Part-time Doctor

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pre med 2014 said:
I already explained all of this. They gain all their experience flying during college then med school and residency flying small airplanes as a hobby. Then later on in their 40s once they have lots of experience sign on with the big boys.


I know its hard for you to conceptualize but there are people out there. There are dentist/pilots and lawyer/pilots too, shocker isn't it? If you can be a dentist/ pilot why not doctor/pilot.

I don't understand why you are arguing facts, since there are individuals in such dual employment arrangements and that's a fact. Your logic about it not being feasible is unsound. The only difficulty is having an arrangement with your employer who allows you to work part time as a physician.
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You clearly are speaking from a perspective of conjecture and not fact. What makes you in the least bit qualified to argue any of this? First off, I don't know why you bring up other professions and being pilots. I clearly stated that there are a lot of people who own their own planes and fly them for their own personal pleasure. But flying for personal pleasure is a far cry from being a commercial pilot working for an airline. Next "all of their flying experience"? Do you know how long it takes to get 8,000 hrs of flying time? Commercial pilots whose job it is to fly year round are not allowed to fly more than 900 hours a year regulated by law. The average regional airline pilot flies 500 hours a year. Meaning in order to get into a legacy airline or a larger regional airline would require about 10-15 years of flying for a small regional or about 9 years flying the max 900 hrs every year. Just on time alone, medical students, residents, or fellows do not have the time or flexibility to commit to this type of schedule so they obviously aren't working for an airline. You can fly for hobby sure, but by the time you are 40 you will be lucky to have 1000 to 1500 hours total time. Typically doctors who OWN their planes, only have 3-4,000 hours by the time they are 60. More over, aside from time constraints, do you know how expensive it is to fly? With out instruction it's $120-150 an hour just to fly a Cessna 172. So just to get 1,000 hours would cost $120,000-150,000 MINIMUM. That's only 1,000 hours, not the 8,000 hours you need to fly a legacy.

You don't know what you are talking about, have no type of background to be able to defend the ridiculousness of what you are saying. Those are just 2 reasons out of many why what you are saying is not true. Want more? How about the quality of those 8,000 hours. Even if it were somehow possible for an MD to get all of those hours by the time he was 49 (which it isn't) your "hobby flying time" is just that. The guy flies as a hobby, and flies a C172, Gonna tell me he flies something other then a 172? Maybe he flies a cirrus? Cirrus is still a hobby plane but just for that bump now make the cost 240-300 an hour. The airlines want the majority of those hours in equivalent type planes. i.e. 737, 757, A320, 747, 787 (the 777 you quoted is unlikely since the plane was only out for like a month or two before being put out of service, not to mention there aren't many of them out there to begin with since it's so new so I doubt the doctor you spoke of was even type rated for it, let alone even thought of trying to fly it.) and the list goes on.

Now.... would you like to continue arguing your position, or would you like to concede that you really don't have any facts to back you up, no background in the field, and no logical argument to support your statements?
 
What if you worked part time after a few years as an attending? Surely the money you bring to the hospital during residency as a cheap laborer, and the higher tax bracket once you are an attending would offset any public burden towards your training.
 
slopes23 said:
You clearly are speaking from a perspective of conjecture and not fact. What makes you in the least bit qualified to argue any of this? First off, I don't know why you bring up other professions and being pilots. I clearly stated that there are a lot of people who own their own planes and fly them for their own personal pleasure. But flying for personal pleasure is a far cry from being a commercial pilot working for an airline. Next "all of their flying experience"? Do you know how long it takes to get 8,000 hrs of flying time? Commercial pilots whose job it is to fly year round are not allowed to fly more than 900 hours a year regulated by law. The average regional airline pilot flies 500 hours a year. Meaning in order to get into a legacy airline or a larger regional airline would require about 10-15 years of flying for a small regional or about 9 years flying the max 900 hrs every year. Just on time alone, medical students, residents, or fellows do not have the time or flexibility to commit to this type of schedule so they obviously aren't working for an airline. You can fly for hobby sure, but by the time you are 40 you will be lucky to have 1000 to 1500 hours total time. Typically doctors who OWN their planes, only have 3-4,000 hours by the time they are 60. More over, aside from time constraints, do you know how expensive it is to fly? With out instruction it's $120-150 an hour just to fly a Cessna 172. So just to get 1,000 hours would cost $120,000-150,000 MINIMUM. That's only 1,000 hours, not the 8,000 hours you need to fly a legacy.

