Academics vs. private practice

[scalpel2008]

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James Hupp has a very interesting editorial in this month's OOOOE that i came across as I was perusing the journal on the john today (where I do some of my best thinking). It is titled "Dental Faculty Compensation: Have we considered the Medical Model?" I am leaning towards a fellowship+private practice when I'm done, although I can see why academia can be a fun and fulfilling career. This editorial poses a very interesting solution to the problem of why dentists/specialists avoid academia - $$$. If any of you (whatever specialty) get a chance to read this, let me know what you think!

For the specialists who don't know what OOOOE is, the journal is Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology.

 

[ktcook83]

James Hupp has a very interesting editorial in this month's OOOOE that i came across as I was perusing the journal on the john today (where I do some of my best thinking). It is titled "Dental Faculty Compensation: Have we considered the Medical Model?" I am leaning towards a fellowship+private practice when I'm done, although I can see why academia can be a fun and fulfilling career. This editorial poses a very interesting solution to the problem of why dentists/specialists avoid academia - $$$. If any of you (whatever specialty) get a chance to read this, let me know what you think!

For the specialists who don't know what OOOOE is, the journal is Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology.

Great article... thanks for sharing it. I would strongly consider academia if there was more incentive (loan repayment, better compensation, easier to get tenure, etc)

 

[toofache32]

I just read that a few days ago. They keep sending me some "free subscription" through Kodak. Anyway, it was encouraging to me because I am set on an academic career...but it's hard to avoid the temptations of private practice in terms of money and being the boss. There are tons of OMFS residents who graduate and go into private practice with the intent on going into academics after 3-5 years.....but it never happens because they get sucked into the good money and lifestyle, plus they own part of a building, etc. That's why I'm trying to avoid that trap.

Anyway, the specialty is hurting because everyone is going into private practice. The problem is at a serious level now because of this.....without academic people to train oral surgeons we won't have a specialty and will have to give our stuff over to the periodontists and plastic surgeons. This is unfortunate because we are in a unique position because we have "dental/periodontal" expertise that plastic surgeons don't have and we also have "plastic surgery" type expertise that periodontists don't have.

 

[L8DYV]

🙂 good thread!

 

[NufinButTheToof]

but it's hard to avoid the temptations of private practice in terms of money and being the boss. There are tons of OMFS residents who graduate and go into private practice with the intent on going into academics after 3-5 years.....but it never happens because they get sucked into the good money and lifestyle, plus they own part of a building, etc. That's why I'm trying to avoid that trap.

Anyway, the specialty is hurting because everyone is going into private practice. The problem is at a serious level now because of this.....without academic people to train oral surgeons we won't have a specialty and will have to give our stuff over to the periodontists and plastic surgeons.

I agree with you completely. This problem is compounded by the increase in tuition in the past couple of years at many dental schools. By the time most OMFSers finally finish their training.. Many have the burden of massive educational debt, and possible wives/kids in tow who need to be supported looming over their heads. It’s no wonder they rush off to set up shop and get the gravy train movin to get some cash flowing.

I haven’t read the article.. but I think that for the good of the specialty we could definitely use more funding from any source we can get.. Private practice alumni donations, gov subsidization, University funding.. etc. Any motivation to retain a percentage of graduates as faculty.

 

[S Files]

c below

 

[S Files]

I agree with you completely. This problem is compounded by the increase in tuition in the past couple of years at many dental schools. By the time most OMFSers finally finish their training.. Many have the burden of massive educational debt, and possible wives/kids in tow who need to be supported looming over their heads. It’s no wonder they rush off to set up shop and get the gravy train movin to get some cash flowing.

I haven’t read the article.. but I think that for the good of the specialty we could definitely use more funding from any source we can get.. Private practice alumni donations, gov subsidization, University funding.. etc. Any motivation to retain a percentage of graduates as faculty.

Fantastic article. With NIH and other sources of funding being cut, something proactive needs to be done - for all the specialties. I think, along w/ better incentives, specialty programs could allocate 10% of spots to applicants demonstrating a commitment, and having it a written agreement to stay in academia. Of course, we wouldn;t want unqualified applicants, but I think the process would self-select. There a just a few faculty development programs - UCSF and UCONN, U Mich have great ones - combining PhD w/ residency. And programs that can't support a PhD (which isn't necessary for many full-time academic appointments) could still train future faculty. Any thoughts?? - i'm sure many good and bad points for each argument.

Organized dentistry seems to always think that the answer is opening up more schools for everything (i.e. treating underserved, faculty shortage) - IMO the answer is to add incentives , make attractive offers - whether it's to go to rural america, or academia - it's not so much a numbers problem, but an allocation/distribution of manpower problem. Personally, i'm one of those on-the-fencers - would probably do part-time - but full-time is in fact where the shortage mostly is.

 

[scalpel2008]

here is a link to the editorial

 

[whiteE8]

shortage of teaching staff has made academic institutions offer international students/residents teaching jobs, i heard, making them sign the contract which will let them remain in the school for additional years to teach. is this a common story or just a rumor? for those international students enrolled in the post graduate / residency programs are encouraged to stay upon completion to teach, and if they do stay for 2+ years, they are also given DDS/DMD as well???

has ANYONE heard about this? or something similar???

🙂

 

[NileBDS]

shortage of teaching staff has made academic institutions offer international students/residents teaching jobs, i heard, making them sign the contract which will let them remain in the school for additional years to teach. is this a common story or just a rumor? for those international students enrolled in the post graduate / residency programs are encouraged to stay upon completion to teach, and if they do stay for 2+ years, they are also given DDS/DMD as well???

has ANYONE heard about this? or something similar???

🙂

Yeah ... I have ... DDS/DMD's are only issued under certain circumstances, almost as an honorary degree, and is not the norm.
Foreign grads being offered teaching/administrative/academic positions are quite common though ...
What difference would it make ?
If you look at this from an immigrational prespective, these are adequately trained and qualified individuals whom are seeking less competitive positions in the US, or in 'Dubbyas' own words, "doing the jobs americans don't want to do".