It’s been more than a year since I got the German medical license. Although compared with many predecessors, I’m still a little rookie, I'd still share some thoughts here. Here I will compare the differences in residency training between Taiwan and Germany and summarize my current feelings.
First, let's talk about the advantages of Germany
1. Freedom to choose specialties.
In Taiwan, due to a strictly regulated capacity limit of each specialty, it is not always possible to train in department you want. To get into a residency training program is very competitive. In Germany, there is no such capacity limit. It depends on whether each hospital / clinic has a mentor Qualifications, if yes, you can be trained there as long as they still have vacancies. In Germany, I have received various offers from dermatology, pathology, family medicine and neurology, and I am currently training in the rehabilitation department.
I think this gives me a chance to think seriously about what I really like, and I won't go with the crowd because of the collective anxiety of my peers.
2. Take the leap whenever you want
In Taiwan, the interviews for residency training program always take place at the end of the year. After all the hustle and bustle, the dust is basically settled. Unless someone quits and releases a job vacancy, the chances of making a change in the middle are small. In Germany, it happens all year round and there are job vacancies everywhere. Because taking maternity leave and parental leave is justified in Germany, if someone takes leave of pregnancy, the hospital must hire another doctor. The amazing thing is that the majority of doctors here are women, so there are really bunches of such vacancies. And after giving birth to children, many of these mothers will also take the chance to quit and find a new job.
In addition, it is not surprising to change or to pursue a second specialty in Germany. As I worked in pathology, there were a ophthalmology attending physician who was training in forensic medicine, and I have also heard of anesthesia attending physician transferred to general practitioner, and among my colleagues, there are also former dermatology residents. In short, what you want to do and what you have done is your own business. No one will say, "Oh, you will be delayed."
3. So many holidays
As everyone knows, the annual leave in all walks of life in Germany should be no less than 26 days.
4. Part-time working mode
Many job vacancies here can be done part-time, like 50%~80%. Of course, the salary will be relatively low, and training years will also be discounted, but it is a good choice for those who want to study at the same time, who need to take care of children, or people who simply don't want to work to much. It would be nice if Taiwan also has such partial working hours.
Then come back to the advantages of Taiwan
1. Solid training
I think the biggest advantage in Taiwan is solid training
I have seen other seniors say that training in Taiwan is better than in Germany. At that time, I was half-believing, but now I totally feel that way.
Taiwan really has very high standards for the training of every doctor, so that after coming to Germany, I was shocked finding out that German doctors can become specialists without having to know this or that.
I personally think that one of the contributing factors is that the structure of the medical system in Germany is very implemented. It is not necessary for everyone to handle everything independently. Sometimes I am full of envy that my colleagues in Taiwan can receive substantial and complete training, but upon thinking of the blood and sweat in the training process, I am fine here.
2. Shorter training period
The working hours in Germany are relatively short, but the corresponding training years are long. Now every residency training (including family doctors) takes at least five years. However, Germany does not have a PGY system, so it saves one to two years.
3. Training program
The training of German resident doctors is quite different from that in Taiwan. And often the same specialties have different regulations in different states. The trouble is that not every hospital are able to provide a complete five-year training, especially those specialized hospitals or clinics. Therefore, after completing a certain part of the training, you need to find another job yourself. In Taiwan, it is usually guaranteed to be completed after recruiting, and the insufficient parts can also be sent to substitute training, which saves a lot of trouble.
4. Novice friendly
Because itis relatively rare in Germany in terms of one-stop training, and job-hopping is also very common, so many hospitals will like to hire people who already have experience. In Taiwan, job seekers are usually at the same age, and there is not much difference between them.
On the whole, if you want to learn the most advanced medical techniques and receive solid training, Taiwan or the United States is definitely a better choice. If you still want to come to Germany, I think you might consider coming out after completing training in Taiwan, because unlike the United States, it is in Germany possible that a foreign residency training be recognized.
In summary, if you have a free heart and an unruly soul, coming to Europe is still very suitable.