Family and Community Medicine

Predoctoral Education



Choosing a Specialty

Poem by Dr. Seuss
Revisions by Dr. and Mrs. Chris Best

I'm in a jam! I'm in a jam!
I do not like it in a jam!
You see I must now make a plan.

I do not like it in a jam.
I am not ready to make a plan.

Will you choose here or there?
I cannot choose anywhere!

I am not ready to make a plan,
I do not like it in this jam!

You must choose a specialty.
Would you like psychiatry?

I cannot choose a specialty,
because I like them all you see.
I even liked psychiatry.

I am not ready to make a plan.
I do not like it in this jam.

I cannot choose here or there,
I cannot choose anywhere!

Could you practice with a knife?
Could you deliver babies your whole life?

I like to work with a knife,
I like babies, but, all my life?

Oh, I cannot choose a specialty,
I even liked psychiatry!

I am not ready to make a plan,
I do not like it in this jam!

I cannot choose here or there,
I cannot choose anywhere!

Could you order tests for days,
or sit in a box and read X-rays?

I could order tests for days,
and I like to read those x-rays.

I like to work with a knife,
I like babies, but not all my life?

I cannot choose a specialty,
I even liked psychiatry.

I cannot choose here or there,
I cannot choose anywhere.

I'm not ready to make a plan,
Oh, I do not like it in this jam.

Would you like to see just kids,
or subspecialize in left eyelids?

I do like eyelids and ENT,
but I'm not sure that they're for me.
I could order tests and read x-rays,
work with a knife and deliver half my days.
I cannot choose a specialty,
I even liked psychiatry.
I cannot choose here or there,
I cannot choose anywhere.
I do not like it in this jam.
I'm just not ready to make a plan.

So you like them all you say?
Want to do them all? You may!
Choose Family Medicine for your specialty,
then you can do it all you see!

Family Medicine is for me.
I can even do psychiatry.