Academics and Longevity in EM

[Derek]

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I understand that Quinn and a few others have been hired on in academic centers. I am curious as to the statistics regarding longevity in academic EM vs. community EM for your averag doc.

To those going into academic or in academics why did you go that route.

 

[Haemr Head]

I doubt there is a common set of reasons as academicians are as diverse a group of people as you will find anywhere. I do not know of any good study on actual rates of attrition or of people moving between community and academics. I do know that there is a small but a steady flow in both directions. I have known academicians who worked for years in the community before switching over to do research and teach. And on the other extreme you have been people like Bob Dailey, one of the founders of the field and one of the best academicians in the history of our specialty, who switched over to community practice after years of stellar performance.

I think variety of practice, joy of teaching, the desire to be part of an academic village, are all part of the reasons that pull people into academics. It certainly isn't the financial reward. I admit that some may be drawn by the ease and lower number of clinical hours. Each academician would probably give you their own top ten reasons.

 

[DrQuinn]

I chose academics because I have always liked interacting and teaching. Even as a medical student I would teach my intern things they didn't know (and vice-versa). Once I got into residency, I really found I had a knack to teach (atleast one on one, and later on, in lectures), and I always liked it. When I applied for jobs, I applied for both academic and community, mainly because the DC area is a tough area to get jobs. Ended up picking up the academic one, because I really just want to stay involved and "give back," I suppose.

That being said, my job is the second highest paying in the DC area. So its not hte traditional academic pay. But we are a new program and will probably never be a "resident-run" program, so its a different flavor.

As for the burnout in academic, I dont' know the answer, but there are a LOT of dinosaurs out there! (BKN is but a coelocanth).

Q