I'm glad to hear you're doing well. In some areas, I didn't think a DPM could be a "true" partner in an MD/DO group. I also know several DPM's who work in a very large ortho group, probably also one of the largest in the nation, but the DPM's in that group do well financially, but don't do any surgery. They are utilized to feed the PT department, feed the orthotist, and of course feed surgical patients to the foot and ankle orthopods in the group. In your particular group, are you also performing surgical procedures?
It's been said here before by others, but I'll piggyback on those comments. Working for a large ortho or multi specialty group will allow a much larger starting salary in almost all instances, than working for a podiatric group. The reason is very simple. In order to start a new DPM at 250,000, he must produce at least 600 or 700,000 for it to be profitable. And those are very high numbers in the beginning. The ortho or multispecialty groups CAN afford this number, because the DPM isn't simply producing money by seeing patients in the office. He is producing money by referring to THEIR PT department, THEIR orthotist, THEIR MRI facility, THEIR surgical center, etc. So the money that's being generated by all these ancillary services owned by the practice, allows for higher salaries and bonuses. Most DPM practices don't own these ancillary services (with the exception of surgical centers), therefore can't afford to pay as much.
I do think this thread is a good idea. Perhaps experienced Pods could chime in.
