Should I be considering Anesthesiology?

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So, I'm getting closer to that point in med school where I have to think about what specialty to go into. Recently, I've been thinking more and more about Anesthesiology, but I'm not sure if my reasons are the right ones. I've interacted with a good number of Anesthesiologists, and they all seem to be chill people for the most part, and that's what got me interested in the field. Seeing them work in the OR, it seems to be a good gig. They get to sit down, they don't have to scrub in, they actually get lunch some time, lol. But of course, I know this masks what really happens. I remember seeing epidurals not work, and having to place a high risk ASA patient under GA, and the stress it caused the Anesthesiologist. In all of it, the Anesthesiologist got no credit. I think about whether or not I would be OK with that, and I honestly think I would be. I didn't go into medicine for glory or prestige. I don't care about that stuff. All I want to do at the end of the day is get the work done and go home to my family. I'm also not sure if I want to interact with patients all that much. I thought I did, but it can be often times very frustrating.

The only other field I really think I like is cardiology, but all you hear there is doom and gloom about how cardiology is over saturated and reimbursements are going downhill. I know I hear the same thing about Anesthesiology. About how CRNA's are encroaching on Anesthesia turf, but I feel like I've been hearing that for years. I also want to end up practicing in southern Wisconsin, and I'm not sure how the Anesthesia market is there. I'm aiming for 250-300K out of residency, but I'm not sure if Wisconsin has that. Not sure what to do, but I guess I'm looking for some guidance into whether or not I could potentially fit in in Anesthesiology. Thanks.

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Wisconsin is a great state to practice. Do your residency at MCW or UW and you will have no trouble finding a nice job.
 
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Wisconsin is a great state to practice. Do your residency at MCW or UW and you will have no trouble finding a nice job.
Would it have to be there, or could I include the Chicago programs, as well? Just want to know how broadly I should be looking.
 
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So, I'm getting closer to that point in med school where I have to think about what specialty to go into. Recently, I've been thinking more and more about Anesthesiology, but I'm not sure if my reasons are the right ones. I've interacted with a good number of Anesthesiologists, and they all seem to be chill people for the most part, and that's what got me interested in the field. Seeing them work in the OR, it seems to be a good gig. They get to sit down, they don't have to scrub in, they actually get lunch some time, lol. But of course, I know this masks what really happens. I remember seeing epidurals not work, and having to place a high risk ASA patient under GA, and the stress it caused the Anesthesiologist. In all of it, the Anesthesiologist got no credit. I think about whether or not I would be OK with that, and I honestly think I would be. I didn't go into medicine for glory or prestige. I don't care about that stuff. All I want to do at the end of the day is get the work done and go home to my family. I'm also not sure if I want to interact with patients all that much. I thought I did, but it can be often times very frustrating.

The only other field I really think I like is cardiology, but all you hear there is doom and gloom about how cardiology is over saturated and reimbursements are going downhill. I know I hear the same thing about Anesthesiology. About how CRNA's are encroaching on Anesthesia turf, but I feel like I've been hearing that for years. I also want to end up practicing in southern Wisconsin, and I'm not sure how the Anesthesia market is there. I'm aiming for 250-300K out of residency, but I'm not sure if Wisconsin has that. Not sure what to do, but I guess I'm looking for some guidance into whether or not I could potentially fit in in Anesthesiology. Thanks.

Honestly you seem to have a better understanding of the landscape of anesthesiology (and medicine in general) than a lot of medical students. You might be underestimating how hard we work/how difficult it is, but that's just because good anesthesiologists can disguise both of those things. In reality, a lot of times you might end up eating lunch at 2 or 3 or never, and you might end up spending more time in the hospital than the surgeon, but the difference is when you do go home you are home and don't have to worry about patients calling you (unless you do pain). Patient interaction is still important, it's just a different type of patient interaction.

If you've completed most of your core rotations and nothing has really jumped out at you by now, definitely take a longer look at anesthesia if you haven't yet. Try to set up an anesthesia rotation early in MS4 so you can get more exposure and possibly a letter out of it. Best of luck!
 
