Navigating the labyrinth of medical specialties is no small feat for aspiring resident medical officers. With a multitude of pathways to consider, each requiring a unique set of skills and attributes, making an informed decision about your career is paramount. This article provides an overview of the major specialities.



During the course of foundation or pre-vocational training or internship, each resident medical officer must make an important and decisive choice concerning their future career. This is the postgraduate specialist field of training which will form the basis and direction of their medical career and determine their lifestyle and financial prospects.

This decision is not an easy one. An ever growing range of primary and secondary specialities (the latter often termed sub-specialities) with variable lengths and intensity of training commitment, work schedules and fluctuating career prospects, presents a complex scenario which is difficult for the resident medical officer with limited clinical experience to navigate. It is further complicated by the variation in specialities between different countries which poses a challenge for international medical graduates (IMGs) applying for residency training programs out with their country of qualification.

Before we delve into the intricacies of each specialty, let us ponder why understanding these areas is crucial. The cornerstone of an extraordinary medical career is the alignment of personal goals, interests and attributes with the demands of the speciality and the career opportunities it presents. The evaluation of one's own capabilities and goals requires some self assessment and is undoubtedly assisted by the advice and opinions of more senior physicians or mentors. The knowledge of the speciality and its prospects needs some direct experience and research.

Primary Care - General Practice (GP)

The cornerstone of many healthcare systems, including the NHS of the United Kingdom, general practice is the first point of patient contact. The general practitioner (GP) has the broadest general scope of medical practice of any doctor, providing care to patients of all ages in the community. The GP manages acute medical emergencies, paediatric and geriatric patients, chronic diseases, mental illnesses and all types of minor conditions referring to appropriate specialist care as required.

In some countries, GPs practice with an enhanced scope in designated fields, typically emergency medicine, anaesthesia and obstetrics and often work in hospitals where they may be the most senior physicians supported by resident medical officers. The work of the GP can be demanding with on call duties, house calls, extremely busy clinics and limited support. However part time options are often available for those who seek flexible work schedules. 

Postgraduate medical training in general practice is the shortest of all specialities, totaling 3 years in most countries from entry point to specialist accreditation.  It is also the most popular discipline selected by the majority of medical graduates, either as a first choice or second option after changing from other specialist programs. Worldwide, there is solid demand for GPs.

Emergency Medicine

Emergency medicine is for those who thrive under pressure, demand variety in their day to day tasks, and wish to be at the frontline of critical care. One of medicine's newest specialities, emergency medicine does not exist as a distinct speciality in most countries and RMOs seeking structured training and prestigious specialist qualifications may need to consider applying for jobs in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

General Medicine

The largest of the hospital specialities, general medicine and its extensive subspecialist fields, forms the backbone of secondary and tertiary hospital care. One of the most popular specialist fields for RMOs, it offers a plethora of career options from the general medicine physician (internist), hospitalist and nocturnist to the specialist in almost every organ of the body.

Subspecialities include cardiology, respiratory medicine, gastroenterology, hepatology, rheumatology, neurology, nephrology, dermatology, allergy and immunology, endocrinology, haematology, oncology and geriatrics.

Paediatrics

Paediatrics is a fulfilling specialty centred on the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. It requires a gentle, patient, and compassionate approach. Popular and competitive, training positions are often quite limited.

Psychiatry

Psychiatry stands out as the realm focused on mental health. It calls for analytic skills, empathy, excellent communication skills, and a profound understanding of the human psyche. One of the least popular and competitive of the medical specialities, resident medical officer training jobs are relatively easy to secure and career prospects offer rapid progress to consultant or specialist jobs and leadership roles with options to practise in many subspecialist fields.

Surgery

The surgical field is for detail-oriented individuals with steady hands and a penchant for problem-solving. Surgeons must be decisive and adept at working long hours in high-stakes environments. The speciality requires stamina, endurance and the willingness to forego time for hobbies and interests outside of medicine. Surgery is the most competitive medical speciality, training positions are highly oversubscribed and structured training long and intensive.

Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G)

This specialty is dedicated to women's reproductive health and childbirth, requiring a practitioner sensitive to the needs of female patients. Training positions are highly sought after and career prospects relatively promising with the fields of general obstetrics and gynaecology and subspecialities (gynaecological oncology, urogynaecology, fetal and  maternal medicine, infertility and IVF).

Anaesthetics

Anaesthetists have a vital role in the operating theatre providing regional and general anaesthesia for surgical procedures and interventional procedures performed in other fields. They are responsible for the management of patients in the pre- and post operative periods, provide pain relief in labour wards and clinics and often manage patients in intensive care units.

This specialty is undersubscribed in many countries creating a chronic shortage of qualified specialists in many healthcare organisations and a range of interesting career opportunities for IMGs.

Intensive Care Medicine

Long practised by general physicians and anaesthetists as a subspecialty, intensive care medicine is increasing recognised as an independent speciality with its own specialist accreditations and supervising colleges. It is a demanding speciality managing acutely ill patients and requires serious commitment.

Radiology

Radiology combines medical expertise with cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat conditions using imaging techniques. Like anaesthesia, this specialty is often distinguished by its shortage of specialists despite its exciting and innovative use of new technologies. It offers a variety of careers in subspecialist fields as well as diagnostic radiology.

Pathology

Laboratory medicine is the ideal career for doctors who dislike clinical medicine and enjoy the diagnostic challenges posed by deciphering the pathogenesis of disease in the laboratory. Relatively undersubscribed, the field provides attractive prospects for career progress. 

Each specialty brings its own rewards and challenges, and your choice must resonate with your career goals, lifestyle aspirations, and personal interests.

What Next in Your Medical Career?

As you contemplate your future in medicine, we encourage you to delve deeper into these specialties. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to reflect on your strengths and passions and how these align with each medical niche. Consider shadowing doctors in different fields, attending medical talks, and reaching out to your network for insights. Gather information that deepens your understanding of each speciality before making your ultimate decision on making one your career. 



Finding Your Path as a Resident Medical Officer

As you are embarking on the journey to find your niche in the medical world, Odyssey Recruitment provides useful resources to steer your career in the right direction. Begin the application process now, and then learn more about how we can help you.

• Medical Job Search Tips: Use the content here to learn everything you need to know about optimal searches for medical jobs in different geographical locations and the physician recruitment processes.
• Medical Jobs by Specialty: Explore medical jobs around the world and learn about the various options and remuneration packages
• Junior Doctor's Tool Kit: a resource for resident medical officers starting careers, training and looking for jobs
• A Beginner's Guide to Working as a Resident Medical Officer (RMO) 
• Building a Successful Medical Career Path: Key Considerations for RMOs 
• Managing Stress and Burnout: A Practical Guide for Resident Medical Officers (RMOs)
• The Value of Mentorship for RMOs: How to Find a Mentor and Why It Matters
• Understanding the Role of a Resident Medical Officer in Relief in New Zealand
• Tips for applying for RMO house officer and registrar jobs in New Zealand
• Understanding the role of the Relief Junior Doctor in New Zealand
• The 4 Stages of Medical Education in Australia and New Zealand