With the new year fast approaching, I felt that the weekly “New Horizon” photo challenge was apropos. Internal Medicine residency is a perpetual cerebral challenge, involving new and interesting medical cases and an abundance of clinical situations where knowledge is not only pushed to the limit, but expanded. I love what I do, and the opportunity to train with many amazing physicians, as well as learn from helpful registered nurses.
Looking at the remaining fifteen days in the year 2016, I am reminded of the career decisions that await me. Physicians in internal medicine residency training programs, like me, either graduate and work in primary care or as a hospitalist, or sub-specialize.
On December 31, 2016, I have set a firm deadline to decide whether or not I will pursue fellowship training. A commitment is relevant now because my actions during the second-half of my PGY-2 (second year) will affect the next step in my professional maturation. Will I go immediately from internal medicine residency to a fellowship training program? Will I be able to find sufficient research opportunities early 2017? There are many uncertainties that I must begin to answer in the next month or two in order to gain clearer insight into my chances of obtaining fellowship training.