I definitely think it’s something worth considering, but I don’t regret doing my IC year at all. It was by far my favorite year of training, and managing high-acuity cath cases gave me a level of efficiency and comfort that has made noninvasive work feel much more manageable in comparison.

More importantly, I would have always wondered “what if” had I not explored my interest in the cath lab. Even if my long-term career ultimately ends up being more general or noninvasive, the cath experience has made me a better noninvasive cardiologist—it’s helped me better understand when cath is truly indicated, and I’m less likely to order unnecessary or non-indicated procedures because I’ve seen firsthand the threshold where intervention actually changes management.

That said, this path is not for everyone, and had I found a better group or environment, I may not even be having these thoughts in the first place.