Academic medical practice

[Postictal Raiden]

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Hello Colleagues,

Through my academic experiences, I have noticed that I love educating others. Therefore, regardless of what specialty I pursue after med school, I am planning on practicing in academic sittings.

I have few questions I would like to get answers for:

1) From reading various, countless threads on this forum, I noticed that almost all academic jobs are characterized by low salaries and cushier lifestyles. Could someone explain to me why? Don't academic hospitals receive higher patient volumes and more complex cases than their community counterparts? Shouldn't that translate into busier and more profitable jobs?

2) I don't understand how the ranking and the tenure systems work. Could someone explain what position rank a typical residency graduate is expected to have? How long it takes to get promoted to the next rank?

3) Aside from the clinical and the teaching responsibilities, what other duties academic physicians have? research opportunities? do they often travel and attend educational medical conferences?

Thanks

 

[guydudcl371]

Hello Colleagues,

Through my academic experiences, I have noticed that I love educating others. Therefore, regardless of what specialty I pursue after med school, I am planning on practicing in academic sittings.

I have few questions I would like to get answers for:

1) From reading various, countless threads on this forum, I noticed that almost all academic jobs are characterized by low salaries and cushier lifestyles. Could someone explain to me why? Don't academic hospitals receive higher patient volumes and more complex cases than their community counterparts? Shouldn't that translate into busier and more profitable jobs?

2) I don't understand how the ranking and the tenure systems work. Could someone explain what position rank a typical residency graduate is expected to have? How long it takes to get promoted to the next rank?

3) Aside from the clinical and the teaching responsibilities, what other duties academic physicians have? research opportunities? do they often travel and attend educational medical conferences?

Thanks

Hey, so I have a lot of experience interacting with faculty at a major public research institution, so I can share based on my experiences there.

1) Yes, the hospitals may be larger, but because most faculty have academic appointments, they are not in the clinic for as much time as physicians in non-academic institutions. For example, a lot of faculty at the school I work with had 0.5 fraction appointments teaching at the public health school, and 0.5 fraction appointments in their department at the hospital. These fractions vary greatly from person to person and may also include things like research and what not. So, unless you are a full-time departmental employee, you do actually see fewer patients and thus have the appearance of a "cushier" life-style in that regard, though the stress of academia is itself a different can of worms.
2) So generally, the ranking is assistant professor, associate professor and professor. Typically, both associate professors and professors are said to have "tenure" while assistant professors do not (but again, this varies from school to school). The time line varies greatly from school to school and from department to department. In some, gaining tenure is no big, in others it is barely even possible (due to competitiveness etc.). It really isn't as linear as one thinks. New faculty can be hired in as full professors just depends on the contract.
3. Typically there is also a research component, or there is a required "committee" component where faculty also have to serve on a certain number of committees. Again, this all varies from place to place.

All in all, it varies greatly on the type of institution, location of the institution, etc. Sorry I couldn't be more specific, but hope it helps.

 

[Postictal Raiden]

Hey, so I have a lot of experience interacting with faculty at a major public research institution, so I can share based on my experiences there.

1) Yes, the hospitals may be larger, but because most faculty have academic appointments, they are not in the clinic for as much time as physicians in non-academic institutions. For example, a lot of faculty at the school I work with had 0.5 fraction appointments teaching at the public health school, and 0.5 fraction appointments in their department at the hospital. These fractions vary greatly from person to person and may also include things like research and what not. So, unless you are a full-time departmental employee, you do actually see fewer patients and thus have the appearance of a "cushier" life-style in that regard, though the stress of academia is itself a different can of worms.
2) So generally, the ranking is assistant professor, associate professor and professor. Typically, both associate professors and professors are said to have "tenure" while assistant professors do not (but again, this varies from school to school). The time line varies greatly from school to school and from department to department. In some, gaining tenure is no big, in others it is barely even possible (due to competitiveness etc.). It really isn't as linear as one thinks. New faculty can be hired in as full professors just depends on the contract.
3. Typically there is also a research component, or there is a required "committee" component where faculty also have to serve on a certain number of committees. Again, this all varies from place to place.

All in all, it varies greatly on the type of institution, location of the institution, etc. Sorry I couldn't be more specific, but hope it helps.

thank you, that helps.

I'd like more people to pitch in their inputs. Please!

 

[AnthroDocFL]

Hi,

Since guydudcl371 touched on much of your questions, I'll add my 0.02 to question #3. I work for an academic physician who is the director of a research center, and I am the person who schedules and books all of their conferences and meetings. I am involved with the research side of things as well.

3. Yes, academic physicians go to plenty of meetings and conferences each year. This is especially true if you are a prominent figure within the academic community on a specific area of interest(s). So if you are seeking public speaking engagements such as these, this would definitely be a field of medicine to look into (I know I am!). My boss attends and speaks at many different types of venues all year round. It's a lot of work and stress, but also loads of fun spreading the word of your most recent findings or simply educating people on current theory and practice. My boss does serve on academic committees, participates in grand rounds, lectures, and facilitates resident journal clubs within the academic institution as part of their teaching responsibilities.