Hi all,
I always knew I wanted to work with my hands, and although I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, was discouraged to become so by my in-laws. (oh how I regret listening to them). I compromised by going into internal medicine, happily thinking I would do interventional cardiology. However, i learned that it was not my passion.

I am now happily married at age 29 with an absolutely adorable 7 month old baby. I completed internal medicine residency in June of 2012 and did damn well at it (appointed chief resident, and cardiology research under my belt).

I STILL want to be a surgeon, however, I don't want a bad lifestyle any more. I myself have no problem working my ass off, intact, my best days at work were those that were super busy and those filled with procedures. However, the long hours away from home are an issue because I don't want to deprive my baby and husband of my time as a good mother and wife. I want to teach her things, be able to look after her if she's sick, spend time with her, take her to swimming and dance classes etc. Thus i'm looking for a surgical residency that will still give me time with my little munchkin.

If I could choose my perfect specialty, it would probably be plastic surgery - However, I would have to go through three years (or 5) of general surgery for that - (which i personally would love i'm sure but doesn't seem like a good option because I would basically be non-existent for my baby. Not to mention, there is no guarantee i would get into plastic surgery - where would that leave me?

I thought of ophthalmology, but it doesn't give me the satisfaction of cutting into skin and the body. There's also too much clinic time - I just don't enjoy sitting in a clinic, questioning patients. I hated IM for the clinic time, the long H&Ps and the long progress notes and the long conversations with patients.

So then I considered ENT. It wouldn't be my favorite thing because of the type of surgery (lots of things through the mouth and through the nose), however, facial plastics and reconstructive surgery sounds amazing and i'm sure I would love it. Here is where I need your help. Does ENT residency require you to be away from home just as much as general surgery residency?
My other concern with ENT is that i'm an Foreign grad from a carribean med school. board scores are 233, 243, 229, no research in ENT. Got all A's for my core rotations in medschool except a B for general surgery (missed the A by 1% but a B is a B no matter how you look at it). What can I do to better my chances of matching. Another problem is that I hear it's hard to do a second residency because the program doesn't get funded for your spot.

I want to be a surgeon, but I want to be there for my baby girl. While at work, I can work my butt off better than anyone and am fine with having no chill time. but it's the time away from home that is my conflict because I have this beautiful baby at home who I want to be available for. I've tried to like the medicine subspecialties but sitting in clinic and talking to patients just doesn't do it for me. I always think of being in the OR or doing procedures. Surgeries and procedures that have an impact!.

I'm so conflicted- I must make a decision soon. Any advice from you guys will be great.

double thread closing this one as one response on other forum.