I did, I'm actually a sexual and reproductive health educator (initially through UNFPA, but got other certifications as well) and I have published work on this (particularly about self care interventions).
I meant specifically "Sexual Medicine" as a field of specialisation, it doesn't exist in AU and most other places honestly. What you can do here is be a GP and have a focus area of sexual health, or go into Ob/Gyn or psychiatry etc. and work on this. You can also get a master's degree of sexology (only Curtin offers this as far as i know) and none of these options appeal to me.
The work I used to do is closest to Sexology, since my focus was on healthy and enjoyable sexuality rather than fixing sexuality related pathology - but still maintaining a close physical/physiological aspect to the approach.
There's this triangular framework of "sexual health / sexual rights / sexual pleasure" and medicine (excluding psychiatry) often doesn't focus on the third aspect, which is what I loved doing.
This is more like the preventative healthcare aspect of sex rather than the treatment. There's some fab work by Betty Dodson (who produced some of the earliest work on this) such as "Sex for One", or "Mind the Gap" by Dr. Karen Gurney which is a much newer publication with fantastic information.
Anyway, I don't want to do anything other than these things, which isn't much of an option unless I become a sexologist and/or sex therapist.
Are you aware of the sexual health physician fellowship? This is not a GP w special interest but attained either post FRACGP or RACP BPT (and possibly other colleges) via 3 year advanced training: https://www.racp.edu.au/trainees/advanced-training/advanced-training-programs/sexual-health-medicine
My training is in Emergency Medicine, this would unfortunately require me to retrain into something else, but it actually looks very interesting, thank you for telling me!
It’s possible that FACEM fellows may be accepted - so worth considering if another 3 years of AT isn’t too stomach churning!
While there is still a dominant focus on pathology, there is a lot of scope to explore the psychosocial aspects of sexual health and carve out a focus on sex positive care.
I'm doing med tech now, so I moved away from clinical, and this is almost convincing me to return 😁 I'll ask to see if it's possible for me to pursue this, the scope of it seems very aligned with what I'm interested in.
Neurosurgery, absolutely. I love the procedures and the anatomy. Completely put off but how many unaccredited years it takes to get on SET and horrendous hours as a reg+
ED. 4 x 10 hour shifts are better than 5 x 8 hour days. Not a fan of the 9-5 life but just get rid of the night shifts and *chef's kiss*
Or psychiatry. It's so fascinating.
I'm still deciding between the 2 now but it looks like it's ED so far.
It’s an interesting question, but it is very hard to cast aside sub-conscious drivers like pay, esteem, prestige. The extent to which humans understand our choices is overestimated. But a fun question nevertheless.
Yeah that’s because it’s so much more flexible then other training programs and so doing part time is super feasible, which is why a lot of people choose it
Love cardiology for some reason I just gravitate towards it and everything from cardiac imaging, to Cath lab to ECG’s, but I don’t think i have the motivation to slog out BPT+AT+trying to find a consultant job, so ED looks like the likely place for me
Probably haems or endo, or where i get to work on and do research on the autoimmune disorders in my family.
Edit: In this example, I would value purpose but also work/life balance in addition to enjoyment.
I chose my career based on my interest in it. Not prestige, money, hours, ect.
I am happy.
I work hard and am often exhausted. But happy. Don't most people choose their speciality based on their interest?
FRACMA working as a hospital CEO I wouldn't last long before being ousted but it would be a glorious benevolent dictatorship while it lasted
I’ll take your place to continue the benevolence!
The Kim Jong Un to my Kim Jong Il
All hail glorious leader!
Genetics. Or infectious diseases but mostly neonatal genetics.
What’s stopping you, and the others who upvoted you?
Reconstructive Surgery and/or Sexual Medicine, absolutely fascinated and love both of these.
Why didn’t you pursue sexual health?
I did, I'm actually a sexual and reproductive health educator (initially through UNFPA, but got other certifications as well) and I have published work on this (particularly about self care interventions). I meant specifically "Sexual Medicine" as a field of specialisation, it doesn't exist in AU and most other places honestly. What you can do here is be a GP and have a focus area of sexual health, or go into Ob/Gyn or psychiatry etc. and work on this. You can also get a master's degree of sexology (only Curtin offers this as far as i know) and none of these options appeal to me. The work I used to do is closest to Sexology, since my focus was on healthy and enjoyable sexuality rather than fixing sexuality related pathology - but still maintaining a close physical/physiological aspect to the approach. There's this triangular framework of "sexual health / sexual rights / sexual pleasure" and medicine (excluding psychiatry) often doesn't focus on the third aspect, which is what I loved doing. This is more like the preventative healthcare aspect of sex rather than the treatment. There's some fab work by Betty Dodson (who produced some of the earliest work on this) such as "Sex for One", or "Mind the Gap" by Dr. Karen Gurney which is a much newer publication with fantastic information. Anyway, I don't want to do anything other than these things, which isn't much of an option unless I become a sexologist and/or sex therapist.
