Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/22/2006

Question
Okay, I completely understand, now.  Thank you!  In turn, my question would be..  When the field of choice becomes more competitive, is it how well one scores academically that gives him a higher chance of getting in?  Or are there other factors?

Actually, I have some others, too:
How fast is that "pendulum" you spoke of?

Did you go into medical school wanting to be an anesthesiologist?  If not, what was your first choice and what changed your mind?

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The text above is a follow-up to ...

-----Question-----
Hello!  My question is about going through medical school.  I know things make it seem as though anesthesiology, in specific, is a medical field for the brighest. But with how selective medical schools are, is there really an intelligence gap between anesthesiologists and other M.D. positions?  And are there many completely qualified(academically/intellectually) people who have gone to medical school with aspirations to become an anesthesiologist, but were forced to choose another occupation due to competition?

Having said that, would you even agree that anesthesiology is a M.D. position particularly more demanding of intellect than others?

Thanks!
By the way, I ask this because I would like a field that allows me to really stay intellectually stimulated throughout my career, and to be challenged.
-----Answer-----
I don't think there is any intelligence gap between anesthesiologist and other specialties. You need to be very bright no matter which field you go into. You could easily make the argument that critical care specialists are the brightest (or medical internists, or neurosurgeons, etc). All specialties can be thought of as on a pendulum of staffing. When there is an excess of one specialty, it becomes very difficult to get into that specialty. Less people get in and it also becomes less popular (less jobs available). The pendulum swings the other way until it's relatively easy to get into that specialty. In anesthesia, it was relatively easy to get in between 1997 and 2002. Now it is very competitive to get in while surgery is easier. So yes, some people are unable to get into the specialty of their choosing. Some will switch later while others are satisfied with their second choice.

So to answer your question, anesthesiology is a demanding specialty but so are many others and you can be rest assured that you will be intellectually challenged in any field of medicine (because the amount of new information is growing at an alarming rate!)

Good Luck,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston

Answer
Academic excellence always helps, but we also look for other things that show an interest in anesthesiology.

The pendulum speed changes depending on supply and demand. There is no way to determine the speed.

I originally went into surgery (and was 6 months away from finishing my 5 years) but was forced to switch because of a pyramid system that "squeezed" me out (it's a long story), but I'm happy where I am now.

Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston