new here, qs about cp only

[akb]

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Hi,
I am 3 months into my path residency and I have decided to do a BB fellowship b/c I love it. I was curious to see what advice you guys would have for me about switching from my combined AP/CP position into a CP only position. Any thoughts? Can I make a decent living? Can I find a job? What if I switch and do not do a fellowship - am I in trouble then? Please help! Any advice is appreciated!

 

[LADoc00]

Hi,
I am 3 months into my path residency and I have decided to do a BB fellowship b/c I love it. I was curious to see what advice you guys would have for me about switching from my combined AP/CP position into a CP only position. Any thoughts? Can I make a decent living? Can I find a job? What if I switch and do not do a fellowship - am I in trouble then? Please help! Any advice is appreciated!

If you dont do a fellowship and only do CP AND you arent at Stanford, MGH or some other spectacular CP only program (WashU, Utah), then the phrase up **** creek without a paddle will take on a new meaning for you. Get used to long government lines collecting checks and an endless series of applications to Starbucks (which is competitive I hear now). I would start part timing at a coffee place if youre CP only as a fallback plan.

 

[Doctor B.]

I'd stick with AP/CP if you can stomach it. You'll probably find a better job that way.

 

[yaah]

Hi,
I am 3 months into my path residency and I have decided to do a BB fellowship b/c I love it. I was curious to see what advice you guys would have for me about switching from my combined AP/CP position into a CP only position. Any thoughts? Can I make a decent living? Can I find a job? What if I switch and do not do a fellowship - am I in trouble then? Please help! Any advice is appreciated!

I guess if you've already started AP/CP why would you switch? If you do CP only from the start, it's only one year less than combined. If you switch part way through, you still have to make that time up. I'm sure you would be able to find a job somehow but I wouldn't bank on it being guaranteed to be something you will like or in a location or with job specifics you will like. If you are narrowly defined in your expertise and your goals, your job opportunities may also be so. Not to say it's impossible, but it's tougher.

If your priorities are to make a decent living and find a job, I wouldn't necessarily look towards jumping ship so fast. If you are definite about blood bank and you already have solid research funding lined up, by all means.

Try talking with the people at your program. Programs often don't look too kindly on people who jump from AP/CP to CP only, because it leaves the rest of the residents in the program scrambling to pick up your slack (because AP is often very dependent on resident duties).

 

[akb]

The reason I am considering switching is b/c my spouse is a radiology resident and if I switch we will finish together. We also have a brand new baby and I am wanting to spend more time with him. I would definitely do a fellowship, but I am considering taking some time off in between.

 

[akb]

Are there other job opportunities out there? Something non-traditional? The path job market sounds like it sucks.

 

[LADoc00]

The reason I am considering switching is b/c my spouse is a radiology resident and if I switch we will finish together.

HUH. If youre spouse if a radiology resident, you are made in the shade you lucky SOB. Send him/her out to get $, do whatever you want.

 

[akb]

I wish!! He is so pessimistic that he doesn't believe salaries will hold out! We need the $ from my residency right now, I thought CP might be more interesting and slightly easier.

 

[yaah]

Are there other job opportunities out there? Something non-traditional? The path job market sounds like it sucks.

How did we go from, "There are lots of jobs out there with decent salaries, although perhaps not at the level they were 10 years ago" to "the path job market sucks"?

Man, you guys all hear a couple of naysayers and you are scared off of the field? I'll be gosh-darned. Haven't you heard the rest of us saying that every graduating resident we know of has found a job they seem to be at least decently happy with? I mean, we're not talking about $40k a year vs $800k a year, for crying out loud. I bet I could find radiology graduates that are unhappy with their job situation as well - maybe they are getting paid alright but perhaps their hours stink or they have poor working conditions, who knows?

This is why I hate talking about jobs and salaries. Obviously it's important, but I think equally that people put too much emphasis on it as a key factor and something that is tangible and constant. You know what? Even if you are a sucky resident and unmotivated you will still likely find a job that pays better than the majority of the rest of the jobs that everyone else is struggling for out there. I am not trying to be preachy, because I know money is important to people are there are lots with huge loans out there. But you know what? If you want to make more $$$, you probably can. If your priorities lie elsewhere, so be it.

There are lots of other ways to make money besides medicine. It would be quicker to go get your MBA and find a nice consulting job instead of working long hours in residency and fellowship for the next 3-4 years.

 

[governaitor]

I wish!! He is so pessimistic that he doesn't believe salaries will hold out! We need the $ from my residency right now, I thought CP might be more interesting and slightly easier.

I doubt it is qualitatively more intersting but it is qualitatively easier in terms of hours.

I met a women who was doing AP path only while her hubby was finishing up his neurosurg residency. She has no intention of ever practicing and "just" wants to raise kids. But it makes me wonder why she ever went to med school, but things do change for people.

Supposedly 500,000 to 800,000 is routine for community practice radiologists to make. Do what you love because you don't need to worry about cash.