SPM

“PSM (Community Medicine) as a Career Option” by Dr Vivek Jain

So many students have asked, Friends let me try to put it based on my own experience.

FIRST OF ALL, Great to hear that you are thinking about PSM as career option.

IN MY OPINION, It is certainly the best field in medicine along with Paeds, Psychiatry, Dermatology, OBG (my personal bias definitely is here)

PROS: Opportunities are many after PG, you can do teaching in Govt/Pvt colleges as faculty OR join Int’l agencies like WHO/UN (Though slightly difficult but very easy for deserving candidates) OR you can join a local NGO if really want to make a difference at Grass root level. You can also go for National Health Programs (NRHM. RNTCP/ NPEP always have jobs on offer. Ive seen few MD PSM do clinical practice later and turn out to be as successful as other branches (and sometimes even more). This branch definitely helps you develop one’s communication skills immensely.

MUST KNOW: Many students think PSM is 9-4 job, that is only true for medical colleges. Relaxed life. All holidays. Paid leaves. paid travel also is there. BUT Once you are out in the field it is 247365. “”””BIGGEST PRO: This field do provide you a great level of work related satisfaction.”””””

CONS: BUT BE SURE that you are willing to work in PSM, because few doctors are unable to leave their love of stethoscope & patients so they leave PSM after 1-2 years of joining. If you dont love PSM, you may get frustrated sometimes asking yourself ‘where is my stethoscope n patient?’ Its only an administrative field, so you need a genuine interest and love for PSM. Another major limitation of this branch is that you don’t get job in a regular hospitals or nursing homes, just like other clinical branches do easily. Also when you work with Interantional Agencies, they pay you well but get work out of you also (Just like an MNC).

BEST COLLEGES FOR PSM: AIIMS Delhi, PGI Chandigarh, MAMC Delhi, LHMC Delhi, UCMS Delhi, KEM Mumbai, PGI Rohtak, MGIMS Wardha, BHU, KGMC Lucknow, AIIHPH Kolkata. If any of these are not possible, try to stay in a Capital city, That opens up your chances extremely. (MIND YOU, In long run, the college of UG/PG won’t matter at all)

In PSM, you will always earn more than any other in field of medicine (ask your Senior clinical faculty in Medical College)..Good luck doc.

IS PSM WORTH IT: YES. Absolutely…

PS. All fields require a bit of luck too, besides hard work you put in. All means ALL FIELDS, including clinicals. Saturation is in every field. Ultimately your own hard work, determination leads you to success, irrespective of the field.

PS. I may not be the best person to answer this, as I love the subject and chose it as first choice.

Take an informed decision for any branch you join

Best wishes

Dr Vivek Jain

Pros:

  • End branch with 3 years exposure to research methodology and statistics and medical education techniques which are absolutely necessary nowadays.
  • Will get administrative jobs easily and community medicine qualification is mandatory for those jobs (DH)
  • Eligible to work with govt and various NGOs in national health programs and public health field.
    Cons:
  • Not a OPD oriented branch.
  • In some states it is clinical branch(AIIMS AMD CMC) and in some non clinical(AP).
    Via Dr. G Visweswara Rao MD SPM Kurnool Medical College.

Compiled By-
Dr. Rajesh Neeluri
MD (Community Medicine)
Asst. Professor
Deccan College Of Medical Sciences , Hyderabad

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