Do any of you know about or heard from others about the types of job offers graduating general ophthalmologists are getting? Looking online doesn't really help. I'd like to know b/c I want to know everything about a field before chossing it as a profession. Thanks.

dasani-

This is a difficult question to answer. It is highly dependent on the area of the country and the subspecialty (if any) chosen. Each subspecialty has a different job market and demand.

I would first encourage you to decide if you want to do ophthalmology. As I was told as a medical student and feel is still very true today, you must first be happy with what you do... the jobs and money will come with time. And as far as the money, do not focus on the starting salaries. If you enjoy the people you work with and the environment, the pay will increase as you gain more expertise. This is a mistake that I see many make, causing them to miss out on good opportunities.

As far as job market, as a general ophthalmologist, you should be able to find a job in most cities. The pay and quality of the job is variable. As a subspecialist, you should expect to need to live in a larger city to support your practice. I am going into pediatric ophthalmology and start my fellowship next week. This is one of the subspecialties that is wide open and I should be able to pick where I want to live when I finish.

Hope this helps and good luck with choosing a specialty.

Aaron Miller, MD

I figured I would come and post since I had previously posted about my disappointment in the ophtho job market.

That was then.

Now I am a happy camper.

The jobs are there if you are patient and assertive. It is not as wretched as I had thought.

My ideal/dream job was to be in So Cal, esp in Orange County.

My search included AAO and word of mouth/schmoozing.

First offer was from my residency program to stay on as an attending. There is not enough money in the world to keep me in Michigan so I didn't even bother pursuing this further despite still being asked about this on a weekly basis.

Then I had 3 interviews with practices in No Cal. All were in rural or otherwise undesired areas so I ended the talks after a few contacts.

Next was the infamous Las Vegas compromise. It was a busy practice with its own surgi center. Offered 120K with average benefits and bonus. Likely an expensive buy-in into the different income streams. I did not like the dead weight of a non-practicing owner and a COO. I also didn't like that it was not So Cal. After dragging out negotiations I just decided to decline and have faith that God had a plan.

Soon after I got 2 interviews in So Cal.

One turned into a job offer. The other didn't, but it also wasn't in OC.

Then I got a phone call for an altogether different job offer in So Cal from the doc I rotated with as an MS4 who told me to come back when I finished my residency and work with him. I didn't think he was serious, but he was!! We were talking 150-200K vs set percentage (30%) of collections. Very busy practice with its own surgi center. Location is excellent.

Then I met an alum from my program also in So Cal, also good area for me, who stressed to me that he would have a job for me if I changed my mind about my other options.

Then I got an offer for a busy practice in Phoenix from a group I had met when I went out to AZ, but I told them I had other plans.

The job I accepted is in Orange County and I start in September. (Yeah, it is July and I am still a resident...had a baby...maternity leave...extended contract...blah blah blah.) To me, this job was in the perfect place. The patient population was exactly what I wanted. The people were nice. The fun part was that I get to work with the doc who turned me onto ophtho in the first place when I was an MS3 and operate in the hospital where I was born. Since I decided this was MY job, I basically spent the interview telling them how perfect I was for the job. Then I followed up with phone calls, email, and hand written notes...all indicating how I was born for this job. So they offered me the spot. The practice is super busy and I get 50% of my collections and a percentage of capitation. The buy-in is only fair market value of equipment in the offices without all that goodwill baloney. I anticipate collections between 300-500K unless I become a lazy bum.

So in the end...dream job = actual job! :D And if it doesn't turn out to be all I hoped for, I have plan B and plan C to turn to.

HTH.

Aaron Didn't I meet you in Houston at the BSC? I was the little gal who sat behind you SA guys and we went out to eat at Rice Village once. Anyhoo...congrats on the peds fellowship!

Now I am a happy camper.

Congrats!