Job Prospects

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AspiringOto

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I guess this is directed toward the senior residents and attendings, what are the job prospects like out there now and whats it projected to be for next 5-10 years? How does it vary among the sub specialties within otolaryngology?

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Last I checked with our Academy, the estimate was that there was a nationwide need of 2500 new ENT attendings in practice. Of course, this number completely contradicts the source itself. Our Academy estimates you need 1 ENT per 30-35,000 people. Ballpark 300M people in the US that means we need about 8100-10,000 ENT's and US News and World Report states that there are 10,491 ENT's in the US as of this year (http://health.usnews.com/doctors/ent-otolaryngologists).

So is there a need? According to our Academy's statement, yes. However, according to their data, no. Who do you trust? I trust data more than people.

No idea on subspecialty need. Most subspecialists think they need more and most generals think we don't need that many--unless they're at academic institutions.
 
I wonder how many of the 10491 work part time, or if that is how it is figured in to determine that there is a need. I searched for a doctor that retired 3 years ago, and he is still on there. So, conservativly speaking, if they retained doctors for 3 years after a 30-35 year career is 8-10%, which brings that number down, significantly. Interestingly, I am not on the list yet, probably b/c I am not BC... I usually mistrust data ;)
 
I mistrust people, too.

And to get back to the OPs question, I think I agree with the AAO-HNS notion that there willl be a high demand in the future for ENT doctors, in general. There are a ton of jobs available in private practice and hospital based practice.

I can be difficult if your life needs (family) pigeon hole you down to a specific location that is saturated (usually bigger cities, and more specifically nicer areas within bigger cities with good payor mixes). It might even be worse in a smaller city that is saturated, again usually nice areas with insured patients (doctor heaven) - trying to be the 5th ENT in town, when the 4 that are are there are just getting by, but love the area and don't want to leave. However, the pharse, "there is always room for the best on top," applies, so you just have to tailor your competitive nature to make yourself marketable and desirable in the area you want to work.

Regarding subspecialties, some of the subspecialties have general population figures they have come up with. I think for neurotology, it is about 1,000,000 people per neurotologist? Some of the fellowships like peds, rhinology and even facial plastics don't neccessarily put doctors in to a position of practicing totally within their field, i.e. they may do a portion of their subspecialy in their practice, but continue doing general ENT, as well. This makes it difficult to really comment on the specific need, although, I am sure those subspecialty orginizations have some figures. I can't really say much about laryngology or head and neck, either. It seems like in residency, I had the impression that there is a very high demand for head and neck, but, getting out in private practice, in a catchment area of about 300,000 people, I really don't see a whole lot of head and neck cancer. Certainly not enough to support a practice.
 
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