A series of articles in ASN Kidney News and CJASN recently have highlighted the fact that Nephrology is having a brain drain and loss of interest in application to this field. As a results ASN has created a task force to create more people going into Nephrology. To me - don't know why people choose what they choose but to all those undecided medical students out there and residents:-
Renal Medicine is the BEST!!
It has everything you want in it:
1. Excitement:- acute issues to combat like Hyperkalemia, acid base, HTN crisis and Acute Rejection and saving the graft.
2. Novelty:- Transplant Immunology is growing rapidly and new agents are coming to the surface to make the field more and more exciting. The fact that dialysis will soon be a device that can be carried around - future might be here. Organs being developed and created via stem cells- can't get better than that!
3. Variety:- From Glomerular diseases that remain mysteries to all to the facets of dialysis. From acid base to hypertension management. From a simple Acute renal injury to a complex rapidly progressing vasculitis
4. Future:- Interventional Nephrology, Geriatric Nephrology, Onco-Nephrology and upcoming special fields one can master in this exciting field
5. Mind boggling:- Always makes you think! The "thinkers" as the other docs call us. Even "Dr.House MD" is marketed as a Nephrologist!!! We make cool diagnosis all the time!!!
6. Empathy:- Dealing with ESRD and transplant, nephrologists are kind hearted and compassionate individuals.
Medical students and residents:- go for the field of medicine, at least take a rotation and try it out. It will be worth your time. Give The kidney a chance! and it will make a difference in your education and career!
Take a look at recent article from CJASN 2011 May
Image source: Iheartguts.com