You don't know what you are talking about, have no type of background to be able to defend the ridiculousness of what you are saying. Those are just 2 reasons out of many why what you are saying is not true. Want more? How about the quality of those 8,000 hours. Even if it were somehow possible for an MD to get all of those hours by the time he was 49 (which it isn't) your "hobby flying time" is just that. The guy flies as a hobby, and flies a C172, Gonna tell me he flies something other then a 172? Maybe he flies a cirrus? Cirrus is still a hobby plane but just for that bump now make the cost 240-300 an hour. The airlines want the majority of those hours in equivalent type planes. i.e. 737, 757, A320, 747, 787 (the 777 you quoted is unlikely since the plane was only out for like a month or two before being put out of service, not to mention there aren't many of them out there to begin with since it's so new so I doubt the doctor you spoke of was even type rated for it, let alone even thought of trying to fly it.) and the list goes on.

Now.... would you like to continue arguing your position, or would you like to concede that you really don't have any facts to back you up, no background in the field, and no logical argument to support your statements?
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http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/renowned-pilot-doctor-exposed-fraud/story?id=12390083

Well if you can be a pilot and pretend to be a cardiologist, why can't you be a pilot and a real cardiologist?

Have you ever heard of rich people? Your points about the costs of flying are moot if come from a wealthy family. I know premeds that are basically ready to fly for the regionals. There is an elite class within the aviation community and all your points only apply to regular people, not people whose parents make millions and own their own aircraft. When your parents each make 750K a year, you get $6000 to get your pilot license like lunch money.

How am I not arguing logically when there are people who are both doctors and airline pilots? That breaks down your conclusion that there exists no such people. I'm not saying its reasonable or common, I'm just saying that there are some within the elite class. But your points are valid, it just doesn't matter if you're in the top 1%

When you don't have to work, and have connections and get funded for your flying that's huge and it makes all the barriers disappear. I've met a jump pilot that was like CFI 2 rated with hundreds of hours and the bastard was at least 5 years younger than me.

EDIT: and btw, the ortho surgeon in the flying magazine I was talking about was talking about flying a boeing 777 vs. ortho surg.
 
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Runican said:
I definitely thought she was saying that the only real acceptable way to use your MD is to treat patients full time. A few quotes from the article (in addition to the one you mentioned above):

"We can no longer afford to continue training doctors who don’t spend their careers in the full-time practice of medicine."

"I have great respect for stay-at-home parents, and I think it’s fine if journalists or chefs or lawyers choose to work part time or quit their jobs altogether. But it’s different for doctors. Someone needs to take care of the patients. "

Anyway, regarding the debate about part time doctors, I think that both sides have some great points. I think that prospective medical students should not pursue a career in medicine if they plan to work part time for the rest of their lives. This doesn't makes sense with regards to the costs to taxpayers, the personal monetary costs of medical school, and the time costs of training.

With that being said, I'm sure that very few medical students ever plan to work part time after receiving their degree and training. But sometimes life gets in the way. My mother's best friend (who is a OB/GYN) ended up working part time for most of her career after having a child with a mental illness that required a significant amount of extra care. I've also met and read about many female (and male!) physicians who had to work part-time for a few (or more) years because they became single parents and did not have a large support system to get through the tough time.

