dailydose22 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 (edited) Hi all, I was wondering what your thoughts are on working in Allergy and Immunology straight out of school? I have been offered a job interview in a location I would absolutely love to live in, but I am concerned that I would be pigeon-holing myself as a new grad going into such a niche specialty if I were to be offered this job (I realize this is thinking way ahead considering I haven't even interviewed). My main question is- is it boring to work in this specialty? I don't mean to be offensive, but it seems like you see the same handful of things and I was wondering if it becomes mundane? I'd like to add that I am 2.5 months out from graduating, so it would also be a miracle to have a job lined up by graduation. Thanks in advance! Edited January 16, 2021 by PAQueen2021 added info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 Personally I think new grads should work in some primary care field for 2-3 years to cement your core skills. I think you are correct in your concerns about being pigeon-holed. It is always possible to jump fields but its harder to jump into unrelated specialties than from primary care. Just one man's observation. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted January 16, 2021 Moderator Share Posted January 16, 2021 Agree- With Scott. If your dream job is in a subspecialty and you can never see working in anything else, by all means do urology or derm or rheum or whatever but if you are undecided, look for something more broad like FP, urgent care, etc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgriffiths Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 I would agree about being pigeon-holed and agree about working in primary care for minimum 1 year, ideally 2+, right out of school. But, no reason you couldn't do this job while also doing per diem at an UC or something. This helps solidify the broad education of a PA, but at the same time gives you a job within a specialty that many enjoy working in and a job during a pandemic... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jusugarza Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 I did allergy/immunology straight out of school for 8 years. it was great, perfect work balance, not stressful, happy to go to work. switch later to FP because i missed my other core skills and A/I got very repetitive. so it is possible to switch, i would take the job, especially in this market. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 I agree with both viewpoints. It is best to start your career in a broad field (primary care) because you are still learning a lot of medicine the first few years. With that said, a smooth switch from a pigeon hole job is possible with some effort. So, if life dictates a narrow field to start, don't lose sleep over ruining your career. I started out briefly (6 months) in primary care in a horrible job. Jumped to a very narrow field, headache medicine for five years. Then did more like public health in the developing world for 4 years. Came back and jump into family medicine and ED 50:50 for 4 years. But I did take a three week ED crash course in Nebraska before the switch. But I did fine. Then, I jumped to Rheumatology for one year until my SP attempted suicide (disabling her) and went back to family medicine (student health) for a year, then the next 28 years back in headache medicine. Each transition was a steep learning curve, but never a career-ruiner. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted January 18, 2021 Moderator Share Posted January 18, 2021 agreed with the above to get wide based experience first - if at all possible... seriously this is great advice but sometimes life has different plans and if this the only thing you can do - then it is a paying job. might consider a Per Diem job on the side to at least not loose the IM knowledge - DO NOT DO URGENT CARE OR ER - to tough a nice side gig that is broad based and some support 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dailydose22 Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 Thank you all for your input!! I agree with everyone too, ideally I want to build my foundation in internal med/primary care. I actually really would love to become a hospitalist. I love internal med. But the only people interested in even contacting me so far have all been specialist roles (ortho and this one). Sigh. The last thing I want is to wait for the perfect job as a new grad and go months and months without a job - much like the cohort above me have been going through... so I may just take it if it's a good offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted January 25, 2021 Share Posted January 25, 2021 Ventana reminded me of something. I did work a PT job in an industrial clinic while at a headache center in Michigan, then when I was a headache specialist at Mayo, I volunteered at a Salvation Army free clinic and moonlighted doing a fast track in a local ED. So, it was rare that I only did a subspeciality. So I agree with Ventana's comments. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted January 25, 2021 Moderator Share Posted January 25, 2021 8 hours ago, jmj11 said: Ventana reminded me of something. I did work a PT job in an industrial clinic while at a headache center in Michigan, then when I was a headache specialist at Mayo, I volunteered at a Salvation Army free clinic and moonlighted doing a fast track in a local ED. So, it was rare that I only did a subspeciality. So I agree with Ventana's comments. How you doing???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted January 26, 2021 Share Posted January 26, 2021 Not bad. For someone with a GFR of 23 and a HGB of 12, I feel pretty good. Climbed our local mountain twice this week with a snow-shoeing trip in between. I’m working hard on my eight book, a novel with a protagonist that’s a PA and fate assigns him the task of saving the entire world. Working hard to make it the best book I’ve written and one to make PAs proud. Will hopefully hit the market in the latter half of 2021. Will become a COVID vaccinator as soon as my own vaccine has had time to kick in. I hope you are doing well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted January 26, 2021 Moderator Share Posted January 26, 2021 that's great to hear!! mountains, hiking, snow and fresh air makes the soul feel complete!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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