premedbound

Wow it seems to be that dermatology is the hardest residency to get.
Does that mean those doctors are actually the smartest? But dermatologists I don't think are even that highly regarded by most people, probably less so by other doctors. Seems to me dermatologists must be absolutely brilliant.

bigndude

It is one of the hardest to get. They don't have to be the smartest. Some are, some aren't. You just need good scores, and a good recs, and good experiences in it.

audiophile

In an ideal world, this would be true. Unfortunately, lawyers frequently can get large settlements from adverse outcomes, where the doctor isn't necessarily at fault. That is why there are so few MDs who are willing to do risky procedures, why many Ob-Gyns give up obstetrics altogether and why malpractice premiums are so high.

ForeverZero

Dermatology is hard to get into because there are so few residency spots and many students want them because it's so lifestyle-friendly. Typically, derm requires the highest USMLE scores, lots of research, and connections.

indy787

I know, I know... do not enter medicine for the money. However, I have heard a lot about doctor's incomes on these boards that are false and I want to clear it up. My dad is a cardiologist and we know plenty of physicians, so I guarantee that my stats are correct. A general physician will make $200,000 at most, with those in family practice averaging closer to $300,000. In specialties like radiology and cardiology, the pay is obscene. A partner in a cardiology firm can make past $700,000 with 2 procedures per day. A radiologist gets around $450,000. If you want to be a millionare, a field involving devices is the way to go. There is still money to be made in medicine, but if you are in it solely for that, then choose the correct specialty.

sakky

I think the best way to go is not to use anecdotes, but rather to present salary data collected by respected organizations.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos074.htm#earnings

http://www.studentdoc.com/salaries.html

http://www.physicianssearch.com/physician/salary.html

I would also interpret the salaries of the specialties cautiously. Some would say that you should just shoot for the high-paying specialties. Woe betide you if you really think it's that easy. Just because you want a particular specialty does not automatically mean that you're going to get it. All medical students undergo a match process after med-school graduation that determines what residency that will get, and which will correspondingly determine what specialty they will get to pursue. Med-students rank their most desired residencies, but then the hospitals in turn rank their most desired students, according to performance of the students as measured by grades, evaluations, interview performance, and so forth. So you may want to specialize in X, but if they don't want you, then you probably won't get it.

http://www.nrmp.org/about_nrmp/how.html

I said it before, I'll say it again. If all you want is money, don't become a doctor. Go become an investment banker. The kind of money that Ibankers make dwarfs the money that doctors make.

http://www.careers-in-finance.com/ibsal.htm

aehmo

"If all you want is money, then compared to medicine, i-banking is the better bet both for your own sanity and for the welfare of your patients "

But isn't ibanking very fickle? Also, it's not really a long career, is it? My understanding is that after a few years in the business, you're an "old timer" with not many prospects (unless you're one of the very few that likes to move up "ranks")....medicine is probably a much better field in terms of money and stabilty, as well as longevity. Ibanking is kinda of playing lottery

sleepisabliss

eh just making a safe living without having to worry about money too much is fine... $150,000 is pretty decent if you ask me. then add the salary of your spouse. so maybe around $200,000 at least. thats pretty darn decent!

bigndude

Then add taxes, then add payments for you house and cars. Your kids schooling. Then think about the time you aren't home and the damage that does to your kids. Think about the time again and explain it to your spouse if they are not in medicine, they will sure love to never see you. Then remember emergencies happen all the time and you can be called in any time. That much money doesn't fit the job. Docs dont work a normal 9-5 M-F . You can, but you won't make that much. Remember insurance companies are usually the ones paying you, and what they decide to pay you is what you get. A lot of times this means filling your sched full just to pay the bills. And that causes time problems.

TheStonedPandas

sak, what have you heard about letting the navy pay for your med school then goin to work for the navy for 3 years then getting any residency you want from the navy?

aehmo

"Then add taxes, then add payments for you house and cars. Your kids schooling."

Everyone has to pay taxes, not just doctors.

"Docs dont work a normal 9-5 M-F ."

...yeah, they do. the only times they don't is when they're on call, which could be one weekend a month.

qwerty3851

yea but think about it, for people who are purely in for the money, after accumulating millions and investing WISELY (where your business skills and education should hopefully come in handy), you can retire and enjoy life. being on call as a doctor when youre 50+ or 60+ isnt the same as when youre a med student. stamina and memory may potentially affect your decision making.

my uncle who was a neurosurgeon retired when he was 53 bc of the pressure and long work hours. a lot of my relatives say he "burned out" due to the work he's been thru the past 20 years. it's no doubt TOUGH on your body both physically and mentally

indy787

They work hard, but it seems people think their hours are impossible. there are days when you have to stay at the office until 9PM, but it is rare. For those not in private practice, hours are much more "normal."

CDN_dancer

It depends on what area you go into. A surgeon is going to be on call more often/have longer hours, than a family physician in private practice.

bigndude

I work for a doc who has a private practice as well as co-ownership of a healthcare home (the one older sick people go to). He go's to work at 7 in the morning. Works at his practice until 6pm, then goes to the home, then back to the office where he stays until 9 or 10pm. On weekends he just goes to his office where he is there from 9-5pm. If you want to be anything except for a general surgeon odds are you are going to be part of a private practice, or you will have your own, where you will have to do all or some of the paperwork. Just because you have secretaries doesnt mean they do all the paperwork. This also goes to say that no matter what you will have weekends on call at least once a month. Unless people in your practice let you have them off graciously, which is unlikely to happen every weekend of your practicing life. And as state above general surgeons as well as most surgeons are generally ready to go into the hospital at any point during their day unless they are out of state, or way out of town. If a big emergency comes up, you go in, no ifs ands or buts.