Pick your Speciality
Medical Genetics
Q&A Professional Association
What are the key points of specialist training?
4 years, contents according to the Medical Genetics training program.
How expensive is this specialist training?
Living expenses; congresses and courses as agreed with training institute.
What further training options and specializations are there?
According to the continuing education program; no focus
How can a stay abroad in this area be implemented or is it even necessary? (e.g. necessity of the USMLE)
According to interest and agreement with training institute, not mandatory for the specialist title.
How well can this specialty be combined with research (clinical research or basic research)?
Good in principle, but also depends on personal interests and commitment.
How important is it to do research (e.g. to do an MD-PhD)?
Not a prerequisite, but an advantage, because the constant own examination of the current state of research and knowledge is also essential for clinical practice.
How important is it for your starting job to gain an insight into this subject area during the elective year?
It is certainly a great advantage to gain an insight for yourself when considering specialist training.
Q&A Physicians
Senior physician, F, 49 years old
How old are you?
49 y/o
Where did you study and when did you graduate?
Bonn (DE), Lausanne (CH).
Do you have a doctorate?
Yes
When did you become a specialist?
2009.
How long did your specialist training take?
The regular amount.
What is your current position (and background)?
Professor and Medical Director of Medical Genetics.
How does your working week look like?
Management and organisation, training institute manager, clinical consultation hours and laboratory diagnostics, teaching and research.
When and why did you choose this specialization?
While studying.
How would you describe your time as a resident?
Fantastic, many new insights.
Is part-time work possible already during residency?
Yes.
What working modalities does your specialist title offer?
University hospitals and increasingly also non-university hospitals, in the private sector usually together with laboratories; teaching and research.
How competitive is it to complete this specialist title in Switzerland?
There are a limited number of training places.
How would you rate your work-life balance on a scale of 1-10? Would your colleagues with the same specialist title confirm this?
5
How easy is it to implement family planning in this field?
Feasible.
What do you wish you had known before your specialist training?
Nothing.
Why should someone choose this specialty?
Because they are passionate about it.
What challenges await someone in this field?
A high level of intrinsic motivation is required to continuously orientate oneself to new findings in many details throughout one’s life. A high willingness to work theoretically as well as an affinity for biological pathomechanisms and an understanding of laboratory tests.
Is it necessary to write the master’s/doctoral thesis in this subject area?
Not a prerequisite, but certainly useful for at least one of the two or the doctoral thesis.
Is it possible to find an assistant doctor position in this specialty directly after the federal examination?
It is recommended to complete the external year first.
What advice would you give to young medical students?
It is important to choose a specialisation in which you are really interested and in which you are prepared to invest time and energy.
Resident, F, 32 years old
How old are you?
32 y/o
Where did you study and when did you graduate?
Basel 2019.
Do you have a doctorate?
Yes
When did you become a specialist?
Currently ongoing.
How long did your specialist training take?
5 years.
What is your current position (and background)?
Resident in 3rd year
Before that: 1 year clinical research, 6 months emergency medicine, 6 months family medicine.
How does your working week look like?
Regular working hours, 50 hours/week at 100% workload, outpatient consultations with patients, inpatient and outpatient consultations.
When and why did you choose this specialization?
Decided in favour two years ago. You are heavily involved in diagnostics, contact with rare diseases, clinically very broad spectrum (from prenatal to elderly patients), clinical experience with syndromic diseases
How would you describe your time as a resident?
You learn a lot, a lot of patient contact, very exciting cases, it’s just fun!
Is part-time work possible already during residency?
Yes.
What working modalities does your specialist title offer?
Research, laboratory work, outpatient setting in a centre hospital.
How competitive is it to complete this specialist title in Switzerland?
Unfortunately not so many apprenticeships available in Switzerland.
How would you rate your work-life balance on a scale of 1-10? Would your colleagues with the same specialist title confirm this?
8
How easy is it to implement family planning in this field?
Good as no shift work and outpatient setting.
What do you wish you had known before your specialist training?
Education about this speciality as even many doctors either don’t know that this speciality exists or think it’s research or a laboratory. There is a lack of education and I wish I had known earlier what you do as a geneticist and how great it actually is!
Why should someone choose this specialty?
Because rare diseases are very exciting, you have to know a bit of everything (gynaecology, paediatrics, cardiology, etc.) and you learn something new every day! Lots of patient contact.
What challenges await someone in this field?
A lot of self-study required, especially at the beginning. High administrative burden due to applications for cost approval and enquiries from health insurance companies/IV.
Is it necessary to write the master’s/doctoral thesis in this subject area?
No.
Is it possible to find an assistant doctor position in this specialty directly after the federal examination?
It is technically possible.
What advice would you give to young medical students?
There is not just internal medicine or surgery, be creative and follow what really makes you happy in the long term!