The Definitive Guide to Choosing Your Specialty | Frameworks and Tools

In this video, I am inspired by one of the comments from my ‘day in a life’ vlog. Instead of going through reasons of why I chose GP, I go through frameworks and tools which will enable you to come to your own decision about what specialty to choose.

When choosing as specialty, as with any career decision, there is much more to consider than solely what you find interesting. I hope this video stimulates self-reflection and brings clarity not only regarding your career, but also what *living your best and fullest life* looks like to you!

Please note this video is geared towards medical training in the UK. If you are training elsewhere, please research your local medical training programmes as these can vary significantly between countries.

⏳ Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Why I’m making this video
02:53 - What medical specialties are there?
03:19 - Seven questions for brainstorming
08:10 - Mental exercises
08:37 - What am I like?
09:18 - Wait But Why
10:09 - The Yearning Octopus
11:50 - The Yearning Hierarchy
12:27 - The Interrogation Room
12:58 - Bringing it all together
13:39 - Cognitive biases
15:59 - Outro

🔗 Useful links:

🎶 Music by:

[drprateekgrover]

Why don't you make more videos? I really love your high quality content. Keep going and all the best.

[amirf]

Really great video and such a good way to go about it! Keep up the videos! :)

[ahilymireya]

I'm a 3rd year med student from Mexico, and i always had struggle choosing a specialty, but this video really help me analyse myself better!!! I hope you keep making videos

[nojams]

This was useful! I don't think anyone has truly covered how confusing it is and how much you're bombarded with as an F1/2 trying to choose a speciality in the NHS as well as you have. Thank you so much! <3

[unnatikumar]

This is probably the first post on the topic that has actually been useful, after years of searching . Thank you for making this! :)

[YM-uulp]

Thank you for taking time out of your busy day for this amazing response!

[bartoszskiba]

Perfect timing! I just got accepted into medical school here in the United States. Loved this video, thank you so much.

[altruistin]

this was the most helpful video I found on this topic. thank you so much

[fashindream]

One of the most useful videos about choosing medical specialty. Thank you

[federfrey]

Thanks Katherine, you persuaded me that it is useful to actually sit down and think things through by following a framework like the one presented! Im pretty sure Im gonna do it :)

[agnoskeptic]

This is such an intelligent video on so many levels. Thank you

[bmcdermott]

This is the most useful and high-quality video I've seen on this topic. Thank you so much!!

[Laura-wdkx]

you are amazing, I just found your channel, you are truthful and helpful thank you very much !

[jofernan]

OMG! What a great and complete video! Thanks so much

[candellaadalfieri]

Omg
Thank u for informative content 🤍

[miregor]

Not me sitting 17m listening to this when i already know which specialty to persue 3 years before graduating

[Bingbong]

Hi Dr. Leung, could you make a video on applying to medical schools in the UK? Perhaps graduate entry med in particular...even though you applied for undergraduate med.

[queen]

Hello, I am 15 and want to become a general practitioner. I am going to apply for college soon, so could you please answer my following questions, it will help me out a lot. Thank you

1-What A-levels do you need to choose? I'm considering chemistry, biology and maths. Is maths necessary though? What other options might give you a higher chance of getting into a med school?
2-How can you guarantee your place at a medical school, as it is very competitive?
3-Is being a GP worth all these years of hard work?
4-If you stop after the foundation years, what kind of jobs might be available?
5-Can you withdraw from med school at any time?
6-If you try your best to keep up with everything throughout the process, how easy do you think every thing will be to manage?
7-How similar is being a paedratician and a gp?

I would be glad if anyone could answer any of my questions. Thank you very much.

[basyeerah.]

can u make a video taking about what to prepare after doing IGCSE O level?

[balerikirmu.]

Tbh can't tell if you're an American working in UK. Or from UK with American accent.
If you are an American, my question is why did you choose UK to work. Considering that US pays more. Was it work life balance?