Super Speciality in Medicine : Merits, Demerits, Scope, Earning Potential

Merits of Super Speciality in Medicine

1. As cardiology is concerned, there are lot of seats in this branch.
   • Even 6 month of preparation is enough in getting seat in cardiology.
   • Although the candidates are also too many, but still there are lot of seats because cardiology has been developing a super speciality branch for a quite a long time.
   • That’s why most of the institutes already have a cardiology branch
   • Incase, if someone have family commitments and wants to stay close to home town , than cardiology is definitely one branch to pursue, because one can definitely find the seat close to their home place
   • It’s easier to get into cardiology than other branches like Rheumatology or Endocrinology, because of considering the huge number of seats which are available in cardiology.
2. It is very well developed with lot of interventions like putting central         lines, doing lumbar puncture, pleural tap:
   • This branch is mainly focused on interventions.
   • Since branch is developing a lot, lot of research is going on. Most of the focus of this branch is on interventions. 
   • If someone like doing interventions and like to stay in high voltage set up, then definitely cardiology is a branch to pick.
3. Cardiologist are well paid in the country
4. Mentors are very good and well experienced in interventions and in research, because they have been practicing in this field for quite long time:
   • They can teach interventions and guide further.
   • After joining branch, won’t be any difficulty in finding the path
   • Can always pursue this branch in academics and in private practice also.
   • Since lot of research goes in this branch, so lot of new procedures, interventions, technology comes up. 
   • It is fun filled branch and there is lot to learn in this branch.
5. As far as treating patient is concerned, since lot of research going on, patient responds to the medicine quite well.
   • Almost 90-95% of patients quite happy with the treatment, which makes one happy and satisfied wherever they practice

Demerits of Super Speciality in Medicine

• It is high voltage branch. Will get lot of MI cases during night time
• It is not 9-4 job. Most of the time it is night job as lot of MI cases comes during nighttime only  
• Learning curve is more.
• The set up is little costly incase wants to do private practice. 
• Before pursuing this branch, little research should be done about place , scope and about doctors already practicing there.

Scope of Super Speciality in Medicine

• Has to face lot of competition as there are lot of cardiologists already practicing in metro cities. 
• Initially has to work under mentors and senior consultants for few years and then can definitely join hospital as consultant 
• The competition is less in 2^nd and 3^rd tier, so can practice there for some time and build patient base and then shift to metro city
• Getting consultancy post in medical college is also little bit tough job.
• As far as scope is concerned, one can easily find job, but has to move different state or tier for initial few years.

Also Read: How to Pick a Medical Speciality that'll Keep You Happy your Entire Life?

Career Outside India

• One can apply for fellowship in electro physiology, interventional cardiology, structural heart interventions. All these fellowships are done outside.
• In India electro physiology is in JIPMER, Jaidev
• If wants to settle outside after finishing cardiology, it will be little harder to get in because it’s a intervention branch and most of the countries have a little difficulty in accepting cardiologist from outside
• If deciding to practice outside than in that way cardiology might not be a branch to pick.

Further options after finishing DM or DNB

1. Fellowships
   • Fellowships in interventional cardiology
   • Fellowships in Singapore, Korea, Canada, US, UK, Australia
   • Fellowships in Paediatric cardiology
   • Fellowship in structural heart interventions
   • All these fellowships can be done outside or in India and can narrow focused to a particular field.
2. Practice as consultant in private or in medical college AIMS Rishikesh,   Jodhpur
3. Can be academically oriented if goes to medical colleges.

Prerequisite for cardiologist

• There is no such prerequisite.
• But for left-handed people, initially, It will be little bit challenging, because everything is meant for right handed people
• After practice for 2-3 months with all the minor movements, there will be no issue. It will not affect caliber 
• Have to have a big heart before entering into cardiology field
• This branch is not for those who got scared easily.

Institute for cardiology

1. Central Institutes are all good example PGIMER Chandigarh (lot of interventions, lot of hands on)
2. AIMS Delhi
3. GB Pant Delhi
4. SGPGI Lucknow
5. AIMS Rishikesh, Jodhpur
6. Shri Chitra 
7. State medical colleges
8. Jaideva Bangalore (very good)
9. Ramaiah
10. Indragandhi medical college in shimla
11. KGMU Lucknow
12. Bangalore medical college
13. Madras medical college

Is Physical Disability contraindicated for cardiology?

• No, until or unless its is hands, where its difficult to perform minor maneuvers .
• In cardiology interventions can be done while sitting

Earning Potential 

• Cardiologist are paid well
• It is one the paid branch in India
• Definitely one of the best super specialist as far as salary is concerned in medicine

Is it mandatoty to learn echo before joining cardiology course or it is the part of DM resident

• No

Hope you found this blog helpful for your NEET SS Cardiovascular preparation. For more informative and interesting posts like these, keep reading PrepLadder’s blogs.