CHOOSING A MEDICAL SPECIALTY Starting a career in medicine can be very exciting, but it can also be overwhelming. This invaluable resource will guide you from medical school to life as a new physician. Preparing for your career while you are still in school is paramount for your success in your profession. Choosing a specialty is the first step. You must consider your history, your interests, your experience, the amount of training required, and the financial commitments involved. Students often change their minds several times before finding the right specialty for them.
WHY JOIN LSMS?
WHO WE ARE
JeffWilliams Executive Vice President & CEO jeff@lsms.org Lauren Bailey Vice President, Legal Affairs lbailey@lsms.org
The primary focus for all physicians is the ability to provide quality care to patients. Access to care, for both insured and uninsured patients, is an ongoing issue that presents itself in the legislature in a variety of ways. Healthcare policy issues are numerous, diverse, and shaped by all branches of government. The LSMS continually advocates on behalf of physicians on the following issues:
NARROW YOUR OPTIONS
• Preserving the integrity of the Practice of Medicine
An early decision when choosing a specialty is deciding between surgical and non- surgical specialties. This decision will narrow down your options quickly. Clinical rotations will provide you an opportunity to really see what life in a specialty would be like. Keeping an open mind during this process is important for reaching a final decision. Researching each specialty can also be helpful. Finding descriptions, talking to physicians in different specialties, and talking to other residents can help you reach your specialty match. The final decision must be yours! Once you have a specialty in mind, although it may change, you can start applying for residency. For a full listing of medical specialties, visit www.aamc.org. When choosing a residency, consideration of prospective fellowships after residency and the time it might take to complete those fellowships is also important. For example, most radiology subspecialties involve a one year fellowship after the completion of residency, while a cardiology or gastroenterology fellowship that follows a three year internal medicine residency will typically last three years. Therefore, all three of these example career paths would involve six years of post-graduate training between residency and fellowship. MEDICAL SPECIALTY REFERENCE GUIDE
Maria Bowen Vice President, Governmental Affairs mbowen@lsms.org Terri Watson Vice President, Administration & Member Services terri@lsms.org
• Protecting patient safety by ensuring the right professional is providing the right care permitted by his or her education, training, and skills
• Protecting the Cap - medical liability insurance
• Ensuring an adequate healthcare workforce
• Stabilizing Louisiana’s Medicaid Program by Engaging Providers
Jeremy Lapeyrouse Director, HealthSYNC jeremy@lsms.org
• Ensuring fair and transparent insurance markets for patients, employers, and physicians
Sarah Vidrine Manager, Operations & Special Projects svidrine@lsms.org Amy Tyrrell Manager, Membership & Marketing atyrrell@lsms.org
• Reducing red tape, regulations, and the hassle factor
• Making Medicaid Sustainable
BENEFITS Membership in The Louisiana State Medical Society allows physicians and physicians- in-training an opportunity to shape and impact their profession. LSMS members represent the entire state, all specialties, and diverse group of practice settings within the healthcare community. As a member of LSMS, we encourage your involvement to extend far beyond simply paying dues. Get the most out of your LSMS membership by taking advantage of many benefits, such as countless leadership opportunities, valuable resources, exclusive publications, and professional development tools.
Kathy Luttrell Coordinator, Accounting kathy@lsms.org
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