Really?

Here's an email correspondence between my academic adviser and myself. I've can't help but say that I'm a bit disappointed by his response.

Me:

Hi Dr. H.M.,

How is everything going? I really like both medicine and peds and would love to do both. It seems like a great way to have patient continuity from birth until death without all the surgical, psych and ob issues that FP docs have to worry about. I've been looking at the programs at USC, UCLA and UCSD and wouldn't mind putting in a little extra time to be double boarded. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I practice at Kaiser, I may not be able to practice that kind of medicine. I'm not much of a businessman and don't know how well I'd do in a small private practice. I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on this matter. As always, thank you very much for all of your help.

bender

Re:

Hi, nice to hear from you.

As for your question of feasibility of doing both med/ped, I would like to discourage you from doing that. It is challenging enough to keep current with one field and doing both will dilute your effort and expertise. You also have to realize that you will have keep recertifying. Even once every 10 year is very demanding just because of lack of time outside your work and family. Keep in mind that you will not be free and single forever. In 5-10 years, your life will be very different from the present time in terms of different kinds of challenges. Hopefully, by then, you will have married and have kids. That change alone will limit a lot of things.

When I was a medical student, I once thought of the same idea but I am glad that I did not follow that path.

Between choices between med and ped, I would recommend med because it will offer you more options down the road in terms of specialties.

I would recommend looking into outpatient oriented specialties like allergy, endocrine, rheum. I think you will be happier with your professional life.
Primary care is rewarding in its own way but you need to have a special mindset to enjoy it.

I am sorry that I could not meet you earlier as I planned. I was drowning with the work for a while.

If you would like to come and talk to me more, let me know when it's convenient for you.

I will see you then.

H.M.

-bender