I remember rotating through cardiology as an intern. The cards fellow was impressed with my grasp of hemodynamic principles and pressor management (knowledge that I had obtained from anesthesiology) and pushed me to switch to IM and eventually cardiology. I pointed out that, as an anesthesiologist I get to do a fair amount of cardiology. I get to do a fair amount of pulmonology as well. I get to dabble in a lot of fields, neurology, obstetrics, and hematology. I get to dabble in those fields, obtain a good working knowledge, without having to get boggled down in the (to me at least) mind numbing minutiae. I feel like anesthesia allows me to be the "jack of all trades" that I always wanted out of a medical career.
 
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Hey OP, are you willing to endure 3 years of IM to get into Cards? At least with Anesthesiology you are a specialist right off the bat.
 
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I have been shadowing both an anesthesiologist and a cardiologist and I think anesthesiologists are more relaxed and also have easier hours. At the end of the day, I think the anesthesiologist is more happy.
 
I didn't go into medicine for glory or prestige. I don't care about that stuff. All I want to do at the end of the day is get the work done and go home to my family.

Stay true to this sentiment - it'll help keep you grounded and humble during your training. Also, anesthesiology is awesome! :)
 
Hey OP, are you willing to endure 3 years of IM to get into Cards? At least with Anesthesiology you are a specialist right off the bat.
Wrong. You are the equivalent of a nurse specialist right off the bat. ;)
 
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Would you guys recommend doing a fellowship, as well?
 
Would you guys recommend doing a fellowship, as well?
From what I gather, Critical Care has a bright future, if you like that stuff. At the very least, it will make you better in the OR both in terms of technical skill and cognition.
 
From what I gather, Critical Care has a bright future, if you like that stuff. At the very least, it will make you better in the OR both in terms of technical skill and cognition.
Some would disagree with the latter part.
 
So, I'm getting closer to that point in med school where I have to think about what specialty to go into. Recently, I've been thinking more and more about Anesthesiology, but I'm not sure if my reasons are the right ones. I've interacted with a good number of Anesthesiologists, and they all seem to be chill people for the most part, and that's what got me interested in the field. Seeing them work in the OR, it seems to be a good gig. They get to sit down, they don't have to scrub in, they actually get lunch some time, lol. But of course, I know this masks what really happens. I remember seeing epidurals not work, and having to place a high risk ASA patient under GA, and the stress it caused the Anesthesiologist. In all of it, the Anesthesiologist got no credit. I think about whether or not I would be OK with that, and I honestly think I would be. I didn't go into medicine for glory or prestige. I don't care about that stuff. All I want to do at the end of the day is get the work done and go home to my family. I'm also not sure if I want to interact with patients all that much. I thought I did, but it can be often times very frustrating.

The only other field I really think I like is cardiology, but all you hear there is doom and gloom about how cardiology is over saturated and reimbursements are going downhill. I know I hear the same thing about Anesthesiology. About how CRNA's are encroaching on Anesthesia turf, but I feel like I've been hearing that for years. I also want to end up practicing in southern Wisconsin, and I'm not sure how the Anesthesia market is there. I'm aiming for 250-300K out of residency, but I'm not sure if Wisconsin has that. Not sure what to do, but I guess I'm looking for some guidance into whether or not I could potentially fit in in Anesthesiology. Thanks.
What you are looking for is a double edged sword: a good lifestyle without the headache of patients also turns u into a "service" physician who has no clout of his own. no one will go to your hospital because u are doing the anesthesia the way they would go for their cardiologist or surgeon. that being said, it may be a trade off u don't mind having
 
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What you are looking for is a double edged sword: a good lifestyle without the headache of patients also turns u into a "service" physician who has no clout of his own. no one will go to your hospital because u are doing the anesthesia the way they would go for their cardiologist or surgeon. that being said, it may be a trade off u don't mind having
You raise very good points, but I don't think I could so something I just don't want to do (surgery) on the off chance that patients will be loyal to me wherever I go.
 