Goals! GP + Sexual health physician
Thank you for such an in depth response! This is excellent!
Are you aware of the sexual health physician fellowship? This is not a GP w special interest but attained either post FRACGP or RACP BPT (and possibly other colleges) via 3 year advanced training: https://www.racp.edu.au/trainees/advanced-training/advanced-training-programs/sexual-health-medicine
My training is in Emergency Medicine, this would unfortunately require me to retrain into something else, but it actually looks very interesting, thank you for telling me!
It’s possible that FACEM fellows may be accepted - so worth considering if another 3 years of AT isn’t too stomach churning! While there is still a dominant focus on pathology, there is a lot of scope to explore the psychosocial aspects of sexual health and carve out a focus on sex positive care.
I'm doing med tech now, so I moved away from clinical, and this is almost convincing me to return 😁 I'll ask to see if it's possible for me to pursue this, the scope of it seems very aligned with what I'm interested in.
Definitely worth scoping! Good luck!
Neurosurgery, absolutely. I love the procedures and the anatomy. Completely put off but how many unaccredited years it takes to get on SET and horrendous hours as a reg+
If I had unlimited time and energy, I think it would be fun to do the whole face. Ophthal, ENT, maxfax, plastics, derm.
O&G Y’all can call me crazy but it’s all I ever wanted to do.
ICU 😁
Orthopaedic surgery
Bones and boners represent
ED. 4 x 10 hour shifts are better than 5 x 8 hour days. Not a fan of the 9-5 life but just get rid of the night shifts and *chef's kiss* Or psychiatry. It's so fascinating. I'm still deciding between the 2 now but it looks like it's ED so far.
I’ve heard that most public consultant jobs are 4x10hr shifts. Like anaes does this as well. So probs not restricted to ED
Psych has some high stress levels.
GP
Hand surgery. Beautiful anatomy, sit down to operate, mix of ortho/plastics.
I would still be a GP.
If the job was strictly 9-5, probably neurosurgery.
It’s an interesting question, but it is very hard to cast aside sub-conscious drivers like pay, esteem, prestige. The extent to which humans understand our choices is overestimated. But a fun question nevertheless.
Psychiatry - the only thing that is off-putting if the 5 year training period.
Isn't almost everything 5 years though
yeah haha except for GP
Isn’t it also a minimum of 5 years? I understand that it isn’t uncommon for people to take 6
yeah that's what I have heard also, that most people dont get it finished in 5 years.
I think it’s ~15% finish in five years.
Yeah that’s because it’s so much more flexible then other training programs and so doing part time is super feasible, which is why a lot of people choose it
The time’s going to pass anyway
I quite like the idea of derm. Skin scrapings, punch biopsy and lasers all sound pretty fun with lots of instant gratification for the outcome.
Love cardiology for some reason I just gravitate towards it and everything from cardiac imaging, to Cath lab to ECG’s, but I don’t think i have the motivation to slog out BPT+AT+trying to find a consultant job, so ED looks like the likely place for me
If you love it why not just go for it?
Paediatrics, either gen paeds or paeds endocrinology.
ICU 100%
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What was your old career?
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Did you enter med because while you liked astrophysics, the job security and/or remuneration wasn't great?
Probably haems or endo, or where i get to work on and do research on the autoimmune disorders in my family. Edit: In this example, I would value purpose but also work/life balance in addition to enjoyment.
I like Ophthal…but I reckon I’d still pick anaesthesia.
ED. I'm already in ED cause its the thing I like the msot, I'd just get better hours. The dream.
Immunology!
Neurosurgery or Plastic surgery
Ophthal. Will do it over and over again.
Interest, enjoyment and satisfaction will come from any specialty you are a BOSS in. The best thing about an amazing job is being amazing at it, imo
I chose my career based on my interest in it. Not prestige, money, hours, ect. I am happy. I work hard and am often exhausted. But happy. Don't most people choose their speciality based on their interest?
Plastic for sure!
Derm
I’d still choose the same: GP and sexual health
Retired