Dr. Arogundale said. “By reflecting on this question, aspiring physicians can gain insight into whether the specialty aligns with their professional interests, communication preferences and overall career goals.”

Why do I want to have a career in this specialty? 

This is just one of many questions Sam Mossallam, MD, an emergency physician from Henry Ford Health, thinks physicians in training should ask themselves. 

Another question is “What is it about this specialty that might make it difficult for me to have an extensive career in it?” Dr. Mossallam said. Then, also ask: “What is the ideal practice environment for me and why?”

Does poop gross you out? 

“Seriously. Most patients have good bowel preps, but some don’t. It’s not always a glamorous job. I always found sputum more gross than stool,” said Jennifer Jorgensen, MD, a gastroenterologist at Confluence Health.

Are there any other fields I’m interested in?

“While this may sound somewhat negative, I believe every trainee should ask themselves” this question, said Philip Gachassin, MD, a general surgeon at Ochsner Health. “This is important because general surgery is a challenging lifestyle that demands a lot of time and commitment. 

“Unless you're fully committed, I wouldn't suggest general surgery,” Dr. Gachassin added. 

Can I deal with losing a large proportion of my patients?

As a follow-up question, L. Wesley Aldred, MD, a pulmonary and critical care physician at Hattiesburg Clinic, also suggests physicians in training ask, “do I have a support system outside of work to help me through it?”

What is my intention? 

“Intentions are the starting point of any action. So, to achieve your goals, you must first set an intention that aligns with your values and beliefs,” said Farrah Hafeez, DO, an obesity medicine physician at Henry Ford Health. “If your goal is to make a difference in one life, you will stay motivated and focus on that goal. A sincere intention is a powerful tool that can help you achieve your desired outcomes.”

How important is sleep? 

“I had been an eight-hour-a-night person for most of my life, but this specialty doesn’t often allow that,” said Kimberly D. Warner, MD, an ob-gyn at Colorado Permanente Medical Group. 

Are these my people? 

Heather Kowalski, MD, of University of Iowa Health Care, recommends physicians in training ask themselves this when they “are in a room full of other orthopaedic surgeons,” along with “Could I see myself working with people like these on a regular basis for my entire career?”

“We work very closely with other orthopaedic surgeons, and it is important to be able to see oneself happily interacting with those who have chosen the specialty before,” Dr. Kowalski said. “They don’t need to look like you or have come from your same background—I had zero female mentors before I chose to pursue orthopaedic surgery, but I had amazing mentors who I knew I would love to learn from and grow with by joining their amazing specialty.”

Am I comfortable not knowing what a patient has?

“Rheumatologists and their patients often spend considerable time, spanning many months to years, diagnosing and determining the optimal treatment for patients. No two patients with rheumatoid arthritis will respond in the same way to the same medication. A good rheumatologist is comfortable embracing ambiguity and guiding patients through sometimes very arduous processes,” said Amish J. Dave, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health.

“Rheumatology requires a customized approach for each patient,” Dr. Dave added. “That means working together with the patient to understand their experience and symptoms, identifying supportive treatments and solutions—often beyond the formulary—and sharing insights on the outcomes of each case to increase shared knowledge.”

Do I enjoy lifelong relationships with patients?

This is an important question to ask because “a vascular patient is always a vascular patient,” said Ayman Ahmed, MD, a vascular surgeon at Marshfield Clinic Health System. 

Similarly, Ashley Erwin, MD, a family physician at Henry Ford Health, asks, “Do you value long-term relationships with patients and continuity of care?”

The AMA Specialty Guide simplifies medical students’ specialty selection process, highlights major specialties, details training information, and provides access to related association information. It is produced by FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database^®.