What you are looking for is a double edged sword: a good lifestyle without the headache of patients also turns u into a "service" physician who has no clout of his own. no one will go to your hospital because u are doing the anesthesia the way they would go for their cardiologist or surgeon. that being said, it may be a trade off u don't mind having

Every physician is a "service" physician. All of them serve the patient. From professional standpoint, hospital based professions like anesthesia, rads, path serve other clinicians in the care of patients as well. But the surgeon serves the patient as well, and they also serve the primary care doc who sends them referrals. PCPs will likely not send a patient to a surgeon who is a jerk to them...unless they're both employees of the same company and have to refer internally (HMO, university, va, etc). No one is going to pay you just because you became a physician. Being a physician allows you to provide a service as a professional, and that service is why you get paid. I agree that procedural docs have more "clout" as the patient comes to see them and not the anesthesiologist, and that is fine with me.

TL/DR, no one is immune to providing a service to a client/customer.

Have a good week.
 
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Every physician is a "service" physician. All of them serve the patient. From professional standpoint, hospital based professions like anesthesia, rads, path serve other clinicians in the care of patients as well. But the surgeon serves the patient as well, and they also serve the primary care doc who sends them referrals. PCPs will likely not send a patient to a surgeon who is a jerk to them...unless they're both employees of the same company and have to refer internally (HMO, university, va, etc). No one is going to pay you just because you became a physician. Being a physician allows you to provide a service as a professional, and that service is why you get paid. I agree that procedural docs have more "clout" as the patient comes to see them and not the anesthesiologist, and that is fine with me.

TL/DR, no one is immune to providing a service to a client/customer.

Have a good week.
I am sorry, but I think you are wrong.

There are physicians for whom patients travel, even for hours, to get treated by them (typically surgeons, but not only), or to maintain their continuity of great care (for specialties which allow for long-term patient-doctor relationships). You want to be one of those. You should not settle for being a highly-educated faceless assembly-lane worker.
 
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I am sorry, but I think you are wrong.

There are physicians for whom patients travel, even for hours, to get treated by them (typically surgeons, but not only), or to maintain their continuity of great care (for specialties which allow for long-term patient-doctor relationships). You want to be one of those. You should not settle for being a highly-educated faceless assembly-lane worker.
Absolutely not. The separation of work and personal life found in Anesthesiology (no long-term relationships) is extremely appealing as it allows one to devote extra time to one's family, friends, and personal interests that are essential in maintain a balanced lifestyle. As evidenced by the Medscape physician report, most Anesthesiologists find greater satisfaction in their jobs by "being good at what they do" rather than finding gratification via long-term relationships. Like Radiology and Pathology, Anesthesiology is a specialty where you are a doctor's doctor ( i.e. a specialist consult the surgeon). Nevertheless, correct me if I'm wrong, but in PP it would potentially be possible to team up with a specific surgeon for certain cases, thus being able to form relationships with frequent flyer patients if that's what you want. However, a handful of surgeons (including Urologists and Otolaryngologists) have told me they wish they would have picked a specialty like Radiology/Anesthesiology because the constant, uncontrolled interactions with patients gets old quick, especially once one starts a family. I find that the interactions with patients in Anesthesiology are meaningful yet controllable. This is not Family Medicine.
 
Anesthesiology is a specialty where you are a doctor's doctor ( i.e. a specialist consult the surgeon).
Nope. You are a doctor's nurse++. That's how you are treated and valued. I've never seen an internist tell a cardiologist what medication to put a patient on (or ever seen them interrupting the consultant when interviewing the patient), but I can't count the times when a surgeon was wiseguy with me. Many of them look down on your job and your "expertise".

I thought this was already obvious. You are treated as a "consultant" only when it hits the fan (and the surgeon's pampers), and that lasts 5 minutes. Otherwise you're just the lazy arsehole who cancels their surgeries on "asystole" patients.

The only reason anesthesiologists have been putting up with this was the lifestyle and income. Since both are clearly going away, I am very curious how many truly happy anesthesiologists we'll see in 10-15 years.
Nevertheless, correct me if I'm wrong, but in PP it would potentially be possible to team up with a specific surgeon for certain cases, thus being able to form relationships with frequent flyer patients if that's what you want.
Sure. It's called being employed by a surgeon, either directly or indirectly (e.g. you bill the surgeon a pre-negotiated smaller fee for anesthesia, not the patient, but the surgeon bills the patient for a much bigger anesthesia component and pockets the difference). Except for difficult surgeries (e.g. cardiac), I don't expect any surgeon to "team up" with you unless they can profit out of it.

