Among the multiple factors that affect the choice of specialty of Mexican doctors before the National Exam for Applicants for Medical Residences (ENARM) 2025 are: Headquarters that offer the specialty, opportunities in the labor field, life project and personal preferences.
Given the proximity of the XLIX ENARM 2025 edition that will be applied from September 23 to 25 in Puebla, Guanajuato, Michoacán and Yucatán (in 149 days), stress is increasing in Health professionals, some of whom shared Medscape in Spanish various reflections on the choice of specialty and how they have lived this process.
The specialty’s decision is one of the most important and stressful moments in the training of doctors. To achieve a residence, it is necessary to go through a long process, such as the preparation for the “dreaded” exam, which is the first stage of the general doctors process to enter the National System of Medical Residences and study some of the 27 specialties offered in an institution of the National Health System.
In the 2025 call, a change was introduced in the selection of the specialty, since they will have a second chance to modify their options. In addition to the pre -selection of 3 specialties that candidates must do in the registration stage to the test, a variation made in 2023, this year doctors will be able to change those options after the exam.
In the ENARM 2024 the specialties that obtained the highest scores (in scale of 0 to 100) were: internal medicine (82.5000), general surgery (81,9643), ophthalmology (80,8929), psychiatry (80,8929) and pediatrics (80,3571).
In 2024 18,207 places were offered to study in the National Health System, the specialties that offered more places were: family Medicine (2,496), Emergency Medicine (2,304), Internal Medicine (2,283), General Surgery (1.856) and Anesthesiology (1.812). In February 2025, the Ministry of Health (SSA) assured that the offer of places to train specialist doctors has increased in recent years by moving from 8,000 in 2018 to more than 18,000 in 2024.
Reasons to choose specialty
Dr. Francisco Martínez
Dr. Francisco Martínez, a third year resident in the specialty of Audiology, Otoneurology and Foniatría at the National Institute of Rehabilitation (INR), commented that the place where the residence and economic possibilities are offered to move to another city (it comes from Chihuahua), as well as its academic interests, were some factors that it considered for its selection.
“Within the medical guild the institution of which you graduate is a lot of weight, it is an element that I considered. The money is also very important because sometimes in the residence the support of the parents is still had. Mobility must also be contemplated: if it is possible to move to another city. In my case only in León and in Mexico City was the specialty of audiology,” he said.
Dr. Efraín Tamayo, a resident of quality of clinical care, said that the balance between working and personal life, as well as development opportunities, were fundamental when choosing their medical specialty, which is an area with many opportunities, since it can be developed both in the public and private sphere, detailing that in the future he would like to occupy a managerial position in some health institution.
“In my specialty I do not make guards. The labor field for the quality of clinical care is very wide and there are management positions in well -paid health institutions. You can also perform in the private sphere as an independent auditor or in the insurers so that hospitals obtain certifications,” he said.
Dr. Tamayo added that to choose specialty it is important to exercise as a general practitioner to discover the work environment and if it is consistent with the interests of each person. He commented that during his academic training he planned to choose pediatrics or internal medicine and then subspecialized in endocrinology, but after studying a master’s degree in hospital management and administration he discovered his interest in the administrative area.
Dr. Manuel Rojas
Dr. Manuel Rojas, resident of Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Mexico “Federico Gómez”, chose that specialty because it is a very wide area that can be exercised anywhere and that in the future will be economically profitable. But the decisive factor was the change that can be achieved in childhood by instilling habits that turn minors into healthy adults.
In search of the balance between professional development and personal life
The applicants who this year will present the ENARM agreed that it is very important to study a specialty that they passionate, the institution where it is offered and the opportunities to exercise, but also contemplate the work environment during the residence.
Dr. Hassler Macías
Dr. Hassler Macías, graduated from the Benemérita Autonomous University of Puebla, will present for the first time the ENARM this year and has the options to perform his residence in ophthalmology, otolaryngology or quality of care, which he selected when considering factors such as duration of the specialty and quality of life when exercising in some of these areas, since they have a less demanding work rhythm.
“I think these three options can give me good quality of life both personal and professional so as not to depend on factors such as work overload, but that it can have time for both me and for family and friends.”
Dr. April Market
Dr. April Mercado, who performs her social service at the National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition “Salvador Zubirán”, chose as general surgery options, otolaryngology and internal medicine after evaluating factors such as duration of the specialty, who the offer, location of the headquarters (which are in safe cities) and the economic income that will be obtained after finishing their academic preparation.
“There are multiple factors that we must assess to choose the specialty. Many consider the time because some specialties last more than others and a subspecialty requires longer periods, which affects the life plan if you want to have a family or colleagues wait to install an office. It is a very complicated decision,” he said.
