Anesthesiologist vs neonatologist??

Question

difference in location?

which could be more rewarding?

difference in pay?

how much do each work a day or week?

Which would be more ideal in raising a family?

Thanks to anybody!

Answer 1

Those two specialties are SO different, that you can't compare them.  If you have the personality of an anesthesiologist, you'd be miserable as a neonatologist, and vice versa.  We're just totally different animals.

When you are in medical school, you'll figure out where you belong.  I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician when I started med school, but now I'd slit my own throat if I had to do that for a living.  I love kids, mind you, I just prefer them asleep.  On a ventilator.  Drugged.

Most of us who "knew" what we wanted to do changed our minds when we actually had to do it.  If you get into med school, you'll find your specialty.  It's not a choice you make by logic.  You have to do what you love.

Answer 2

I'm assuming that you are deciding what to do in your own career.  I've just recently decided myself between nearly exactly the same options(although for me it was nurse anesthesiologist and nurse midwife).  I went with anesthesia for several reasons.  I don't know what you mean by location, but for me (I live in upstate NY) there are more options for both education and employment in anesthesia.  As far as more rewarding, that is a personal decision.  I always loved working with pregnant women and newborns, but as a woman I felt that the desire to care for infants could be satisfied with having my own family which I plan on in the coming years.  I'm unsure for an MD what the difference in pay would be, I know that Anesthesiologists make big money :)  For me(and this was as much as I hate to say a deciding factor) the malpractice insurance for midwifery would have cut my salary to a low that I wasn't comfortable with.  I'm willing to bet the same is true for MDs, not that anesthesiologists don't also have high premiums but your salary is much higher to begin with.  I know that for a lot of anesthesiologists, you are paid for a minimum hours of work, even if you don't actually work that minimum.  This may give you more free time, but be aware that in a lot of surgical situations you may need to be present throughout what could be a 10 hour surgery so I guess it balances out.  Both would have on call shifts, both may need to work long hours.  Its part of the medical profession I guess.  As far as raising a family, as I said before both are pretty demanding careers.  You most likely won't be doing a 9-5-it is doable, most doctors I know in these specialties do have families but either requires sacrifice. Sorry if this sounds a little one-sided, as I said before I'm just sharing what points led me to pick anesthesia for myself.  Good luck!