Anyway, I think it's much too complex to say that working part-time as a physician is always bad or always good. 🙂
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You're absolutely right that life gets in the way sometimes, but that's an extreme case that I don't think the author was referring to. She seemed to be discussing the parents who have children who are more or less "normal" and switch to part time work or no work at all just because they had a child. In the case of becoming a single parent suddenly or having a child with mental illness or developmental disability etc., I think these are examples of two situations where even the most die-hard MDs insisting on full time work for all will reconsider their views for these specific situations.
 
pre med 2014 said:
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/renowned-pilot-doctor-exposed-fraud/story?id=12390083

Well if you can be a pilot and pretend to be a cardiologist, why can't you be a pilot and a real cardiologist?

Have you ever heard of rich people? Your points about the costs of flying are moot if come from a wealthy family. I know premeds that are basically ready to fly for the regionals. There is an elite class within the aviation community and all your points only apply to regular people, not people whose parents make millions and own their own aircraft. When your parents each make 750K a year, you get $6000 to get your pilot license like lunch money.

How am I not arguing logically when there are people who are both doctors and airline pilots? That breaks down your conclusion that there exists no such people. I'm not saying its reasonable or common, I'm just saying that there are some within the elite class. But your points are valid, it just doesn't matter if you're in the top 1%

When you don't have to work, and have connections and get funded for your flying that's huge and it makes all the barriers disappear. I've met a jump pilot that was like CFI 2 rated with hundreds of hours and the bastard was at least 5 years younger than me.

EDIT: and btw, the ortho surgeon in the flying magazine I was talking about was talking about flying a boeing 777 vs. ortho surg.
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HAH! So your defense is because an actual airline pilot lied and told people he was a doctor and committed fraud by lecturing at medical conferences, that that means doctors can be airline pilots. I already spent two posts explaining why real doctors can't be airline pilots. Perhaps you could be a real doctor and a fake airline pilot but thats about as far as it goes. Sure you can get a 6,000 dollar private pilot's license (even though its really more like 10k, not 6k), and that's assuming you are any good. I think the average private pilot gets licensed at 65 hours (minimum required is 40). You are completely passing over the time restraints, and saying that oh well for the 1% it's feasible. That's a horrible argument. If the kid is truly a 1%er I guarantee you that his aspirations is life are not to be a doctor and airline pilot. If he wants to fly then he would want to fly on a private plane. If he feels so inclined to fly said private plane, then he learns to fly the private plane. This is not equivalent to being a commercial pilot. Commercial pilots fly because they love to fly but cannot afford to buy their own plane. Those that can, can only afford a small hobby plane like a Piper Cub, or a C172/182. But they need their job to support themselves. If they had the money to own a nice plane and not have to work for the airlines they would quite their jobs that day. There is a lot of bureaucracy and b.s. that comes along with being a commercial pilot (kind of like most jobs).

So you have still yet to make anything resembling a compelling argument, and still have yet to explain what experience you have on the topic to even continue making up your silly unfounded arguments.
 
I am not going to get into this whole debate as I think for a bunch of kids (relatively) and I include myself in that, at 22 I realize I have much to learn, but you all are on here arguing about this as if you understand what it's like to be a doctor first hand and are the moral judges of society. I will just make a couple of points for those of you SPECIFICALLY arguing women in medicine and whether or not they should go part time or not. Sure there was 1 attending who posted on here who supported that article, but what everyone seems to be missing is that although medicine is important, there exists life outside of the hospital. Everyone is motivated by different things. Some people are born to be overachievers and taking as an example the attending that posted if she wants to be super mom by being a mom while still being a doctor then more power to her that's awesome. But one important point I think that isn't being pointed out is that not everyone wants to live their life like that. Some people want to dedicate more time to their children than being full time MD allows, while others just need some time for themselves because it just can't all be medicine and being a mom. There is nothing wrong with these alternatives, and people on here who are neither doctors or parents shouldn't be arguing otherwise. This is like saying that all MD's should become surgeons and work 80+hours a week. No it doesn't work like that, if you want to be a surgeon and eat, sleep, breath, medicine and have it really reduce free time and family time then that's your CHOICE, but becuase "you" see it that way does not mean that being an OB/GYN or FP is any less ok.

