Ortho hours for an attending

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kfcman289

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Hi all,

I'm currently a third year student with a very strong interest in orthopedics. Through my shadowing, research, and interactions with the orthopedic staff at my institution I really enjoy the field and much of what it has to entail. I know it has an especially grueling residency, but I don't want 5-6 years of my life to deter me from the next 30-35 of practice that I would enjoy.

My question is what is life like for an ortho attending after residency? Having personal time for my family is extremely important to me, and I know I will be working long hours, but I can't really figure out a general estimate of what my lifestyle will be like if I pursue and math ortho? What are the differences in work load between private and academic?
 
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I’ve already answered this in a private message and on your other post. What exactly isn’t clear?

Ortho is not a lifestyle specialty, but like all specialties, hours vary with type of practice and what you make of it. Some people I know work 50 hours, some 80. Depends on the percentage of teaching, interactions with residents, type of call, type of practice (rvu-based or not), number of partners, etc etc. Every practice is different. But if you’ve posted 3 times about having family time and how being a mom is the most important thing, I urge you to reconsider any surgical specialty. No one will tell you any different. There is a reason why most orthopods are male.

Also if you’ve done enough shadowing and research in Ortho to “love” it as you say, then you should be paying attention to the hours your attendings are working. And you should perhaps ask them.

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Why not check out sports medicine? As an aside, I’ve always wondered why there isn’t a non-surgical orthopedic doctor, like a cardiologist, neurologist, etc. Seems like sports med fellowship is the closest. OP, would you be ok working as a non-operative orthopedic? I’m not even sure how popular that option is, ie how easily could you get a job, is there be a market, etc. That would only work if you could let the surgery part go though.
 
Why not check out sports medicine? As an aside, I’ve always wondered why there isn’t a non-surgical orthopedic doctor, like a cardiologist, neurologist, etc. Seems like sports med fellowship is the closest. OP, would you be ok working as a non-operative orthopedic? I’m not even sure how popular that option is, ie how easily could you get a job, is there be a market, etc. That would only work if you could let the surgery part go though.

Yes sports medicine is a real thing and you can do it thru primary care or rehab. We have a great need for them to offload the nonop patients. I’m actually looking for one right now.


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Yes sports medicine is a real thing and you can do it thru primary care or rehab. We have a great need for them to offload the nonop patients. I’m actually looking for one right now.


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Sounds right up my alley as a PT turned physician (well in a few years). I’ve thought about it so as to not throw out all my current education. Good to hear there is a market out there.
 
OP, if you have ortho interest, but not ortho dedication or interest in ortho hours, that's okay.. but don't do ortho.

Sports medicine (usually after EM and FM, I believe) and PM&R could be interesting non-surgical options for you.
 
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