Choosing a Specialty

Journal of the American Medical Association

When it comes to assessing howthey want to practice, US medical studentsare shying away from internalmedicine. In a study reported in the,medical students viewedinternal medicine as an "uncontrollable"lifestyle, compared with specialtieslike radiology, dermatology, andemergency medicine. These specialtiesare attracting more students, whileinterest in internal medicine stagnates.Among the factors that may be puttingstudents off is the rise of chronic diseaseamong Americans. Some observers saythat students see caring for chronicallyill patients in a negative light, comparedwith the rewards they perceive to beconnected to acute care. Poor incomeadvances might also pay a part. Inrecent years, according the AmericanMedical Group Association, internistsfaced annual salary increases that failedto top inflation.