You need to be passionate about medicine sure, that's a given if you want to make it through med school and residency, but it's a self selecting process. It doesn't mean that because adcoms make you jump through so many hoops to prove your dedication and passion that you need to be so polarized and gung ho on the subject. If you ask me (which no one did), the biggest problem we are suffering from at every level of society is how polarized people feel they need to be on their opinions. No one wants to be middle of the road and understanding.
 
slopes23 said:
HAH! So your defense is because an actual airline pilot lied and told people he was a doctor and committed fraud by lecturing at medical conferences, that that means doctors can be airline pilots. I already spent two posts explaining why real doctors can't be airline pilots. Perhaps you could be a real doctor and a fake airline pilot but thats about as far as it goes. Sure you can get a 6,000 dollar private pilot's license (even though its really more like 10k, not 6k), and that's assuming you are any good. I think the average private pilot gets licensed at 65 hours (minimum required is 40). You are completely passing over the time restraints, and saying that oh well for the 1% it's feasible. That's a horrible argument. If the kid is truly a 1%er I guarantee you that his aspirations is life are not to be a doctor and airline pilot. If he wants to fly then he would want to fly on a private plane. If he feels so inclined to fly said private plane, then he learns to fly the private plane. This is not equivalent to being a commercial pilot. Commercial pilots fly because they love to fly but cannot afford to buy their own plane. Those that can, can only afford a small hobby plane like a Piper Cub, or a C172/182. But they need their job to support themselves. If they had the money to own a nice plane and not have to work for the airlines they would quite their jobs that day. There is a lot of bureaucracy and b.s. that comes along with being a commercial pilot (kind of like most jobs).

So you have still yet to make anything resembling a compelling argument, and still have yet to explain what experience you have on the topic to even continue making up your silly unfounded arguments.
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First of all, I know of at least one AME (aviation medical examiner) who is an airline pilot. Lots of those AMEs are private pilots but I know of one who specifically is flying for the airlines. Are you saying there is not a single person who is employed both as a physician and a airline pilot? Because there are. I agree with you on about everything though about it being to much red tape, and not possible or logical. I'm just saying there are a few people who are both. That is a fact.

Second of all, the government red tape is just as bad for private flying as it is for airline pilots. There's almost no difference between getting through the red tape to fly a cessna and a boeing 777. Plus, some people fly for the status of it and would be willing to go through the red tape so they can known as an 'airline pilot'. So you saying top 1%ers can't be bothered to get through the red tape is ridiculous because people will work for status.
 
pre med 2014 said:
First of all, I know of at least one AME (aviation medical examiner) who is an airline pilot. Lots of those AMEs are private pilots but I know of one who specifically is flying for the airlines. Are you saying there is not a single person who is employed both as a physician and a airline pilot? Because there are. I agree with you on about everything though about it being to much red tape, and not possible or logical. I'm just saying there are a few people who are both. That is a fact.

Second of all, the government red tape is just as bad for private flying as it is for airline pilots. There's almost no difference between getting through the red tape to fly a cessna and a boeing 777. Plus, some people fly for the status of it and would be willing to go through the red tape so they can known as an 'airline pilot'. So you saying top 1%ers can't be bothered to get through the red tape is ridiculous because people will work for status.
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Lol - M.D. wasn't enough status had to go for that A.P. too. I find it interesting how you actually think the status symbol upper class people want is that of an airline pilot and not that of owning/flying one's own plane. I am recusing myself from this discussion as it is becoming circular.

