Academic vs. Private Practice

[kirschwasser37]

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I have 6 months left of residency, and a CT fellowship after that. Thinking ahead to the job market...what are the pros and cons of academic practice vs. private?

 

[seinfeld]

In PP i can do everything from CC to output peds, hearts to PNB for ortho. When i interviewed in academics it was very clear my exposure would be specialized to a couple areas. The money and vacation was not as good, and there were no opportunities to sit my own cases. My differ depending on where you look but that is my general feeling.

 

[deleted171991]

With a CT fellowship, you'll find that you are much more appreciated in private practice than in academia, where everybody has some fellowship, and a ton have CT (without getting to practice cardiac).

 

[Man o War]

I actually enjoyed academics, but at the moment the CT private practice market money and vacation/lifestyle is too good for me to work in academia.

 

[Noyac]

Academics if you want to publish papers or sit on boards or committees.

PP if you want to work and make some dough.

 

[codeb1ue]

As someone that has been intent on entering academics, and now signing my first job in PP, I have realized that we are brainwashed as residents that academics is the only place where "true medicine" happens, that people in PP are incapable of caring for patients that are sicker than the bread and butter cases. This is simply not the case.

I think the only reason to enter academics is if you LOVE research or teaching so much that you are willing to take a pay cut in order to pursue it. The only other reason is if you were a mediocre resident and terrified of the thought of not having much backup in the real world that is PP.

 

[Consigliere]

As someone that has been intent on entering academics, and now signing my first job in PP, I have realized that we are brainwashed as residents that academics is the only place where "true medicine" happens, that people in PP are incapable of caring for patients that are sicker than the bread and butter cases. This is simply not the case.

I think the only reason to enter academics is if you LOVE research or teaching so much that you are willing to take a pay cut in order to pursue it. The only other reason is if you were a mediocre resident and terrified of the thought of not having much backup in the real world that is PP.

Not true. A lot of anesthesiologists go into academics because they are social misfits who cannot get along with others.

 

[pgg]

Not true. A lot of anesthesiologists go into academics because they are social misfits who cannot get along with others.

Heh, a lot of anesthesiologists became anesthesiologists to minimize interactive contact with other humans. 🙂

 

[michigangirl]

Agree with codeb1ue. Too many people go into academics, IMHO, without a vested interest in research or teaching-- they are willing to take the lower pay, work less, and just exist-- without having something significant to offer from an academic standpoint-- warm bodies to cover rooms. If you are going to stay in academics, it should be because you are passionate about some aspect of academics. The folks who stay in academics out of laziness end up being pretty useless both from a clinical and educational standpoint because they don't get the opportunity to work solo and they don't have any other niche in academia they are working to cultivate. A disservice to the trainees. I have the highest respect for my PP colleagues-- and the lowest for folks who stay in academics simply because they don't want to work as hard as PP demands. If you have a strong passion for med student and resident education AND/OR have a research niche/interest you want to cultivate-- academia is the place for you. If you want to be cultivate your clinical acumen in an environment that empowers you to quickly learn on the job, PP is for you. Unfortunately some want to do neither-- and then end up in academia anyway :-(

 

[Consigliere]

Heh, a lot of anesthesiologists became anesthesiologists to minimize interactive contact with other humans. 🙂

Agreed but I'm referring to the argumentative, case cancelling, pick a fight with everyone types

 

[deleted162650]

Michigangirl's post should be a sticky. Well said.