Path vs. psych-prestige (or the lack) issues

[kchan99]

I'm just wondering...who (pathologists or psychiatrists) have the better reputation, or is it too close to call? I mean, I know neither is a high prestige specialty.

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[Goober]

I'm just wondering...who (pathologists or psychiatrists) have the better reputation, or is it too close to call? I mean, I know neither is a high prestige specialty.

If you are deciding between path and psych based on prestige you have got some serious issues.

 

[doctorsbookmark]

Personally, I think both are very prestigeous. I appreciate the level of pathology and depth of knowledge required to practice in these two specialties.

 

[dbiddy808]

Strange question. I'd generally say that most people would think of Pathologists as being brighter in general. Often these are strange people though.

 

[Winged Scapula]

My experience would be that Pathologists are generally held in higher esteem by the medical profession than Psychiatrists. As for them being a little strange, well...yes, I have met some odd ones (but then again, I have in EVERY field). In the general population, I don't think there is a significant difference in prestige between these two fields.

 

[PublicHealth]

Psychiatry has been the red-headed bastard stepchild of medicine for years. Only recently, with the field's increased focus on psychopharmacology, has it become likened to the rest of medicine.

 

[Gut Shot]

If you want to see what a bunch of freaks the aspiring pathologists are, you should just head over to their forum. Absolute mutants, every last one of them.

 

[E Z Daring]

who's evaluating the prestige? politicians, teachers, hairdresser in Beverly Hills? why does it matter to you?

 

[kchan99]

dbiddy808 & Havarti666, Do you think pathologists were a little peculiar before they started residency?

I posted the question because I was curious.

 

[BigBopper]

Neurologists know everything and do nothing. Neurosurgeons know nothing and do everything. Psychiatrists know nothing and do nothing.

Just for the record I did not make that up myself (although I wish I did )

Don't worry about that because that saying has been around for at least 30-40 years. One my older attendings said it as "you know how the old saying goes"

As far as prestige between psych and path- give me a break! Neither are "prestige" specialties either among the general public or among physicians. Path is probably more respected among physicians but nobody chooses either specialty becaus of prestige.

 

[hanksquirrel]

Path is the bomb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't be jealous!!!!!!!
Why y'all jealous?!?!?!
Yeah for path!!!

 

[kchan99]

I guess I wanted some opinions on who is "weirder" between the two.

 

[yaah]

If you want to see what a bunch of freaks the aspiring pathologists are, you should just head over to their forum. Absolute mutants, every last one of them.

Havarti by association you have impuned yourself.

***begin mechanical robot voice***
I AM ROBOT PATHOLOGIST. DO NOT LIKE PEOPLE. WHAT ARE THESE "SOCIAL SKILLS" YOU SPEAK OF. HOW CAN I ACQUIRE THESE THROUGH PROGRAMMING. HUMANS ARE INFERIOR. ONLY SEE AND THINK IN THREE DIMENSIONS. WHAT ARE THESE "FEELINGS" AND "EMOTIONS." END COMMUNICATION.
***end voice***

To the OP - prestige is not gained by choosing a specialty. There are people in every specialty who are well respected and admired, and people in every specialty who are not respected for being poor clinicians, being lazy, whatever. There are also plenty of biases out there. Certain people dislike all members of certain fields (like some people dislike all ER physicians) just because of past experiences or prejudices. You gain respect and prestige by being the best physician you can be and holding yourself to strong principles of education, scholarliness (probably made that word up) and dedication to your craft. No one should ever choose a profession based on rumors and innuendo.

Of course some pathologists are peculiar. Some are straightlaced unfunny automatons. Some are loopy, tie-dye wearing Grateful Dead freaks. This is true of every field. Some psychiatrists are like this, surgeons, radiologists, whatever. What I like about pathology is that the field provides you an opportunity to be an individual. There are no hard and fast stereotypes that apply to any profession, except maybe accountants.

Whatever field you go into, you have to love it. There really aren't any shortcuts to success in medicine - it's a great equalizer. It isn't good enough to be "just" smart. It isn't good enough to be "just" a good communicator. Pick the field where the subject matter or patients inspires you, and go for it. It takes a lot of searching and discovering new things about yourself sometimes to ignore societal pressures and prejudices and find the field where you will be most appropriate.

 

[stormjen]

I started med school intending to go into Psychiatry. I am preparing to apply to Pathology programs next month.

For the record, I am peculiar. Neurotic, eccentric, however you'd like to call it. Weird people rule.

 

[kchan99]

Stormjen, That's interesting. My bf was thinking about switching to psychiatry during the 2nd or 3rd year of his pathology residency. He said that he wanted to help people deal with their "lifestyle" issues. He didn't make the switch because he was already so far into his residency and he didn't want to do an internship in internal medicine. Now he's a fellow in hempath.

 

[raptor5]

Neurologists know everything and do nothing. Neurosurgeons know nothing and do everything. Psychiatrists know nothing and do nothing.

And Pathologists are there too late to do anything.

 

[yaah]

And Pathologists are there too late to do anything.

Dude/Lady, I can't TELL you how wrong this is!!!!

Pathologists interpret every biopsy and are responsible for every lab test and blood transfusion in the hospital. The autopsy is like 10% of the residency.

That's a good one though - it's a pathology joke I don't think I've heard...have to add it to the collection. I like it much better than, "I wouldn't want to be your patient."

 

[Leukocyte]

I think the answer to the OP's question is obvious, but no one wants wants to spit it out. Instead, they go "bashing" pathologists and comparing them to mutants, while TRYING to avoid even mentioning psychiatry........Is this a self defence mechanism, or what?

 

[kchan99]

I'm the person who originated this thread. I was hoping that there would be a better balance in the comments about the specialties.

Now I'm thinking about moving this thread to another forum, out of General Residency Issues.

 

[VentdependenT]

That won't help. These two fields couldn't be more seperate on more levels and to compare them based on someones' ambiguous interpretation of "prestige" (which I believe is a ludicrious criteria but I live a bit more "free" than most) is totally useless.

What do you want out of your career? If you wan't people to be obsequeous, servile, or downright avoidant then become a insturment throwing academic surgeon. That is definitely a way to feed your ego...if thats what you are looking for.

On the other hand maybe you can cure depression, free people from the vise of schizophrenia, or develop a string of genetic markers for early detection of cancer. Wow, I guess its all up to the individual. Imagine that? What do you want?

 

[Leukocyte]

If you wan't people to be obsequeous, servile, or downright avoidant then become a insturment throwing academic surgeon. That is definitely a way to feed your ego...if thats what you are looking for.

Today's patient's are not like they used to be in the past. Today, they are more educated, more selective, and no longer intimidated by the "MD" title. If you are rude to them, they will be rude to you. Today's patients will not take crap from no one. One of my surgery attendings learnt it the "hard way". To the patient, the "MD" is not more than a paid servant, who is supposed to give the patient what they paid him/her for.

 

[VentdependenT]

I was referring to the residents and medical staff.