Edit: I just re-read and realized you said the red tape is the same for private pilot vs airline pilot.... You can't be serious right? By your logic I could be an airline pilot right now... To be a private pilot all you need is minimum 40 hours flight time and pass the written and practical tests. To be an airline pilot you need to have your private pilots license, instrument rating, commercial pilots license, multi engine license, high altitude endorsement, high performance endorsement, complex aircraft endorsement, and ATP (airline transport pilot). In order to get that last you you need 1500 hours minimum and thats just to qualify for a starting job. So how exactly are these equal? Sorry just had trouble letting that one go, it was too outlandish.
 
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slopes23 said:
Edit: I just re-read and realized you said the red tape is the same for private pilot vs airline pilot.... You can't be serious right? By your logic I could be an airline pilot right now... To be a private pilot all you need is minimum 40 hours flight time and pass the written and practical tests. To be an airline pilot you need to have your private pilots license, instrument rating, commercial pilots license, multi engine license, high altitude endorsement, high performance endorsement, complex aircraft endorsement, and ATP (airline transport pilot). In order to get that last you you need 1500 hours minimum and thats just to qualify for a starting job. So how exactly are these equal? Sorry just had trouble letting that one go, it was too outlandish.
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Those are INDUSTRY STANDARD minimums to hire. Red tape refers to filling out useless government forms and tests. In terms of forms, it's almost the same for private pilot and airline pilot.

This conversation is starting to get ridiculous. I'm just going to stop.
 
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pre med 2014 said:
Those are INDUSTRY STANDARD minimums to hire. Red tape refers to filling out useless government forms and tests. In terms of forms, it's almost the same for private pilot and airline pilot.
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If by industry standard minimum you mean to say federally regulated minimums by the GOVERNMENT, then yes, they are industry standard minimums. Even if you were to go by your definition of red tape, all of the certifications and ratings I just explained to you are all required by law for all airline pilots and each have associated tests and forms required to be done.

You might as well say that working at McDonalds and working at an Investment bank have about the same amount of red tape by your logic. I mean hey, you had to submit an application, resume, and they did a background check. It's basically the same thing right?
TrainWreck1.gif
 
I shadowed an FP who worked maybe twenty-something hours per week and he told me he was very happy with his decision.

A lot of docs who work tons of hours hours choose to do so.
 
lol at people saying it is inappropriate for doctors to work part-time. They are still serving the community. Would you rather doctors not there at all? Do you think that doctors don't have or want a life outside of medicine. Jesus
 
DocMC said:
lol at people saying it is inappropriate for doctors to work part-time. They are still serving the community. Would you rather doctors not there at all? Do you think that doctors don't have or want a life outside of medicine. Jesus
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it's not as if there's a shortage of people wanting to be a doctor
if you aren't interested in taking it seriously, then do something else.
if you need to work a banker's hours, be a nurse
 
yehhhboiii said:
it's not as if there's a shortage of people wanting to be a doctor
if you aren't interested in taking it seriously, then do something else.
if you need to work a banker's hours, be a nurse
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.
 
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yehhhboiii said:
it's not as if there's a shortage of people wanting to be a doctor
if you aren't interested in taking it seriously, then do something else.
if you need to work a banker's hours, be a nurse
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Not enough doctors? I don't care, not my problem. I'll work whatever hours I want to.
 
yehhhboiii said:
it's not as if there's a shortage of people wanting to be a doctor
if you aren't interested in taking it seriously, then do something else.
if you need to work a banker's hours, be a nurse
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Since when do nurses work banker's hours? I'm a nurse and would like a gig like that, know anyone hiring?
 
circulus vitios said:
Not enough doctors? I don't care, not my problem. I'll work whatever hours I want to.
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Exactly. I only worked 182 days last year.
I made a ton of money, paid over 100k in taxes, and took care of a bunch of kids so sick that most anesthesiologists and surgeons wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.
My commitment to society ended when I resigned my military commission.
I'm retiring by 60 as well. Too bad.
 