Show me one anesthesiologist who is not a pain doc and is a partner in a surgicenter. You don't bring patients (i.e. business), hence you don't matter. It's not different from what happens "in the real world" with lawyers vs paralegals.
However, a handful of surgeons (including Urologists and Otolaryngologists) have told me they wish they would have picked a specialty like Radiology/Anesthesiology because the constant, uncontrolled interactions with patients gets old quick, especially once one starts a family.
Those must be average surgeons. Star surgeons can control their lifestyle and income much better. If the latter work a lot it's because they are greedy.
The separation of work and personal life found in Anesthesiology (no long-term relationships) is extremely appealing as it allows one to devote extra time to one's family, friends, and personal interests that are essential in maintain a balanced lifestyle.
For the love of God, this is not a lifestyle specialty anymore, unless you are OK with working for CRNA-level income..
 
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I am sorry, but I think you are wrong.

There are physicians for whom patients travel, even for hours, to get treated by them (typically surgeons, but not only), or to maintain their continuity of great care (for specialties which allow for long-term patient-doctor relationships). You want to be one of those. You should not settle for being a highly-educated faceless assembly-lane worker.

Maybe YOU want to be, and a few other unhappy folks here, but those who are happy with anesthesia don't want that. There is a lot of baggage that comes with being "one of those." Big egos don't fit into anesthesia, and that's fine, but disappointing for those who chose the wrong specialty.

"Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances." ~ Benjamin Franklin
 
I sincerely hope you will be as wise after 3 years as an attending. Once you become an attending, you will notice that the fun part is floating on top of a sea of crappy aspects of your job. It has nothing to do with big egos, just with self-respect. All the "unhappy folks" don't just have a personality disorder, as you'd so conveniently believe.

Every private practice anesthesiologist I've met LOVES their job, and I've met many. Most academic academic ones do too. I believe that some jobs SUCK, and you get no respect, but I don't think that is the norm, and certainly not where I'm going.
 
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Every private practice anesthesiologist I've met LOVES their job, and I've met many. Most academic academic ones do too. I believe that some jobs SUCK, and you get no respect, but I don't think that is the norm, and certainly not where I'm going.
Good luck with that.

The first time a surgeon will waltz in in the middle of your preop interview, not say a word to you, and start chatting with the patient as if you were furniture, you will remember me. The first time they will throw a tantrum to your boss for (appropriately) inserting an ETT instead of an LMA, you will remember me. The first time it will be suggested that you are not good enough as an anesthesiologist (especially versus some CRNAs) because you did not kiss some major surgical ass, you will remember me.

Recently, one of our senior private surgeons needed a surgery. He could have had any anesthesiologist he wanted (out of 10+ people), solo. He asked for a certain CRNA (who's not even that good, by the way). Surgeons want nurses for the same reason people want dogs (not cats). It's not my big ego that's the problem, it's theirs.

All of this matters less when you make tons as a partner. When you'll make much less, as an employee (which is your future, 90% guaranteed), you'll reconsider. Because, as an employee, you can't have both income and lifestyle, and you get less and less respect, so everything that's bad feels worse (and trust me, you'll see your share of bad bosses).
 
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Good luck with that.

The first time a surgeon will waltz in in the middle of your preop interview, not say a word to you, and start chatting with the patient as if you were furniture, you will remember me. The first time they will throw a tantrum to your boss for you inserting an ETT instead of an LMA, you will remember me. The first time you will be suggested that you are not good enough as an anesthesiologist (especially versus some CRNAs) because you did not kiss some major surgical ass, you will remember me.

Recently, one of our senior private surgeons needed a surgery. He could have had any anesthesiologist he wanted (out of 10+ people), solo. He asked for a certain CRNA (who's not even that good, by the way). Surgeons want nurses for the same reason people want dogs.

That's all ego stuff man. Get over it. That stuff has already happened to me. Usually a polite, informed conversation resolves it.

