How to Choose the Right Medical Specialty | My Journey to Plastic Surgery

Choosing a medical specialty is one of the biggest and most stressful decisions in medicine.

In this season finale of Cut & Tell, newly graduated plastic surgeon Dr. Liz Malphrus reflects on her own journey from medical student to plastic surgery. Along the way, she seriously considered hospital medicine, urology, interventional specialties, and nearly changed her career path late in medical school after a single reconstructive surgery changed everything.

Rather than offering a simple checklist, this episode explores what specialty choice is really about: finding the people, work, and environment where you'll build a fulfilling career.

Whether you're a medical student deciding your future or simply curious about how physicians choose their specialties, this episode offers an honest look at one of medicine's most important decisions.

Topics discussed:

How to choose a medical specialtyWhy mentorship mattersHospital medicine vs. surgical specialtiesWhy Dr. Malphrus almost chose urologyThe operation that changed everythingWhat drew her to plastic surgeryPersonality fit vs. lifestyle considerationsShadowing, networking, and exploring specialtiesCan you switch specialties later?Advice for medical students who feel uncertain

Cut & Tell explores the realities of medical training, surgical careers, and life after residency.

Host: Liz Malphrus, MD

Connect with Liz: https://www.hippocratic-collective.com/members/liz-malphrus-md

IG: @dr.malphrus

Produced By: The Hippocratic Collective

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