How to Choose a Medical Specialty, 4e [Paperback]

Anita D. Taylor MAEd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0721601227 | ISBN-13: 978-0721601229 | Edition: 4

The New Edition of the popular "Red Book" provides medical and pre-medical students with the information they need to select the specialties and practice settings that will best suit their interests, abilities, and personalities. Self-assessment questionnaires help them to pinpoint their talents, goals, and temperaments. "Summary Physician Profiles" for every specialty and sub-specialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties let students compare their responses to those reported by practicing clinicians. Readers will also find · handy timetables for planning applications · tables on residency competitiveness · changing specialties during and after residency · websites for major specialty associations · and many more sources for additional information.

• Design features 2-color page layout to enhance text.
  
  
• "Fast Facts" boxes at the beginning of each specialty chapter summarize for the reader key facts about that specialty that are helpful in making informed decisions about career choices.
  
  
• Information based on latest student and practitioner questionnaires
  
  
• Describes every specialty and sub-specialty approved by the American Board of Medical Specialists
  
  
• Includes newer specialties like medical genetics and hospice and palliative medicine
  
  
• Provides questionnaires to help readers assess what is important to them in a career in medicine
  
  
• Includes information on applying to osteopathic as well as allopathic residency programs
  
  
• Special section on careers in military medicine
  
  
• Lists Websites for major specialty associations and other resources

• 4-color cover
  
  
• New 2-color internal design
  
• New "FAST FACTS" boxes
  
• All Specialty data completely updated
  
• Web resources completely updated
  
• New chapter based on information derived from Student and Practitioner surveys

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Saunders; 4 edition (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0721601227
• ISBN-13: 978-0721601229
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book every medical student should read., April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Choose a Medical Specialty (Paperback)

With the bewildering myriad of specialties available, it's overwhelming for medical students to attempt to decide what to do with the rest of their lives. Even if you think you know what you want to do, this book will help confirm (or perhaps deny) your choice, as well as open your mind to other possibilities. Research has shown that physicians are most satisfied with their particular specialty when it matches their personality type. Hence, Ms. Taylor attempts to help students pick specialties based on their personality characteristics. She also includes helpful information on lifestyle, income, and much more. The one drawback to this book is its age; it's been 7 years since the latest (2nd) edition was published, and some of the statistical information is outdated, although the basic concept has stood the test of time. I hope that Ms. Taylor decides publish a 3rd edition in the near future, as this book is invaluable and a must have for every medical student.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A VERY helpful and thorough book!!, January 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Choose a Medical Specialty, 3e (Paperback)

This book is filled with answers to the common questions a prospective medical student might ask a practicing physician. Every specialty is reviewed with the same general and specific questions: "How much do they make?"; "How long is the residency?"; What is your typical day like?"; and "What do you like the least and best in your field?" Ms Taylor also reviews emerging specialties. This book was EXTREMELY helpful and I recommend it to all newly accepted and attending medical students.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, August 31, 2003

By 

medstud2 (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Choose a Medical Specialty, 4e (Paperback)

I decided to give this book a chance, even though I was skeptical that someone who never went to medical school could give advice on choosing a specialty. Her book didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know. I wanted to learn about what really makes each medical specialty unique, but the "question and answer" format made each chapter almost identical. The answers were so vague and non-specific that you could apply them to almost any specialty. I finished each specialty chapter wondering "I forget - what specialty was I reading about again?" Definitely an over-rated book, but perhaps because there are no other books out there on this subject.