As for your senior surgeon, do you sit cases or supervise? If supervise, who cares? He probably just wanted someone he knew to sit with him. If not, still, who cares, it's his choice, he's allowed to make a poor decision. Maybe he gambles, consults a fortune teller, sees a chiropractor, hires hookers, does cross fit, and has a life coach. FU CK him.
 
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That's all ego stuff man. Get over it. That stuff has already happened to me. Usually a polite, informed conversation resolves it.

As for your senior surgeon, do you sit cases or supervise? If supervise, who cares? He probably just wanted someone he knew to sit with him. If not, still, who cares, it's his choice, he's allowed to make a poor decision. Maybe he gambles, consults a fortune teller, sees a chiropractor, hires hookers, does cross fit, and has a life coach. FU CK him.
You are still a resident, right? Because I really want to be a fly on the wall when you have an "informed conversation" with the narcissistic attending surgeon. :)

And it never gets old. One of my buddies, with many years of experience, got scolded by a partner at his new job, in front of the surgeon, for using a different anesthesia technique than the partner's preference. Yeah, it's my buddy's ego, not the fact that he's seen as just a friggin body, a touch above a CRNA.
 
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Surgeon walks in and starts talking during your interview... You say, "Good morning Joe. I'll be done in just a minute..." It takes big balls and a colossal ego to look you in the eye and keep going after that. That's a good data point to have because that's probably someone you want to try to avoid as much as possible moving forward.
No conflict, message received.
If he says, "I just want to mark the site." Say sure, and keep going with your interview. If he/she wants to ask questions, etc. they will wait their turn. My interviews are quick enough. Next time he will come back after a cup of water.
We've all been there. Once you establish yourself as a no BS professional that expects professional interactions you don't get much door mat treatment, they can save that for their trainees.
Now if the chief of surgery comes in and interrupts, I'd say, "you go ahead Mike, I'll come back and finish in a few minutes." It shows respect, but points out that he interrupted you and you don't really appreciate it.
 
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Surgeon walks in and starts talking during your interview... You say, "Good morning Joe. I'll be done in just a minute..." It takes big balls and a colossal ego to look you in the eye and keep going after that.
Happened to me, more than once. Same surgeons do the same with my colleagues, too. You can tell them whatever you want, they don't care. You are a doormat, and they know they could get another to wipe their feet on in two minutes.

From where they stand, they are the $600-900K private surgeon, while you are just an employee of the facility they bring business to, same rank as the circulator/scrub. They and their patients are much more difficult to replace than you.

Also, IlDestriero, don't forget that pedi surgeons (and pedi anything) are usually much nicer people (than their adult counterparts).
 
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That's like a CRNA asking an anesthesiologist the same thing.

Really, do you realize that you haven't walked one yard in our shoes and you are passing judgment?

Far from it dude.

I'm just pointing out the huge fukking ego in your dissenting posts about anesthesia.
 
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Recently, one of our senior private surgeons needed a surgery. He could have had any anesthesiologist he wanted (out of 10+ people), solo. He asked for a certain CRNA (who's not even that good, by the way). Surgeons want nurses for the same reason people want dogs (not cats). It's not my big ego that's the problem, it's theirs.

I'm a firm believer that people should deal with the consequences of their stupidity/ignorance. Had a "VIP" patient one time in residency undergoing a bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy with his country club buddy one of the senior surgeons, Dr. X. Tried to talk him into an epidural but he stated he wanted "whatever Dr. X suggested." Surprisingly, Dr. X suggested GA/ETT. Approx 18 ft of incisions later, I knew he was going to regret it. Did fine in PACU, but checked the progress note the next day and it sounded like quite the unpleasant evening, and it could totally have been avoided.

I have no problem respecting patient wishes, even idiotic ones, if they're made by a presumable rationale individual. I have no problem taking care of Jehovah's Witnesses, for instance, despite my personal feelings on the matter. Just like if someone wants a GA instead of a regional or vice versa. I'll explain the risks and benefits of each and tell them which one I would choose, but ultimately it's up to them. I respect the people that say, "do whatever you would do, or whatever you would tell your family to do," because they are at least recognizing their limitations and recognizing your expertise.
 
