Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Overspecialization in medical education: Is it hindering physician growth and stifling innovation?

Katherine Bishop, MD
Education
October 11, 2019
342 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

In the recent book, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein makes a strong argument for exploring or sampling different interests and jobs before settling on a career of choice, a process that leads to “match quality,” which describes the degree of fit between one’s work and who they are. This idea flies in the face of our strongly held belief that early specialization, or focusing on a narrow skillset or field of study starting at the earliest possible age, is the path to success. Epstein illustrates how many innovators and leaders in their fields spent time trying out different vocations (or sports, musical instruments, styles of art, etc.), often failing at them or moving on because they lost interest, until they found the right fit. Those experiences were not wasted time or knowledge lost because they fell behind in choosing a career. A meandering, unconventional path cultivates valuable ideas, perspectives, ways of thinking, and ways of problem-solving that can be applied to other situations later in life and to other jobs. Often, these leaders rose to the top using knowledge and skills not otherwise learned in their eventual specialties.

I couldn’t help but think about these ideas in the context of medical training. Many of us in medicine can remember feeling pressure to choose medicine as early as middle or high school, and subsequently to choose a specialty early in medical school and then a subspecialty early in residency. Choosing early allows you to take the right classes, choose the right major and extracurricular activities that look good on your CV, find mentors in your field of interest, and participate in research in that field, again to bolster your CV and become a competitive applicant. If you wait too long to choose, you fall behind, and younger, smarter students will take your place, and you’ll never reach your career goals and full potential. Right? Not quite. Research shows that “late specializers” who take a more nontraditional path to their careers may seem behind their younger counterparts at first, but they quickly catch up since they have increased match quality after sampling other fields of interest, and they have more breadth of knowledge from their myriad experiences.

The lessons in Range also challenge the conventional ways in which we learn how to do scientific research and how we approach solving problems in medicine. Throughout the book, example after example demonstrates the drawbacks of overspecialization and the benefits of multidisciplinary collaboration and outside the box thinking. Arturo Casadevall, who became the chair of molecular biology and immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2015, warned that the rate of retractions in scientific publications is outpacing new studies, implying that young scientists are not equipped to produce quality research. Casadevall proposed to de-specialize training and teach students how to integrate information, and how to think and reason with interdisciplinary classes (history, ethics, philosophy, etc.) and courses in how to identify scientific errors and poor research methods. He also aimed to decrease very detailed, highly specialized didactics focused on rote memorization. Reflecting back on my medical training, I can see why he would question the current system. Most medical school courses rely on memorizing facts and regurgitating them back for exams, and once we specialize, we forget much of it. Learning to critically evaluate the quality of research and how to conduct good research are more of an afterthought.

Innovation and discovery in medicine is a hot topic, with a great deal of funding being offered to physicians and scientists with novel ideas that could lead to breakthroughs. After reading this book, I wonder if, firstly, our culture of overspecialization and early specialization that discourages exploration and taking time to learn about ourselves and our interests stifles innovation and creative thinking. Secondly, maybe calls for innovation should extend outside our medical institutions, inviting thinkers from other disciplines to apply their knowledge and problem-solving skills to issues in medicine. This would allow for collaboration between physicians and scientists and smart, creative people from diverse backgrounds.

I hope this provides some food for thought for aspiring physicians of any age and background who are worried about being behind, educators in charge of teaching the next generation of doctors and scientists, and current physicians who are thinking about exploring other interests.

Katherine Bishop is an obstetrics-gynecology physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

The ideal health system lies between the two extremes

October 10, 2019 Kevin 5
…
Next

3 ways to win back the public's trust in medicine

October 11, 2019 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, OB/GYN

Post navigation

< Previous Post
The ideal health system lies between the two extremes
Next Post >
3 ways to win back the public's trust in medicine

Related Posts

  • A medical student’s physician inspiration

    Uju Momah
  • Why this physician teaches first-year medical students 

    Mark Kelley, MD
  • Innovation insight and poetry from a physician-technologist [PODCAST]

    The Podcast by KevinMD
  • Why a gap year will make this medical student a better physician

    Yoo Jung Kim, MD
  • The medical education system hates families

    Anonymous
  • America’s inadequate LGBTQ medical education

    Haidn Foster

More in Education

  • The secret to success in medical school: self-awareness and courage

    Kaelor Gordon
  • Is mandating pre-medical training widening disparities in the U.S. physician workforce?

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • Equalizing the future of medical residencies: standardizing work hours and wages

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • From studying to baby kicks: Navigating motherhood in medical school

    Natalie Eichner-Seitz
  • The power of advocacy: a medical student’s journey to helping an uninsured immigrant

    Fabiola Plaza
  • From AI to love: the key to a better future in medical education

    Stevan Walkowski, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician
    • Telemedicine in the opioid crisis: a game-changer threatened by DEA regulations

      Julie Craig, MD | Meds
    • How this doctor found her passion in ballroom dancing [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Surviving and thriving after life’s most difficult moments

      Rebecca Fogg, MBA | Conditions
    • Don’t be caught off guard: Read your malpractice policy today

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Laura Fortner, MD | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Make the Diagnosis: This Bump on His Nose is a Tricky Diagnosis
  • CRT Regimen Boosts Complete Response Rate in Unresectable Vulvar Cancer
  • Fla. Doc Charged With Murder; McConnell Exits Rehab Facility; BPA on Store Receipts
  • FDA Faults Next-Gen Olympus Duodenoscopes
  • CDK4/6 Inhibition Active in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

Meeting Coverage

  • CRT Regimen Boosts Complete Response Rate in Unresectable Vulvar Cancer
  • CDK4/6 Inhibition Active in Recurrent Low-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
  • Switch to IL-23 Blocker Yields Deep Responses in Recalcitrant Plaque Psoriasis
  • Biomarkers of Response With Enfortumab Vedotin in Advanced Urothelial Cancer
  • At-Home Topical Therapy for Molluscum Contagiosum Gets High Marks
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • Healing the damaged nurse-physician dynamic

      Angel J. Mena, MD and Ali Morin, MSN, RN | Policy
    • The struggle to fill emergency medicine residency spots: Exploring the factors behind the unfilled match

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • Deaths of despair: an urgent call for a collective response to the crisis in U.S. life expectancy

      Mohammed Umer Waris, MD | Policy
    • Beyond the disease: the power of empathy in health care

      Nana Dadzie Ghansah, MD | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The hidden dangers of the Nebraska Heartbeat Act

      Meghan Sheehan, MD | Policy
    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • The endless waves of chronic illness

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Skydiving and surgery: How one doctor translates high-stress training to saving lives

      Alexandra Kharazi, MD | Physician
    • Telemedicine in the opioid crisis: a game-changer threatened by DEA regulations

      Julie Craig, MD | Meds
    • How this doctor found her passion in ballroom dancing [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Surviving and thriving after life’s most difficult moments

      Rebecca Fogg, MBA | Conditions
    • Don’t be caught off guard: Read your malpractice policy today

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Laura Fortner, MD | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...