I would like some thoughts as to practicing surgery in Canada or the US. If you have the option to work in either country, which would you choose and why 😕 US positions all seem more lucrative, but docs in Canada seem to have a better quality of life.
Better to work in Canada or the US
- Thread starter AlienMD
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It would depend on where you received your medical education and training from, and how much you've incurred in student debt, at least for me. As a med student in the states, if I go into surgery, I would like to practice in the states, at least until my loans are paid off, since I would pay less in taxes, and earn more.
If I were going to medical school in Canada, then I would be more inclined to stay there. Less debt, and medical malpractice is not such a big issue up there, which means you would not be paying a small fortune in malpractice insurance.
In terms of quality of life, you'd have to be more specific. For me, things like education, cost of living, public transportation, health care etc., are important. The only thing where Canada seems to have an edge is public transport. I see too many idiots on SUVs here. But if you are middle class or above, the states can give you access to great schools, and state of the art medical care.
If you live in places like texas, the cost of living will also be dirt cheap. Many places in the States also have infinitely more plesant weather than the great white north.
To me, it is advantage U.S. Someone else could have different priorities and come to an entirely different conclusion, and that's fine. There's no right or wrong answers here.
If I were going to medical school in Canada, then I would be more inclined to stay there. Less debt, and medical malpractice is not such a big issue up there, which means you would not be paying a small fortune in malpractice insurance.
In terms of quality of life, you'd have to be more specific. For me, things like education, cost of living, public transportation, health care etc., are important. The only thing where Canada seems to have an edge is public transport. I see too many idiots on SUVs here. But if you are middle class or above, the states can give you access to great schools, and state of the art medical care.
If you live in places like texas, the cost of living will also be dirt cheap. Many places in the States also have infinitely more plesant weather than the great white north.
To me, it is advantage U.S. Someone else could have different priorities and come to an entirely different conclusion, and that's fine. There's no right or wrong answers here.
As a Canadian surgeon I may be biased, however, I would never want to practice in the USA. Basically it all comes down to what kind of practice you want to have.
Don't believe they hype - surgeons in Canada make a very very good living. Yes, you could probably make more if you were in private practice in the USA but doing hemorrhoidectomies on snobby private patients is not my idea of fun. I do a lot of cancer surgery and can't stand the idea of patients not being able to pay for their surgery. I like that that is never an issue in Canada. I do not have to factor the patients' ability to pay into my treatment plan.
It's hard to compare incomes as gross billings do not translate well into take home pay. You have to compare overhead costs and they are way way higher in the USA. Malpractice is considerably less in Canada, plus you need fewer office staff (with every patient covered by the same payer - ie the government, collecting for procedures is an easy process that is usually done by your secretary rather than having to hire a team of bill collectors). Also, in canada you can walk into a community and have an instant practice with more work than you can handle. There is no need to advertise, suck up to GPs for referrals, do crap cases for years until you get the good cases, etc.
Don't believe they hype - surgeons in Canada make a very very good living. Yes, you could probably make more if you were in private practice in the USA but doing hemorrhoidectomies on snobby private patients is not my idea of fun. I do a lot of cancer surgery and can't stand the idea of patients not being able to pay for their surgery. I like that that is never an issue in Canada. I do not have to factor the patients' ability to pay into my treatment plan.
It's hard to compare incomes as gross billings do not translate well into take home pay. You have to compare overhead costs and they are way way higher in the USA. Malpractice is considerably less in Canada, plus you need fewer office staff (with every patient covered by the same payer - ie the government, collecting for procedures is an easy process that is usually done by your secretary rather than having to hire a team of bill collectors). Also, in canada you can walk into a community and have an instant practice with more work than you can handle. There is no need to advertise, suck up to GPs for referrals, do crap cases for years until you get the good cases, etc.
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Physicians in Canada make very very good money. In fact, in general, it is more lucrative to be a family physician in Canada than in the U.S. People often mix up Canadian health care system with those in Europe. It is very different.
That being said, in order to figure how whether it is better work in Canada or the U.S., you have to consider 1) what is your immigration and work status in either country, 2) where are your families, 3) which province and which state are you considering exactly (tax rates vary widely), 4) do you plan to go into academics, 5) what licensing exams and requirements have you finished (MCC, USMLE, specialty exams), etc. etc.
You will eventually gravitate toward the patient population you like to work with. I wouldn't let that influence you too much.
That being said, in order to figure how whether it is better work in Canada or the U.S., you have to consider 1) what is your immigration and work status in either country, 2) where are your families, 3) which province and which state are you considering exactly (tax rates vary widely), 4) do you plan to go into academics, 5) what licensing exams and requirements have you finished (MCC, USMLE, specialty exams), etc. etc.
You will eventually gravitate toward the patient population you like to work with. I wouldn't let that influence you too much.