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Far from it dude.

I'm just pointing out the huge fukking ego in your dissenting posts about anesthesia.

You are mistaking ego for experience of which you have NONE . You'll change your idealistic tune once you get a taste of the real world. You'll deny it to yourself initially, but in time you will realize everything FFP is saying is true. Then you will be a man and not a little boy anymore. The End.
 
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You are mistaking ego for experience of which you have NONE . You'll change your idealistic tune once you get a taste of the real world. You'll deny it to yourself initially, but in time you will realize everything FFP is saying is true. Then you will be a man and not a little boy anymore. The End.

Oh really? Why is it the only whining I hear is from a coupla dudes on SDN, and the people I personally know with many years of experience sing an entirely different tune? My objective here is not to change your minds or piss you off, it's simply to add (for those still deciding on a specialty) that there are a lot of happy folks practicing anesthesia out there. The end.
 
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Oh really? Why is it the only whining I hear is from a coupla dudes on SDN, and the people I personally know with many years of experience sing an entirely different tune? My objective here is not to change your minds or piss you off, it's simply to add (for those still deciding on a specialty) that there are a lot of happy folks practicing anesthesia out there. The end.


There is a schism in the job market. 1/2 the jobs suck while the other 1/2 are pretty darn good. I guess you can tell by their posts who has which one.
 
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There is a schism in the job market. 1/2 the jobs suck while the other 1/2 are pretty darn good. I guess you can tell by their posts who has which one.

Or 2 people can experience the same job in different ways. We have a couple of chronic complainers in my department but most of us couldn't be happier.
 
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Oh really? Why is it the only whining I hear is from a coupla dudes on SDN, and the people I personally know with many years of experience sing an entirely different tune? My objective here is not to change your minds or piss you off, it's simply to add (for those still deciding on a specialty) that there are a lot of happy folks practicing anesthesia out there. The end.

People with many years of experience started working before the specialty was sold out to investment bankers and are, in all likelihood, the people who got rich selling control of their exclusive contracts to bankers and wealth funds. Of course they think it's been great. That doesn't mean it will be great for you.
 
People with many years of experience started working before the specialty was sold out to investment bankers and are, in all likelihood, the people who got rich selling control of their exclusive contracts to bankers and wealth funds. Of course they think it's been great. That doesn't mean it will be great for you.


Yes, It's been great for me. I've made a killing at this gig. Still, even today I would consider matching into anesthesia provided I had a plan in place for post residency.

Most likely I would choose another field like IM/Interventional Cards (230 Step 1) or Ortho(240+ Step 1). But, with only a 230 Step 1 I could see going into Anesthesiology as a reasonable choice. I'd do a fellowship then head to the Midwest or West for private practice.
 
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Yes, It's been great for me. I've made a killing at this gig. Still, even today I would consider matching into anesthesia provided I had a plan in place for post residency.

Most likely I would choose another field like IM/Interventional Cards (230 Step 1) or Ortho(240+ Step 1). But, with only a 230 Step 1 I could see going into Anesthesiology as a reasonable choice. I'd do a fellowship then head to the Midwest or West for private practice.

Very encouraging post.

IC gigs require you to move to BFE nowadays, as does EP. Not to mention that you are a trainee for 8 years following medical school, while your Gas buddies have already paid off all their loans and are looking to purchase real estate.
 
Very encouraging post.

IC gigs require you to move to BFE nowadays, as does EP. Not to mention that you are a trainee for 8 years following medical school, while your Gas buddies have already paid off all their loans and are looking to purchase real estate.

1) IC training is 7 not 8 yrs ( 3IM + 3 cards + 1 interventional fellowship )

2) Median salary for IC is close to 500k, while gas is 350...the IC guy will easily catch up in income
 
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Nope. You are a doctor's nurse++. That's how you are treated and valued. I've never seen an internist tell a cardiologist what medication to put a patient on (or ever seen them interrupting the consultant when interviewing the patient), but I can't count the times when a surgeon was wiseguy with me. Many of them look down on your job and your "expertise".