IlDestriero said:
Exactly. I only worked 182 days last year.
I made a ton of money, paid over 100k in taxes, and took care of a bunch of kids so sick that most anesthesiologists and surgeons wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.
My commitment to society ended when I resigned my military commission.
I'm retiring by 60 as well. Too bad.
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I think this is where you make up all those 'taxes' that apparently went to train you. The vast majority of physicians are in the top income bracket, even if they are working part time. They're paying their dues to society, and still seeing patients. They have a right to a life outside of medicine as well.
 
actually you could fill up your schedule up to the number of hours you want with temp like positions that are open due to various reason. These are called "locum tenens" jobs and you could do as many or as little jobs as you want, that being said I would personally want to work full time after all that training and hard work and the fact that being is a doctor is what I have always wanted to do. It might be a good option however for doctors that have young children or other life situations or just need time for other things.
 
IlDestriero said:
No way man, it's totally realistic to be a part time specialist surgeon and part time 747 pilot, flying the coveted routes for one of the big boys. Totally.

Nice name BTW, though for the money, Blue Label does not deliver.
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Glenlivet 18 - One of my favorites at the moment.
 
IlDestriero said:
Exactly. I only worked 182 days last year.
I made a ton of money, paid over 100k in taxes, and took care of a bunch of kids so sick that most anesthesiologists and surgeons wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole.
My commitment to society ended when I resigned my military commission.
I'm retiring by 60 as well. Too bad.
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Okay, I'm guessing there isn't a whole lot that I agree with you anesthesia folks but this is definitely one of them. Medicine is not slavery and physicians, like {virtually-obvious military and related exceptions...} every other professional, have a basic right to choose their working hours once their training is done. From watching this for decades, I've found that those "bosses", in academics or private practice that encourage and support part-time work for young moms, older attendings, etc get a lot out of it and almost always these folks work more than the amount they are paid. It is a win-win that is clear to those who see it happen.

One thing that is different is that I'd prefer not to retire when I hit 60 (waaay too close...). But part-time at some point in the future? Sure. Might happen. Some of my current elders are doing it and contribute tremendously in every way.
 
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oldbearprofessor said:
Okay, I'm guessing there isn't a whole lot that I agree with you anesthesia folks but this is definitely one of them. Medicine is not slavery and physicians, like {virtually-obvious military and related exceptions...} every other professional, have a basic right to choose their working hours once their training is done. From watching this for decades, I've found that those "bosses", in academics or private practice that encourage and support part-time work for young moms, older attendings, etc get a lot out of it and almost always these folks work more than the amount they are paid. It is a win-win that is clear to those who see it happen.

One thing that is different is that I'd prefer not to retire when I hit 60 (waaay too close...). But part-time at some point in the future? Sure. Might happen. Some of my current elders are doing it and contribute tremendously in every way.
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Not to thread-jack, but how do you feel about the government taking away physician's right to own a practice and independently bill for their services?
 
oldbearprofessor said:
I'm an academic neonatologist 100% on the institutional payroll. Not my issue.
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Ha. Both not answering the question and dismissing the issue.

Certainly, those of us in academics are protected, for now. However, your current salary, paid by the institution you work for, is based off of averages from other institutions and your relative worth to that institution.
 
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circulus vitios said:
Your financial argument disintegrates so you fall back to hand-waving "contributions to society." :laugh:
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I mean, he did have somewhat of a point with the part about you pulling figures out of your ass, since that is what you did, but overall, I think, this poster is also incredibly trite.

Please..contributions to society? If you're going to preach to us about that please do tell us about how you are so thrifty and a diligent, tax-paying citizen.
 
One Hip Guy said:
I mean, he did have somewhat of a point with the part about you pulling figures out of your ass, since that is what you did, but overall, I think, this poster is also incredibly trite.

Please..contributions to society? If you're going to preach to us about that please do tell us about how you are so thrifty and a diligent, tax-paying citizen.
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Yes, I am thrifty and a tax-paying citizen. Are you, or do you still live off the 'rents?

