Why choose obstetrics and gynecology

These nurses and doctors deal with patients with premature births, a history of miscarriages, or preexisting conditions that could complicate childbirth. Not only is the obstetrics field one of the most fulfilling positions in healthcare, it is also one of the highest paying. For instance, many graduates decide to go into academics after their studies, which offers more flexibility.

Others have decided to open their own clinics with other moms and make it part of their branding. For example, through this college in San Diego CA , you can study for a medical speciality in as little as 20 months. You can find online courses for most medical specialities throughout the United States. I think taking care of women was definitely my calling in life.

Other specialties had more chronic illness. With women and dealing with them, I felt much more of a connection to them—emotional, mental, spiritual health and wellness. My approach became very holistic. I also enjoy being a sounding board for women and it became one of the most attractive aspects of my job—the conversations and I felt that I could be really helpful. Through that I enjoyed taking care of them, and of course I could deliver babies. The greatest miracle of all is bringing life into the world and it never gets old.

I still tear up with deliveries, being a part of that journey. I feel very lucky to do what I do. My mother would whisper in my ear as a child "plastic surgery, plastic surgery," in the hopes of one day having a plastic surgeon in the family. When I went to medical school, I purposely [tried] ob-gyn last [in my rotations] so as not to be tempted. But first I had general surgery and I fell in love—I loved operating and seeing the instantaneous results. Once my father realized my desire to be in a surgical field, he finally encouraged me to explore ob-gyn since it has the benefits of surgery along with primary care, patient continuity, a generally healthy patient population, plus the miracle of birth.

In fact, I was probably destined for ob-gyn all along, since in addition to my father, I have an uncle and three cousins who are all ob-gyns around the country. The job is exactly what I expected it to be—every day is different.

Some days we see pregnant women, some days adolescents, some days grandmothers. I see patients from their early teens until their late 90s. Each patient is something new and different. I function as a primary care physician for many of them. What's the difference between obstetricians and gynecologists? Residents learn about genetics, genetic counseling, and issues surrounding prenatal diagnoses.

Many residency rotations also include in-depth instruction on ultrasonography, reproductive endocrinology, infertility, family planning, gynecologic surgery and gynecologic oncology. Residents can subspecialize and continue with fellowship training in a primary subspecialty urogynecological surgery, maternal-fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology, and infertility and gynecologic oncology or other areas, such as family planning, adolescent gynecology and breast health.