I thought this was already obvious. You are treated as a "consultant" only when it hits the fan (and the surgeon's pampers), and that lasts 5 minutes. Otherwise you're just the lazy arsehole who cancels their surgeries on "asystole" patients.

The only reason anesthesiologists have been putting up with this was the lifestyle and income. Since both are clearly going away, I am very curious how many truly happy anesthesiologists we'll see in 10-15 years.

Sure. It's called being employed by a surgeon, either directly or indirectly (e.g. you bill the surgeon a pre-negotiated smaller fee for anesthesia, not the patient, but the surgeon bills the patient for a much bigger anesthesia component and pockets the difference). Except for difficult surgeries (e.g. cardiac), I don't expect any surgeon to "team up" with you unless they can profit out of it.

Show me one anesthesiologist who is not a pain doc and is a partner in a surgicenter. You don't bring patients (i.e. business), hence you don't matter. It's not different from what happens "in the real world" with lawyers vs paralegals.

Those must be average surgeons. Star surgeons can control their lifestyle and income much better. If the latter work a lot it's because they are greedy.

For the love of God, this is not a lifestyle specialty anymore, unless you are OK with working for CRNA-level income..

Probably THE MOST correct reply of all the replies

Anesthesiology is one of those gigs that looks GREAT on the surface....money....freedom....kind of reminds me of another "job" with money and freedom. PROSTITUTION. Because in this field, if you want to be successful and not getting fired every 3 months or losing a contract with a hosptial every 3 months, you lay down, get screwed, and get paid. There is ZERO glory in this field, especially in private practice. Surgeons just want to do their cases and they don't care what breathing body is at the head of the table. Just get them to sleep, put in the tube, and don't argue. Sorry that's the reality. Academics might be a little different, but generally the same principles.

Is it better than MOST other fields, yeah, with exception of maybe Derm, Path, and radiology. But from what I'm seeing in the job market, these practices want you to work more, work long, and take less money. If you're wanting the M-F 7-5 no call gig, good luck. It's probably out there, but it's probably not a great guaranteed job.


Back to the original post. If you REALLY want to practice anesthesia in a specific part of the country, I recommend you do your residency in that area, ie Wisconsin, maybe Chicago. And if you want a job where you do your thing, take a couple of calls, and the go home to the family, then I'd say ride it out in academics.

(Full disclosure, I'm in a PP doing cardiac/OB, taking 10-12 calls a month, with no guarantee post call day off)
 
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Probably THE MOST correct reply of all the replies

Anesthesiology is one of those gigs that looks GREAT on the surface....money....freedom....kind of reminds me of another "job" with money and freedom. PROSTITUTION. Because in this field, if you want to be successful and not getting fired every 3 months or losing a contract with a hosptial every 3 months, you lay down, get screwed, and get paid. There is ZERO glory in this field, especially in private practice. Surgeons just want to do their cases and they don't care what breathing body is at the head of the table. Just get them to sleep, put in the tube, and don't argue. Sorry that's the reality. Academics might be a little different, but generally the same principles.

Is it better than MOST other fields, yeah, with exception of maybe Derm, Path, and radiology. But from what I'm seeing in the job market, these practices want you to work more, work long, and take less money. If you're wanting the M-F 7-5 no call gig, good luck. It's probably out there, but it's probably not a great guaranteed job.


Back to the original post. If you REALLY want to practice anesthesia in a specific part of the country, I recommend you do your residency in that area, ie Wisconsin, maybe Chicago. And if you want a job where you do your thing, take a couple of calls, and the go home to the family, then I'd say ride it out in academics.

(Full disclosure, I'm in a PP doing cardiac/OB, taking 10-12 calls a month, with no guarantee post call day off)

How much are you making though? whether or not i will like to take 10-12 calls a month job and be happy depends on salary...
 
Yes, It's been great for me. I've made a killing at this gig. Still, even today I would consider matching into anesthesia provided I had a plan in place for post residency.

Most likely I would choose another field like IM/Interventional Cards (230 Step 1) or Ortho(240+ Step 1). But, with only a 230 Step 1 I could see going into Anesthesiology as a reasonable choice. I'd do a fellowship then head to the Midwest or West for private practice.
That's the plan. :)
 
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