Ortho Residency Question

[Bconn33]

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Hello, I'm currently in my second year of my undergrad premed program, and I have a quick question pertaining ortho residencies. I apologize if I'm posting this in the incorrect forum as I'm new to SDN.

Now I know that ortho residencies generally span from about 5-8 years, with the first half or so being devoted to general surgical procedures and essentially learning how to be a surgeon, where as the second half or so is devoted specifically to orthopedics. My question is, are ortho residencies generally considered to be one program throughout those 5-8 years, or are those two separate pieces considered different programs in most cases? The reason I ask is because I know that residents aren't paid much, usually around 44,000 a year, and while I'm not in it for the salary, obviously finances are a concern, paying off med school and hopefully starting a family at that point, I want to be stable. Essentially what I want to know is, while you are completing the ortho portion of your residency is it at all possible to work partially (and I mean extremely partially) as an attending general surgeon? I mean if so then there'd likely be a bit of extra income along with that, which is always a great deal of help.

Thanks for taking the time to read and help out everyone, I've been reading on this site a good deal but just finally took the time to sign up, glad I did. Thanks in advance.

-BConn

 

[joker2400]

...Essentially what I want to know is, while you are completing the ortho portion of your residency is it at all possible to work partially (and I mean extremely partially) as an attending general surgeon? ...

Since you are not getting general surgery training it is going to be hard to work part-time as an attending.

 

[massmocha]

Hello, I'm currently in my second year of my undergrad premed program, and I have a quick question pertaining ortho residencies. I apologize if I'm posting this in the incorrect forum as I'm new to SDN.

Now I know that ortho residencies generally span from about 5-8 years, with the first half or so being devoted to general surgical procedures and essentially learning how to be a surgeon, where as the second half or so is devoted specifically to orthopedics. My question is, are ortho residencies generally considered to be one program throughout those 5-8 years, or are those two separate pieces considered different programs in most cases? The reason I ask is because I know that residents aren't paid much, usually around 44,000 a year, and while I'm not in it for the salary, obviously finances are a concern, paying off med school and hopefully starting a family at that point, I want to be stable. Essentially what I want to know is, while you are completing the ortho portion of your residency is it at all possible to work partially (and I mean extremely partially) as an attending general surgeon? I mean if so then there'd likely be a bit of extra income along with that, which is always a great deal of help.

Thanks for taking the time to read and help out everyone, I've been reading on this site a good deal but just finally took the time to sign up, glad I did. Thanks in advance.

-BConn

Some background: Orthopedic surgery residencies are 5-6 years, most are 5 years unless you are in the research track. Only six months of the first year are typically "general surgery," which is not really general surgery, but rotations generally related to orthopedics in some way (e.g. vascular surgery, plastics, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, surgical ICU, orthopedic radiology, etc.). The rest of residency is spent rotating through the orthopedic surgery subspecialties (sports medicine, joints, spine, pediatrics, trauma, hand, foot & ankle, shoulder, oncology). Typically resident salaries are $50-60,000 per year depending on the location.

Almost all residents will spend an additional 1 year in fellowship following completion of residency.

In answer to your question: no you cannot work as a general surgeon because you are not trained in general surgery, it is a completely different residency.

 

[Bconn33]

Some background: Orthopedic surgery residencies are 5-6 years, most are 5 years unless you are in the research track. Only six months of the first year are typically "general surgery," which is not really general surgery, but rotations generally related to orthopedics in some way (e.g. vascular surgery, plastics, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, surgical ICU, orthopedic radiology, etc.). The rest of residency is spent rotating through the orthopedic surgery subspecialties (sports medicine, joints, spine, pediatrics, trauma, hand, foot & ankle, shoulder, oncology). Typically resident salaries are $50-60,000 per year depending on the location.

Almost all residents will spend an additional 1 year in fellowship following completion of residency.

In answer to your question: no you cannot work as a general surgeon because you are not trained in general surgery, it is a completely different residency.

Alright well thank you so much for clearing that up! It's also good to hear that residential salaries are a good deal higher than I had been told, and I'd imagine they'd be rather high in my area, assuming I stay here (Massachusetts). So again thanks a ton for the answer!

 

[MedBrah 19]

Alright well thank you so much for clearing that up! It's also good to hear that residential salaries are a good deal higher than I had been told, and I'd imagine they'd be rather high in my area, assuming I stay here (Massachusetts). So again thanks a ton for the answer!

"Residential salaries" lol

 

[blaqmamba]

Alright well thank you so much for clearing that up! It's also good to hear that residential salaries are a good deal higher than I had been told, and I'd imagine they'd be rather high in my area, assuming I stay here (Massachusetts). So again thanks a ton for the answer!

You'd be surprised, actually. The resident salaries are not as variable as you think based on location. Just because you live in MA doesn't mean it'll be higher.

For example, interns at UCLA Harbor (SoCal = high cost of living) make about 10k less than the interns at Yale (New Haven's cost of living is much lower). Hospitals and the government set up a horrible system of establishing resident salaries that is not based on the cost of living or the 'minimum wage.' You can read about that elsewhere. That's why a lot of surgical residents in fact make just about minimum wage. It depends what you consider a good stable life, because for many, it's not possible to have one as a resident.

Like @MedBrah 19 said above, I chuckle when I hear 'resident salaries.' Lol. I'd call it a stipend if anything.