Faculty member needs advice

[CooperRex]

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Dear colleagues,

I'm a fresh residency graduate (out 1 year) on faculty at an academic medical center in Boston. I would like to get some advice, especially from you veterans out there.

I really enjoy my job - clinical responsibilities are reasonable, pay is good, call is O.K., colleagues/environment is supportive. I also like the city very much. The problem is the cost of living here. My wife and I are ready to buy a house but everything within reasonable commuting distance is obscenely expensive. I cannot see myself spending $700-900K for the kind of crap houses here in the Boston suburbs. I'm not looking for some kind of "doctor's mansion" - just something of a reasonable size and is move-in ready (no major renovations needed).

I have no personal ties to any particular geographic area, and neither does my wife. So we are thinking about moving to another city where the cost of living is lower. I think I could be happy at most other academic jobs. Do you think this is a wise move? Have any attendings out there ever moved because of cost-of living issues rather than the job itself? Or would I be making a mistake? I just don't see myself being happy living in a dump (or commuting a long way away) even though the job is good.

Second question: how do I go about exploring other potential academic jobs? Do I need to tell my chairman that I'm thinking about leaving? I don't want to burn any bridges, so to speak. If so, what exactly should I tell him about my reasons for leaving?

Thanks for the advice!!

 

[Noyac]

My only question is, why do you want to remain in the academic field? Not that there is anything wrong with it!


But you are really limiting your options. Not to mention your income. Take advantage of the salaries while you can, while they are high, b/45 they falllllllllllllllllll.

PM me if interested in a position.

 

[Pilot Doc]

If you
1) live in Boston and
2) want to live somewhere - anywhere - cheaper

the world is your oyster.

There will be many, many jobs available to you. It sounds like you are happy in your current job but don't perceive it as a 1 in a million super job. Finding a decent job where you can live a decent life should be very easy.

Can't advise on the chairman issue. Are you going to the ASA? That would be a good place to look around and maybe chat up other faculty.

 

[cchoukal]

the ad section in the back of A/A and Anesthesiology each have a dozen or so academic jobs listed every month. Chicago, portland, seattle all appear to be hiring and are great cities WAY more affordable than boston

 

[dragonfly99]

I can't answer the ? about when or if to tell you chairman you are looking for a different job.

I can tell you that there were multiple faculty members at the places I trained for internal medicine (2 cities in the South and Midwest, fairly major cities) who had come there specifically for the reason you stated. They liked academics but realized they could get a nice house for 1/2 or less the price somewhere else, so they left Boston/NY City/San Fran for exactly that reason.

 

[cchoukal]

I think telling your chair is just like telling your boss in any regular job. Most people wouldn't do it, beyond the usual 2 weeks' notice. People take and leave jobs all over the country every day for a millions different reasons, and I'm not sure that you owe your chair any more than he owes you (would he tell you in advance that he was thinking about maybe not renewing your contract?). If, on the other hand, you start asking around other depts, I suppose it's possible word might get back, but I'd hope that inquiring about a job at another university would be confidential.

 

[sevo85288]

If you are looking for a challenging, friendly, and financially rewarding practice in N. CALIF with low cost of living. Please PM me. I was torn b/t academics and PP and have to tell you; no regrets about going PP. Lots of options in PP to keep you challenged. thanks

 

[mille125]

Dear colleagues,

I'm a fresh residency graduate (out 1 year) on faculty at an academic medical center in Boston. I would like to get some advice, especially from you veterans out there.

I really enjoy my job - clinical responsibilities are reasonable, pay is good, call is O.K., colleagues/environment is supportive. I also like the city very much. The problem is the cost of living here. My wife and I are ready to buy a house but everything within reasonable commuting distance is obscenely expensive. I cannot see myself spending $700-900K for the kind of crap houses here in the Boston suburbs. I'm not looking for some kind of "doctor's mansion" - just something of a reasonable size and is move-in ready (no major renovations needed).

I have no personal ties to any particular geographic area, and neither does my wife. So we are thinking about moving to another city where the cost of living is lower. I think I could be happy at most other academic jobs. Do you think this is a wise move? Have any attendings out there ever moved because of cost-of living issues rather than the job itself? Or would I be making a mistake? I just don't see myself being happy living in a dump (or commuting a long way away) even though the job is good.

Second question: how do I go about exploring other potential academic jobs? Do I need to tell my chairman that I'm thinking about leaving? I don't want to burn any bridges, so to speak. If so, what exactly should I tell him about my reasons for leaving?

Thanks for the advice!!

First of all, good academic jobs are easy to find. As far as cost of living stay off of both coasts and you can find a 4 bedroom 3bath in a nice neighborhood for 250-500K. On either coast, forget it. I am surprised that no one told you about Boston prior to your move. In addition to the 700-900K that you quoted, you may not even get a single family house in some areas (absolutely mind blowing).

 

[jetproppilot]

Dear Colleague,

MOVE SOUTH.

You will MAKE MORE and your house will COST LESS.

P.S.

Please PM Mil, UT.

Or if you're a bada ss snowboarder,

please PM NOY.

Love,

Jet.