Please...don't enter an argument 10 posts later with nothing but a tack on to the band wagon. At least elaborate on your opinion before the name calling.
 
QrtrLifeCrisis said:
Yes, I am thrifty and a tax-paying citizen. Are you, or do you still live off the 'rents?

Please...don't enter an argument 10 posts later with nothing but a tack on to the band wagon. At least elaborate on your opinion before the name calling.
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>says to elaborate opinion before name calling
>assumes I live with my parents even though I work full-time and am in school.

OOOOkkkkk.

I just felt the need to tell you that your expectations of other people are absurd and grandiose; why can't doctors choose how many hours they want to work? Sure, there's a shortage of doctors, but there is a growing number of nurse practitioners filling the gap. Also, you have to be able to realize that there are plenty of students who are perfectly capable of being doctors, but for whatever reason do not make the cut. If the shortage is such an issue I don't understand why medical schools couldn't just shovel more students through. Regardless, though, neither you nor I have the means to do anything, which made every single post regarding this particular topic meaningless. Just let people do what they want and stop hanging a condescending banner of shame over the heads of people who want to still have the time to develop meaningful relationships and a family. If anything, some of the people in the medical field truly deserve that kind of happiness a lot more than most other people in society.
 
One Hip Guy said:
>says to elaborate opinion before name calling
>assumes I live with my parents even though I work full-time and am in school.

OOOOkkkkk.
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One volley deserves another.

One Hip Guy said:
I just felt the need to tell you that your expectations of other people are absurd and grandiose; why can't doctors choose how many hours they want to work? Sure, there's a shortage of doctors, but there is a growing number of nurse practitioners filling the gap. Also, you have to be able to realize that there are plenty of students who are perfectly capable of being doctors, but for whatever reason do not make the cut. If the shortage is such an issue I don't understand why medical schools couldn't just shovel more students through. Regardless, though, neither you nor I have the means to do anything, which made every single post regarding this particular topic meaningless. Just let people do what they want and stop hanging a condescending banner of shame over the heads of people who want to still have the time to develop meaningful relationships and a family. If anything, some of the people in the medical field truly deserve that kind of happiness a lot more than most other people in society.
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Anyway, let's clarify my opinion on the matter just in case more flames are lobbed my way. My first post was in response to the OP who, in reading the context (which I admit could have been interpreted incorrectly), sounded like they preemptively wanted to go into medicine doing part-time. This is the part that I whole-heartedly disagreed with. Why should all the resources and investments go into training someone who decides, even before receiving their degree, that they want to be a part-time doctor when there are thousands of other people willing and able to do it full-time and "contribute more to society", especially with the upcoming expansion of Medicaid. "Not my problem." Who else is going to take care of these new population of patients? NPs? Go check the other thread to read about the effectiveness of non-MDs when it comes to more complicated health issues. Of course people are free to do as they wish, and they can pretend and lie to get where they need to be, but I'm also free to have my opinions on that.

As for people who decide later on based on circumstance (e.g., children, illness, old age) that they want to dial it back...life happens. I get it. But being a doctor should not entail working less than 30 hours straight out of residency. I may have been too harsh and too polarizing in my earlier posts, but really, that was me becoming a little too heated while defending myself against another poster.
 
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One Hip Guy said:
I mean, he did have somewhat of a point with the part about you pulling figures out of your ass, since that is what you did, but overall, I think, this poster is also incredibly trite.

Please..contributions to society? If you're going to preach to us about that please do tell us about how you are so thrifty and a diligent, tax-paying citizen.
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Which figures did I pull out of my ass?
 
I've written on KevinMD about how you shouldn't feel guilty about working part time as a physician, but a lot of people online will try to make you feel that way. Tons of physicians are choosing lifestyle and a parttime career these days. You are not going to make the big bucks doing peds part time but it's doable. Medicine is actually a great field to work part time and still make a good salary.
 
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