Am i too old for usmle and residency?

[Hughz]

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I am a specialist in Europe, I am reasonably paid well but fed up with the weather condition.

I have been planning to take the USMLE exam for the last couple of years but I feel a bit confused because I dont know where to start and what I get in return.

I am 42 now and I wonder may be I am too old for this.

I will appreciate your honest views and advice.

 

[Dallas]

I am a specialist in Europe, I am reasonably paid well but fed up with the weather condition.

I have been planning to take the USMLE exam for the last couple of years but I feel a bit confused because I dont know where to start and what I get in return.

I am 42 now and I wonder may be I am too old for this.

I will appreciate your honest views and advice.

There are a million other places to go for the weather than united states.

If weather really is the only reason you want to relocate to USA I would say its not worth it, especially if you are happy with your compensation and are already established in your practice.

However, if there is some other real reason why you would like to relocate, then do a cost-benefit analysis.

 

[Hughz]

Thanks Dallas

I cant speak and practice in all languages so am limited to english speaking countries.

I need to be able to make more than $350K a year in states to make it a worthy option, I am not sure whether this can happen easily or not?

 

[Dallas]

Depends on your specialization.
I assume you are in UK.

You can practice in New Zealand and Australia if you are sick of the brittish weather.

Here is a list of other english speaking countries you could potentially practice in:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_where_English_is_an_official_language

Here is a list of average salaries in different specialties in US
http://www.medscape.com/features/slideshow/compensation/2012/public

 

[Hughz]

Dallas, The survey was great, I am UK based psychiatrist, you are right🙂

I was told the average psychiatrist income is about $300K in states, the survey says its almost half of that figure, how do you explain the big gap?

 

[Dallas]

Dallas, The survey was great, I am UK based psychiatrist, you are right🙂

I was told the average psychiatrist income is about $300K in states, the survey says its almost half of that figure, how do you explain the big gap?

You were lied to?

The survey just shows average. Im sure there are rockstar psychiatrists in USA who rake in millions of dollars a year. But they are the top 1% high earners in psychiatry. Most psychiatrists earn within 2 standard deviations from the mean.

You are familiar with normal distribution and a gaussian curve right?

 

[Chirurg]

Thanks Dallas

I cant speak and practice in all languages so am limited to english speaking countries.

I need to be able to make more than $350K a year in states to make it a worthy option, I am not sure whether this can happen easily or not?

I'm assuming you are a consultant psychiatrist, so you can't be making more than £ 130K/year (about $200K). So you want to almost double your income and move into a better climate? also, you must be aware that you pay a lot less tax in the US and the cost of living is a lot less over there. please work on your expectations.
Even if you do the mean of 170K as a psychiatrist, you will have better living standards in the US, just thinking about ****ty small houses, roads and everything in the UK.
I'm not sure whether your age is a factor but you graduated ages ago, that will be a factor, but then again psychiatry is not competetive.
consider australia, they do accept british qualifications as does canada, but the weather can't be much different. neusealand salaries are certainly a lot less than US and australia.

 

[Hughz]

Hi Chirurg, u sound very knowledgeable , where are u based?

 

[glykon]

I know a surgeon from Europe who wanted to relocate to U.S. Started studying for the USMLEs at 35, landed a Match in Surgery in Chicago by age 40. 6months later he came back to our country because he realised he doesn't want to go through residency again (but General Surgery residency in the U.S. is tougher than Psych).
I also know the case of a family doctor from Australia who realised by age 40 that he wanted to do Psychiatric Oncology. He went on to pursue his dream, finished the Psych residency in Australia and became so good at it, that 10years later one of the most prestigious oncologic institutes in the U.S. (and the world) offered him the Chairman position without completing any training in the U.S.
So I guess it all depends on how good/passionate you are about ur specialty, and what you are willing to sacrifice for a dream 😉

 

[Dallas]

I know a surgeon from Europe who wanted to relocate to U.S. Started studying for the USMLEs at 35, landed a Match in Surgery in Chicago by age 40. 6months later he came back to our country because he realised he doesn't want to go through residency again (but General Surgery residency in the U.S. is tougher than Psych).
I also know the case of a family doctor from Australia who realised by age 40 that he wanted to do Psychiatric Oncology. He went on to pursue his dream, finished the Psych residency in Australia and became so good at it, that 10years later one of the most prestigious oncologic institutes in the U.S. (and the world) offered him the Chairman position without completing any training in the U.S.
So I guess it all depends on how good/passionate you are about ur specialty, and what you are willing to sacrifice for a dream 😉

He is not at MD Anderson or Memorial Sloan Kettering, so what 'prestigious' cancer center are you talking about?

 

[glykon]

He was at Sloan Kettering and left this June after 10years as a Chairman.

 

[Hughz]

You guys seem being on the ball, may I ask whether you cleared your board or usmle exams?
@Chirurg: where r u based? it seems u know alot about psychiatry? 🙂