Facing My Fear: Why I Let Go of GI and Chose Radiology Instead

I entered medical school unsure of my path but convinced I wasn't "competitive enough" for radiology. This is the story of how I let go of someone else's dream, faced my fear of failure, and ultimately found the specialty that felt right for me.

If you'd told me as a first-year medical student that l would match into Diagnostic Radiology at one the state’s top university programs, I would've laughed in disbelief. I always thought I that I wasn't "competitive enough" for such a specialty, but my journey taught me to overcome fear and pursue what truly excites me—a lesson that I hope others can take to heart.

When I started medical school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. Growing up, I watched my dad, a pathologist, work behind the scenes and I swore to pursue a patient-facing specialty (which is ironic now). Drawn to human psychology, I briefly toyed with psychiatry or family medicine—options I wouldn’t touch with a 10-ft pole today. Then, in late-M1, I attended a guest lecture by Dr. Jeffrey Schneider, a charismatic gastroenterologist (GI) with a knack for winning over even the most difficult patients. In his clinic, nearly every patient called him their favorite doctor. As an impressionable M1, I was sold. I wanted to be like him. For the next two years, I shaped my CV to match into Internal Medicine (IM) with hopes of landing a GI fellowship.

But during my General Surgery rotation around March of M3 I experienced a tough wake-up call: I was not enjoying internal medicine. Long hours, micromanaging staff, prior authorizations, and the grueling path to a Gl fellowship were draining. On top of that, my first daughter had just been born. I was afraid I wouldn't have enough time for her or for future kids. I realized by pursuing GI I was chasing an image of a successful and fulfilled physician. I wasn’t chasing my dream. I was chasing someone else’s.

I shared my doubts with two Transitional Year (TY) residents on the same service. They encouraged me to explore the ROAD specialties—Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesiology, and Dermatology—known for better work-life balance, but also for being highly competitive. I immediately balked: "I'm not that kind of applicant. I'd never get into radiology."

One of them, Dave (who later became my mentor), challenged me: "Don't let the fear of failure rob you of the career you want. It's a lousy way to live.”

His words stuck with me. I made a pros-and-cons list and, to my surprise, discovered that radiology checked every box I liked about Gl—and more. The only real "con" was not feeling like a traditional clinician. But shadowing a radiologist quickly changed that perspective.

His South Florida office was a physician's man cave—a two-story loft surrounded by tropical foliage, decked out with an impressive desktop setup, coffee machines, and dumbbells. An ultra-marathon runner and athlete like me, he read XRs, CTs, and MRIs at lightning speed, casually explaining differentials as he scrolled. Soon, the teaching turned into friendly banter, and it felt like we were just hanging out while he worked. While he lacked Dr. Schneider's charisma, his quiet confidence—combined with the diagnostic problem-solving, cutting-edge tech and overall vibe of radiology—had me hooked.

On the drive home, I called my wife and told her: "I'm switching to rads!"

Despite lingering fears about my competitiveness, the excitement I felt that day was something I never experienced in two years of talking about Gl. I knew this was the right path for me and I became laser-focused. I wanted to leave it all on the field so that when Match Day came, I could look back and honestly say I gave it everything I had.

Over the six months leading up to ERAS submission, I hustled—networked with attendings, secured elective rotations, and leaned into my strengths as a husband, father, leader, and athlete. Then came STEP 2. I needed a 250+ to be competitive but scored a 240. I was crushed. I feared programs wouldn't even look at my application.

I debated dual applying but ultimately bet on myself. I ranked radiology programs first and added prelims as backups. After a year filled with doubt and uncertainty, I matched into my favorite program, one I had originally thought was out of my reach.

So, here’s my message to you: Don’t count yourself out.

My grades weren’t great, but dedication, grit, and authenticity carried me. You are capable of more than you might think. Do not let self-doubt dictate your path. Explore bravely, build relationships, and pursue what excites you.