Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 9/6/2010

Question
I am currently in medical school and have always been interested in Anesthesiology, but there are also some other specialties that are very appealing. How did you finally choose Anesthesiology over others? Would you have made the same decision again?

Answer
Mine was actually a convoluted decision. I was originally going to be a surgeon and did 4 1/2 yrs before switching (for a variety of reasons that are not important here). That being said, in the long run I am happy I switched. I don't know what year you are in but generally as you go through your 3rd years and rotate on the various services, you get an idea of what life will be like. While Anesthesiology is not one of those rotations, you can still get a sense of it during your surgery rotation and you can take an anesthesia elective in your 3rd or 4th year in time to apply for residency if you like it.

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMb-Galveston