I have a option to get Dermatology as a branch. What is the scope for dermatology rather than private practice?

I got a decent rank. I have a option to get Dermatology as a branch. What is the scope for dermatology rather than private practice?

Pros

  1. Regulated work hours- YOU decide your work hours NOT the patient

  2. Easy work-life balance, good amount of money. You can switch off your phone at night !

  3. Primarily a medical field , but now a huge scope of ‘procedural dermatology’- which makes it lucrative

  4. With more and more people getting into the cosmetology space, there is an increasing need for core dermatology. So even if you don’t do too much of cosmetic practise (you cannot avoid it completely), you can still do well

  5. Not much investment after PG as instruments are not very expensive. Initially, laser equipment are easy to get as rentals.

  6. Almost everyone has some derma issues; may it be acne, hair loss, fungal infection etc. So, there is no dearth of patients. And with comestology coming in a big way, even those without diseases are coming to us for cosmetic enhancement.

  7. fellowships- after PG

  • Indian ones are available through our parent organisation IADVL- lasting from 1-3 months, easy to get.

  • For foreign ones- Places like Singapore, Malaysia,Dubai offer American academy fellowships for a moderate fee. US and UK offer certified 1-2 year courses. But for these, you have to clear USMLE and PLAB first. Best time to give USMLE and PLAB is in the first year of your PG course, not after PG

😎 MD Vs DNB Vs Diploma

MD> Diploma> DNB

Reason- MD is an MD even if it is from an average institute

-Diploma candidates can do equally well in practise. Remember patients come into clinic by ‘word of mouth’ not by doctor’s degrees. Also many diploma candidates are absorbed without bias in middle east countries with good packages.

-DNB derma passing rates are very low and also term end exams happen once a year due to low number of candidates- hence if you fail, next attempt is only after 1 year

😎 Even though it is an end branch, you can choose to learn more in dermatosurgery , dermatopathology, Lasers, Hair transplant through fellowships and start doing these as your primary work.

Cons

  1. Most disease are chronic- relapses are remissions are a rule. You need to spend time with patients and be a good counsellor. Students wanting quick fix solutions will get frustrated

  2. Derma treatment is often slow and prolonged

  3. Doctor shopping is a rule in derma- patients will change doctors frequently as diseases are chronic

  4. You cannot settle immediately after PG- do some fellowship, SR ship or work with some cosmetic institute for some time before jumping into practise

Job prospects after MD

  1. Branded corporate hospitals- Usually they will take someone with experience of at least 3 yrs post MD. Added fellowships will be an advantage. Smaller hospitals will easily take post MD candidates

  2. Join a cosmetic centre, learn and strengthen your CV

  3. Dive into private practise directly-inadvisable

  4. Fellowships abroad give you stipend as well